2．In English the spelling of words does not always represent the sound．So people say/rait/but spell it right or write，or even rite．Combinations of letters may be pronounced in many ways．And some words just seem to have too many letters．
For Americans things are a little bit easier，thanks to the work of Noah Webster，a teacher who graduated from Yale University in 1778．As a young man，he had fought against the British in the American War of Independence，and he felt that written English in the newly independent United States should have a distinctive American look．
So he began his work on American English．His first book，The Elementary Spelling Book，suggested simplifying the spelling of English words．The book was extremely popular．By the 1850s，it was selling one million copies a year，making it one of the most popular school books ever．
Many of the suggestions were quickly adopted．Center instead of centre，program instead of programme，and flavor instead of flavour．Others，however，such as removing silent letters like s in island or the final e in examine，were not．
Webster is best known for his American Dictionary of the English language，which first appeared in 1828．It introduced lots of new American words，with information about their pronunciation and use，and，of course，the new spelling．The British criticized the dictionary，but it quickly became a standard reference book in the States．Today，Webster's dictionary is still the number one dictionary for American students．
5．What is the text mainly about？D
A．Webster and his best sellers．
B．British and American English．
C．The history of American English．
D．The man who made spelling simple．
6．Which is the right order according to the text？C
①Webster graduated from Yale University．
②American Dictionary of the English language came out．
③Webster's book was selling one million copies a year．
④Webster took part in the American War of Independence．
A．②①③④B．③①②④C．④①③②D．①②③④
7．What can we learn from the text？A
A．All the spelling of words does not represent the sound．
B．The Elementary Spelling Book was published in the 1850s．
C．Webster's suggestions were accepted completely．
D．Webster's dictionary is the best all over the world．
8．What attitude do the British have towards Webster's dictionary？B
A．They thought highly of it．
B．They found fault with it．
C．They argued bitterly about it．
D．They followed the examples of it．
分析 文章主要讲述美国伟大的字典编撰家Noah Webster对于英语拼写发展的重大贡献，他的努力使得英语拼写变得更加的容易，而他编的书籍和字典也备受欢迎和产生了深远影响．
解答 5．D．主旨大意题．根据文章的主旨大意可知，文章主要讲述Noah Webster使得英语拼写变得更加的容易．故D正确．
6．C．细节考查题．根据第二段"As a young man，he had fought against the British in the American War of Independence"可知他参加内战发生在大学毕业之前，原文用了had fought．由历史知识也可以知道美国1776年独立，独立战争发生在大学毕业1778年之前．由第三段"By the 1850s，it was selling one million copies a year"可知，这一畅销发生在大学毕业之后；由此通过排除法即可排出顺序．故C正确．
7．A．细节理解题．根据文章首句In English the spelling of words does not always represent the sound．可知英语所有的拼写不代表发音．故A正确．
8．B．细节理解题．根据文章最后一段The British criticized the dictionary，but it quickly became a standard reference book in the States．可知英国人是持批评态度的．故B正确．
点评 对于故事类的阅读短文，要先通读全文，然后带着问题，再有针对性的研读文中的具体段落，找出答题所需要的依据，完成阅读．本文主要考查细节理解题，要求学生有很强的分析能力．
