Understanding differences in British and American English 2015

1. What does the British term "uni" mean in American English

Answers:

• Together

• Pen

• College

• Uniball

2. Which of the following is a spelling typical of American English?

Answers:

• analyze

• hydrolyse

• catalyse

• paralyse

3. What is the American English equivalent of the British English word "flat"

Answers:

• tent

• apartment

• building

• house

4. What is the British English equivalent of elevator?

Answers:

• dumbwaiter

• elevater

• elevatre

• lift

• trolley

5. In American English, the word "pants" is typically used to describe outerwear worn over the legs and abdomen. What word is used in British English?

Answers:

• trousers

• outer pants

• trowsers

• over pants

6. Which of the following is a noun commonly used in British English which is used in American English to signify an Elevator?

Answers:

• a lifter

• a lift

• a person lift

• an elevator

7. What is a British English word synonymous with the word cookie?

Answers:

• chip

• cupcake

• cracker

• biscuit

• cake

8. In American English, what does it mean to ask for the check after a meal?

Answers:

• You are asking the waiter to check you water

• None of these

• You are asking for a receipt

• You are asking for the bill

9. "Hello" is a common greeting in both the UK and America. Which of the following is a more common, shortened version of this greeting used in America?

Answers:

• Good Morning

• Hi

• Hi There

• Hello

10. In British English, chips are equivalent to the American term ____.

Answers:

• fries

• policemen

• chocolate

• potato chips

11. In British English, if your milk has "gone off" is has done what in American English?

Answers:

• frozen

• gone bad

• almost gone bad

• turned into butter

12. In British English the word 'knackered' means what in American English?

Answers:

• broke

• exhausted

• happy

• sad

• angry

13. What is a UK quid?

Answers:

• Any small thing

• A pound

• A measure of weight

• An identity card

• An exchange of goods or services

14. Choose the most common usage in American English: He erased the drawing with a(n) ______.

Answers:

• cleaner

• marker

• rubber

• eraser

15. What is the British English equivalent of the American English expression "a tempest in a teapot"?

Answers:

• a tempest in June

• a storm in a teacup

• a storm in a coffee cup

• a tempest over the ocean

16. True or false? A British motorbike is the same thing as an American dirtbike.

Answers:

• True

• False

17. In British English, which of the following is the definition of the word "Juggernaut"?

Answers:

• an 18 wheel truck

• a flat bed trailer

• a truck with a flat bed trailer

• a moving truck

18. In British English, a sweater might be called a:

Answers:

• A jersey

• A pull-over

• All of these are possible options

• A jumper

19. In British English, an "articulated lorry" is used to describe what in American English?

Answers:

• a hinged bus

• a tractor trailor

• a large truck

• a passenger bus

20. What is the British English word used to refer to the American English word "pants"?

Answers:

• leggins

• clothes

• tights

• trousers

21. What is the American English equivalent of the British English expression "flogging a dead horse"?

Answers:

• flogging a dead cow

• beating a dead horse

• beating a monkey

• beating a dead animal

22. The term "dustman" is not an American English word. What does the word "dustman" mean in British English?

Answers:

• a broom

• a small broom and dustpan

• a trash can

• a trash collector

23. What does the term "curriculum vitae (or CV)" refer to in American English?

Answers:

• academic background

• hobbies

• life experience

• rèsumè

24. Choose the most common British usage: I need to stop and fill my car with some _____, my tank is empty.

Answers:

• petrol

• gasoline

• diesel

• gas

25. Which of the following is an example of a spelling typical of British English?

Answers:

• colour

• color

• flavor

• humor

26. The closest American English expression to the British English expression "Going on holidays" is

Answers:

• Taking a vacation

• Going on a shopping spree

• Working overtime

• Taking a day off from work

27. Which British English word is used for the American English word "elevator (of a building)"?

Answers:

• elevation

• lift

• stairwell

• cage

28. The word "biscuit" in British English refers to what word in American English?

Answers:

