People from Great Britain brought the English language to North America in the 16th and 17th centuries． And in the 26 300 years,there were 27 many changes in 28 places that now people can 29 tell an English person 30 an American in the way he or she talks． Many old words 31 in England but were kept in America． For example,300 years ago people in Great Britain got their water from something they called either a
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“faucet,” a “spigot,” or a “tap． ” All these words are 32 heard in different parts of America,but only “tap”is still common in 33． Americans often made up new words or changed old 34． “Corn” is one kind of plant in America and 35 in England． Also,over the last three centuries the English language 36 thousands of new words for things that weren’t known 37． And often,American and English people used two 38 names for them． A tin can（洋铁罐 头） is called “tin”for short in England,but a “can”in America． The word “radio”is 39 all over the world,including（包括） America． But many English people call it a “wireless． ”And almost anything having something to do 40 cars,railroads,etc．41 different names in British and American English． But now American and British English may be growing closer together． One 42 is the large amount（数量）of American speech that British people hear daily in movies,on television,or 43 travelers．44 this,Americans seem to be influencing （影响）the British more and more． So some day,English may even be 45 on both sides of the Atlantic（大西 洋）．