D.Spoken English in Britain.

答案：C　词义猜测题。根据文章第一段第二句可知，美国人想把美国英语的发音与英国英语区分开来，因此可以判断it指代spoken English in America。

37.Why did American want their language to differ from British English?

A.Because they found British English hard to speak.

B.Because they found British English hard to spell.

C.Because they wanted to have their own language and government.

D.Because foreign settlers wanted them to change their language.

答案：C　细节理解题。由第一段中的“...in the same way they separated themselves from the British government.”可知，美国人想如同摆脱英国的控制那样，使美国英语与英国英语不同。

38.Why do Americans use the word “meter” instead of the word “metre”?

A.Because Benjamin Franklin didn't like the word “metre”.

B.Because the word “meter”was absorbed from other languages.

C.Because Webster thought the word should be said in order of the letters that are spelt.

D.Because Webster thought American English should be made easier for foreign settlers to learn.

答案：C　细节理解题。由第四段中的第一句“Webster wrote that all words should be said in the order of the letters that spell them.”可以看出，美国人想让这个单词按照字母的拼写顺序说。

39.Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons why English began to change in America?

A.The government leaders.

B.Noah Webster.

C.Immigration to America.

D.The difficulty Americans had in understanding the British.

答案：D　细节理解题。A、B、C三项都促使了美国英语的改变。

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