• cake

• baking

• cookie

• business

29. She got a great price on her flat. What is the American term for "flat"?

Answers:

• Table

• Apartment

• Sandals

• Convertible

30. Which of the following is a spelling typical of British English ?

Answers:

• labor

• honour

• neighbor

• rumor

31. Which of the following is an example of a spelling typical of American English?

Answers:

• humour

• color

• flavour

• honour

32. What does the "ground floor" in British English typically correspond to in American English?

Answers:

• second floor

• first floor

• rooftop

• penthouse

33. In British English the phrase "Zebra Crossing" is used to describe what in American English?

Answers:

• a pedestrian crosswalk

• the shoulder of a highway

• a road dividing line

• an sign displaying a running zebra

34. In American English, the word "football" is used to name a sport played with a lemon shaped ball and large shoulder pads. What sport does the word "football" identify in British English?

Answers:

• rugby

• soccer

• dodgeball

• basketball

35. Which of the following is a spelling typical of American English?

Answers:

• flavour

• humour

• colour

• honor

36. Choose the correct spelling in American English:

Answers:

• The fire place made the room quite cosy.

• The fire place made the room quite cozey.

• The fire place made the room quite cozy.

• The fire place made the room quite cosey.

37. In American English, the words mad and angry have the same meaning. What does the term "mad" mean in British English?

Answers:

• bothered

• indecisive

• insane

• angry

38. What is the American English equivalent of the British English word "autumn"?

Answers:

• spring

• fall

• winter

• August

39. In American English the term intersection is used to describe when two or roads meet. What is this term in British English?

Answers:

• a meetroad

• a roadmeeting

• an intersection

• a crossroads

40. When a British person is knackered, what is s/he feeling?

Answers:

• Intrigued

• Confounded

• Exhausted

• Elevated

41. Which of the following is not a typical American English spelling?

Answers:

• organise

• recognize

• subsidize

• realize

42. In American English "( )" marks are known as "parentheses". What are they often referred to as in British English?

Answers:

• colon

• parting

• brackets

• book ends

43. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is quoted as saying "Terrorism is wrong, full stop". What would be the American English equivalent? 

Answers:

• Terrorism is a matter of perspective

• Terrorism is wrong, period

• Terrorism is wrong, got it

• Terrorism is wrong, semicolon

44. Which of the following is an example of a spelling typical of American English?

Answers:

• recognize

• recognizze

• recognise

• recoggnize

45. What is the British English equivalent of the American English term "counter-clockwise"?

Answers:

• twice clockwise

• clockwise

• anti-clockwise

• never use a clock

46. In British English, the abreviation "WC" stands for...?

Answers:

• wool canister

• water closet

• wool closet

• water casket

47. Choose the most common American usage: It's dark outside, I'm going to go grab a ______.

Answers:

• flashbulb

• flashlight

• flasher

• torch

48. What is the American English equivalent of the British English expression "touch wood"?

Answers:

• knock on wood

• knock on furniture

• touch oak

• touch and go

49. A 'tyre' in British English is called what in American English?

Answers:

• a car tire

• a hand of cards

• a nap

• a tiring exercise

50. Which of the following is a spelling typical of British English?

Answers:

• fiber

• liter

• centre

• none of these

51. Which of the following vehicle nouns is not typical of American English?

Answers:

• sedan

• truck

• lorry

• station wagon

52. In British English, a sweet treat typically made with flour, butter and water is called what?

Answers:

• a brownie

• a cookie

• a biscuit

• a cinnamon stick

53. In British English, a rubber is an eraser. What does the term "rubber" typically mean in American English?

Answers:

• an eraser specifically made of rubber

• a condom

• an eraser made for pens

• an eraser

54. Which of the following is an example of a spelling typical of British English?

Answers:

• recognize

• recognise

• recoggnise

• recognisse

55. In American English, the word Randy is often a name. This is a completely different concept in British English. What does the word "randy" mean in British English?

