One big difference between British and American English is in vocabulary. For example, the British use the word “autumn” 1. ________ the Americans use the word “fall”. In this case, the older word is “autumn”. However, about four hundred years ago, the word “autumn” was 2. ________ with “fall”. Later, the British returned to “autumn”, while the 3. ________ still use “fall”.
Of course, people from many different countries came to America and made their 4. ________ to American English. Indeed, in American English there are words from every major 5. ________ spoken on Earth. Many of these words are absent in British English.
6. ________ big distinction between American and British English is spelling. After the Americans defeated the British in 1781 and 7. ________ independence, they wanted to make their spelling of English words 8. ________. Therefore, Americans write “color” 9. ________ “colour”.
Finally, the pronunciations and accents are different. Both countries have slowly 10. ________ the way they say the same words, but in different ways. This process is continuing even today.
