Which feature is characteristic of British English as described?

• A. Uniform vocabulary across regions
• B. Lack of spelling variation from American
• C. Dominant code-switching patterns
• D. Regional vocabulary differences, e.g., 'lorry' for truck

Answer: (D)

The point being tested is that British English features regional vocabulary differences rather than a single, uniform lexicon. In Britain, different areas use distinct terms for the same everyday objects, reflecting local culture and history. A classic example is 'lorry' for the vehicle Americans call a 'truck'—a term almost universally used in the UK, while 'truck' is common in American English. This kind of regional variation is typical of a broad national variety like British English.

Think of it this way: language in a large country often splits into regional dialects with their own preferred words, spellings, and even pronunciations. That’s why you also see differences such as 'boot' for the car storage area and 'flat' for a rented apartment, alongside other pairs like 'petrol' vs 'gas' and 'biscuit' vs 'cookie'.

The other statements don’t fit as characteristic features. British English does show spelling variation with American English (colour vs color, centre vs center, realise vs realize), so it isn’t devoid of spelling differences. And while there is some code-switching in multilingual contexts, it isn’t the defining feature of British English as a whole.