1. a half hour / half an hour
an hour and a half / one hour and a half / one and a half hours
以上说法,常有讨论孰对孰错,以及美国人说哪个英国人说哪个,美国人这样回答:
Both are correct. US people say both depending on the situation and the person speaking. Maybe "an hour and a half" is more common. It isn't necessary to say "one" because we always like to shorten things as much as possible. The US is a very large country with different dialects and different ways of saying exactly the same thing.
2. right 表示 “马上" "就”
美国人在口语中喜欢用副词 right 表示“马上” “就”, 例如:
I have the report right here in front of me. 就在我面前
Please put it down right here. 就放这
I will be right back. 马上回来
以上二句如果由英国人来说,可能是这样:
Please put it down just here.
I will be back immediately.
3. 华盛顿是美国南北方的分界线
1783年,美国对英独立战争胜利,建国在确定首都时发生争执。北方希望首都在纽约,南方则希望定都南方。最后折中方案,在南北方天然分界线——波托马克河 (Potomac River) 畔建新城市作为首都,即今天的华盛顿。
美国南方包括16个州(Southern States):
佛罗里达、佐治亚、北卡罗来纳、南卡罗来纳、维吉尼亚、西弗吉尼亚、马里兰、德拉维、阿拉巴马、肯塔基、密西西比、田纳西、阿肯色、路易斯安那、奥克拉荷马、德克萨斯。
美国南方主要是农业和种植业。