Answers:

• to be hungry

• to be cold

• to desire a person intimately

• to be tired

56. If you use British English and are eating chips, what are you eating in American English?

Answers:

• you are not eating, you are playing poker

• rice crisps

• potato chips

• french fries

57. The word "garbage" is often used in American English to refer to household waste. What is the British English equivalent?

Answers:

• trash

• rubbish

• lost property

• exhaust

58. Which of the following is a spelling typical of British English?

Answers:

• monologue

• catalog

• homolog

• dialog

59. The plural of "Math" in British English is which of the following?

Answers:

• mathes

• arithmetices

• math

• maths

60. Which of the following is the American English equivalent of the word "Lorry" in British English?

Answers:

• a bicycle

• a car

• a train

• a truck

61. In Britain, political candidates "stand for election". What would be the American English equivalent?

Answers:

• get up for election

• run for office

• stand for public office

• cannot vote seated

62. What is the American English word for the British English word "pavement"? 

Answers:

• sidewalk

• road

• passage

• paving stone

63. Which of the following words is typical of British English?

Answers:

• wrench

• gasoline

• petrol

• windshield

64. Which of the following is a spelling typical of British English?

Answers:

• canceled

• traveller

• traveling

• labeled

65. Choose the most common British usage: I took a week long ______ last summer.

Answers:

• wanderance

• holiday

• vacation

66. In American English, a wallet is typically a folding container used to store money. What is this called in British English?

Answers:

• a moneywall

• a billfold

• a waller

• a wallette

67. The infant needed to get her napkin changed. Is "napkin" British or American English?

Answers:

• British

• American

68. In British English, you would go where to pick up your prescription?

Answers:

• a pizza parlor

• a grocery store

• a drugstore

• a chemist

69. In British English, what word is used to refer to the covering for the engine on a car?

Answers:

• a car hood

• a bonnet

• a hood

• a car hat

70. What does the word "Jelly" refer to in British English?

Answers:

• a dessert made of colored gelatin

• jelly, as in strawberry jelly

• a pen

• industrial gel

71. Which of the following is a typically British English word?

Answers:

• highway

• motorway

• freeway

• interstate

72. What British English word is used for the American English word "comforter"?

Answers:

• bed sheets

• duvet

• bedding

• comforting

73. The American word "sneakers" is equivalent to _____ in British English.

Answers:

• track shoes

• snickers

• trainers

• slippers

74. What is the British English equivalent of the American English expression "take it with a grain of salt"?

Answers:

• take it or leave it

• take it with a bit of salt

• take with a grain of sugar

• take it with a pinch of salt

75. Which of the following is not typically used in British English?

Answers:

• gotten

• got

• has got

• did get

76. Which of the following is a spelling typical of British English?

Answers:

• pediatric

• anemia

• oestrogen

• fetal

77. What is the British English equivalent for the American English work "trunk (of a car)"?

Answers:

• chest

• boot

• backside

• basket

78. What is the British English equivalent of the American English expression "skeleton in the closet"?

Answers:

• skeleton in the dresser

• dead body in the closet

• skeleton in the cupboard

• skeleton in the bedrom

79. Which of the following is unique to British English?

Answers:

• The wastebucket

• The garbage can

• The trashcan

• The dust bin

80. Which of the following is not commonly used as a past tense or past participle in British English? 

Answers:

• gotten

• got

• forgotten

• gave

81. In British English, a group of individuals is treated as a single entity. Which of the following would be a correct sentence, according to this rule?

Answers:

• The Parliament sits in their chairs.

• The Parliament complains that their chairs are too short.

• The Parliament taps their feet in anticipation.

• The Parliament sits in its chairs.

82. Which of the following is not a noun with a typical American English spelling?

Answers:

• check

• annexe

• mold

• omelet

83. What is the British English equivalent of the American English expression "blow (or toot) one's horn"?

Answers:

• blow one's flute

• blow one's own trumpet

• make some noise

• play one's own horn

84. There are some differences in pronounciation between British and American English. In American English, the h in the word "herb"  is not pronounced. Is this the case with British English?

