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Transatlantic Mutations Trivia Quiz

Many British words do not cross over to USA or vice versa at least not in same meaning. Just see how 'bilingual' you really are. Hints should keep you on track.

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
flem-ish

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
66,800

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1990

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In AE a British communication cord becomes an __________ -cord.

Answer: (Solution begins in e and ends in y)

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the British-English word for AE suspenders in the meaning of straps of elastic, leather etc. that are used to support trousers?

Answer: (Six letters. Plural.)

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Question 3 of 10

3. In case there is a fire BE-speakers warn the fire-brigade, the AE-speakers expect help from the fire-___________

Answer: (Ten letters.)

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Question 4 of 10

4. British counties have their county-towns. An American county has its county- _____

Answer: (Use singular.Four letters. Town in which the business of the county is transacted)

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Question 5 of 10

5. A BE speaker opens the French windows, an AE speaker opens the French ______

Answer: (Five letters.When they are open,you can walk through them..so there is some logic in the AE point of)

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Question 6 of 10

6. A British goods-train becomes an American __________- train.

Answer: (Seven letters.So it cannot be cargo !)

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Question 7 of 10

7. BE clothes pegs become AE clothes_______

Answer: (Four letters.)

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Question 8 of 10

8. British bowler-hats are _____-hats in USA.

Answer: (Five letters. Think of horse-races.)

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Question 9 of 10

9. Britain has trade-unions, America has ____-unions.

Answer: (Five letters.No u included.)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Holden Caulfield played checkers with Jane Gallagher. His British equivalent would have preferred ________

Answer: (8 letters . Do not catch a cold, while thinking this one over.)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In AE a British communication cord becomes an __________ -cord.

Answer: emergency

Communication cord is the chain in a train carriage which a passenger can pull to stop the train if he or she is in trouble.

It's obvious that to a BE speaker emergency cord would also be perfectly understandable and the clarity of the word emergency cord may cause the AE word soon to prevail in UK too. www/logos.it/owa-wt/wordtheque gives quotes from Agatha Christie, Max Beerbohm, Henry B. Irving, Saki using the word communication cord in a train context. The term is also mentioned at www.askoxford.com/dictionary/communication

2. What is the British-English word for AE suspenders in the meaning of straps of elastic, leather etc. that are used to support trousers?

Answer: braces

Suspenders may also be garters: fasteners which are fixed by a short elastic strap to a type of belt which women wear round their waists under their clothes, and which are used for holding up stockings by their tops. Or just more generally: a piece of elastic used for holding up a stocking or sock. "Braces" are fastened to the waistband and pass over the shoulders.

3. In case there is a fire BE-speakers warn the fire-brigade, the AE-speakers expect help from the fire-___________

Answer: department

Fire fighters are people who work at putting out forest fires. The firestation is the headquarters of a fire department.

4. British counties have their county-towns. An American county has its county- _____

Answer: seat

Taking into account that Texas is divided in no fewer than 254 counties and that all of England does not even have 50 counties, it's clear we are talking on a different scale. The older word for BE counties is shire and here Britain and U.S.A. meet again as the famous 'sheriff' is nobody else but the 'reeve'(see Chaucer's Prologue) of a 'shire'.

5. A BE speaker opens the French windows, an AE speaker opens the French ______

Answer: doors

French cuffs are shirt cuffs of double thickness fastened with a cuff link. French dressing is a salad dressing of oil and vinegar and seasonings. French toast is sliced bread dipped in egg and milk batter and lightly fried. Take French leave is to absent oneself without permission, a saying which seems to illustrate well the sort of opinion Americans have of a Frenchman's reliability.

6. A British goods-train becomes an American __________- train.

Answer: freight

Freight can also be the cargo of a ship or the charge for this.

7. BE clothes pegs become AE clothes_______

Answer: pins

A forked peg or clip for fastening wash to a clothesline. Pin money was the money allowed to a woman or earned by her for private expenses. There also are safety pins, rolling pins, bowling pins and hairpins.

8. British bowler-hats are _____-hats in USA.

Answer: derby

A derby hat is a man's stiff felt hat. The Derby can either be the annual horse race at Churchill Downs, Kentucky or the annual horse race at Epsom, near London, England.

9. Britain has trade-unions, America has ____-unions.

Answer: labor

No caps ... and no u ...After all it's not Tony Blair's Labour Party.

10. Holden Caulfield played checkers with Jane Gallagher. His British equivalent would have preferred ________

Answer: draughts

Game played by two people each with twelve circular pieces, on a black and white square. Draughts can, of course, also be the currents of unpleasantly cold air blowing through a room. Apart from draught as in draught beer and in draught horse there is also 'draught' as when you refer to the depth of water needed for a boat to be able to float.

Source: Author flem-ish

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