Answers:

• no, with the exception of the phrase "herbal tea"

• no, in British English you pronounce the h

• yes, with the exception of the phrase "herbal tea"

• yes, no one pronounces the h

85. In American English, the word "Caravan" is often used in association with gypsies and carnivals. In British English, what does this word identify?

Answers:

• a group of musicians

• a trailer

• a car sales business

• a large car

86. The term "Lady Bird" is a British English word used to signify what animal in American English?

Answers:

• a red beetle

• a song bird

• a stink bug

• a lady bug

87. In British English, the idea of a main street or thoroughfare is called what?

Answers:

• a business street

• a main street

• a high street

• a center street

88. Which of the following words is typical of British English?

Answers:

• mail carrier

• mailbox

• zip code

• postman

89. What is the British English equivalent of the American English expression "sweep under the rug"?

Answers:

• sweep under the carpet

• sweep beneath the rug

• sweep under the sofa

• hide under the rug

90. There are several differences in vocabulary between British and American English. Which of the following represents a term used by speakers of British English?

Answers:

• anti-clockwise

• counter-clockwise

• back-clockwise

• backwards-clockwise

91. What is the British English equivalent of the American English expression "a drop in the bucket"?

Answers:

• a drop in the ocean

• a drop in the bathtub

• a drop in the lake

• a drop in the sea

92. Select the sentence that implements British English:

Answers:

• You must fulfil your duties.

• I love the color of leaves in the fall.

• We had a great dialog about the issue.

93. In American English, the word "cupcake" identifies a small cake that typically fits in the palm of one's hand. What is this cake called in British English?

Answers:

• a palm cake

• a hand cake

• a fairy cake

• a little cake

94. What do you commonly call a zipper in British English?

Answers:

• A zip

• A zipper, the same as American English

• A rotor

• A track

95. In American English, the word "undershirt" is used to describe a shirt worn under an outer shirt like a sweater. What word is used in British English?

Answers:

• a whiteshirt

• a basic shirt

• an undershirt

• a vest

96. Which of the following is not a typical American English wording?

Answers:

• racecar

• file cabinet

• rowboat

• sailing boat

97. In British English prom might refer to a _____, while it would likely refer to a _____ in American English.

Answers:

• hair product; high school dance

• concert; high school dance

• high school dance; concert

• Prom means the same thing in both dialects

98. Which of these statements is true?

Answers:

• A UK pint is larger than a US pint

• A UK pint is smaller than a US pint

• A UK pint is the same as a US pint

99. What can "buck" mean to an American person?

Answers:

• A deer

• A dollar

• A person

• All choices are correct

100. The word "skip" is not only a verb in British English. Which of the following is it used to identify?

Answers:

• a friendly dog

• a jump rope

• a dumpster

• a speed bump

101. A British first aid kit contains paracetamol, which should be replaced with ______ in a US first aid kit.

Answers:

• aspirin

• calamine lotion

• acetaminophen

• ibuprofen

• cortisone cream

102. In British English, a "scrappy" person is likely:

Answers:

• fiesty and opinionated

• messy and disorganized

• tough and tenacious

• hungry and angry

• angry and irritable

103. In American English, if a discussion ends in a "moot point" the subject is no longer relevant. Is this the case with the British English definition of "moot"?

Answers:

• yes, but only for presently occurring situations

• this is not the case

• yes, this is the case

• the term "moot" is not actually used in British English

104. Is the following usage acceptable in British english? Which company are coming to the event.

Answers:

• Yes

• No

105. What American word is equivalent to the British term "tom"?

Answers:

• None of these

• Feral cat

• Prostitute

• Policemen

106. ___ is a British term for greenhouse.

Answers:

• stove

• planthouse

• garden house

• actuary