The book I’m reading of talks about afternoon tea in Britain. It is said to have started in the early 1800’s. Have tea in the late afternoon provides a bridge between lunch and dinner, that might not be served until 8 o’clock at night. This custom soon becomes another meal of day. Interesting, it had a connection by the British porcelain(瓷器) industry. Tea in China was traditionally drank from cups without handles. When tea got popular in Britain, there was a crying need for good cup with handles to suit British habits. This made for the grow in the porcelain industry.    
“短文改错题中的常见错误类型：一、名词
名词方面的错误多指名词单复数形式的误用，可数名词与不可数名词的错误，名词所有格中“‘s”的误置等。
He had no ideas that the kitchen was not for guests. 二、动词的错误
动词错误在短文改错中所占比重最大，它所涉及的错误包括动词的时态、语态错误；易混动词的用法错误；动词的第三人称单数错误；动词的非谓语形式，以及动词的句型搭配错误等。在改错题中，动词方面的考查比例较大。  
The air keeps the balloon up was escaping quickly and the balloon ...
三、形容词、副词的错误
   这类错误多指误用形容词修饰形容词，误用副词修饰名词，误用形容词修饰动词，误用形容词或副词的原级、比较级和最高级以及误用带-ly的副词与不带-ly的副词等，特别注意根据上下文该用比较级而未用的“暗中比较”。  
1. They came back lately and had some tea.
2. Last year, my English teacher proved to be the more popular in our school. 四、连词的错误
短文改错中出现连词就要判断连词用的是否正确，是否符合句子意思；连接的是词还是句子，是否符合逻辑关系。此外如果是平行结构就要注意前后时态、语态、词性一致问题平行结构常借助与并列连词and, or, but, not only.. but also..,…not…but…, either…or…, neither…nor…, as well as等，though不与but连用，because不与so连用等。
It started to rise higher again. So it was still too close to the water.
五、代词的错误
这类错误主要包括形容词性物主代词与名词性物主代词的误用，关系代词、连接代词的误用，代词主格与代词宾格的误用，代词单数与代词复数的误用，各个不定代词之间的误用，反身代词与代词宾格之间的误用，代词的指代错误，定语从句中多用代词等。
1. Everybody sleeps in tents, that is very exciting.
2. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child，they will go hungry. 六、介词的错误
这类错误多指漏掉介词、多用介词或介词与其他词语搭配的错误等。
He was looking for a glass the cupboard. 七、冠词的错误
   这类错误多指a(n)与the的误用，a与an的误用。有时也表现为:单数可数名词前面该用冠词的地方缺少冠词，不该用冠词的地方多了冠词。
And if he breaks the law of society..., he may go to the prison. 八、时态、语态的错误
这类错误主要为现在时态与过去时态、主动语态与被动语态的误用。做题时，应注意把握文中动词时态的呼应规律，注意把握诸个并列动词的时态、语态的呼应规律。
.... sometimes all that is need is someone to rely on. 九、主谓一致的错误
这类错误主要指主语是第三人称单数时，谓语动词形式的错误。因此做题时，要注意谓语动词的形式要和句子主语在人称和数上保持一致。
Anyone can borrow books if he or she wish. 十、短语、句型固定搭配错误
主要考查介词与动词、名词、形容词的固定搭配；副词、动词的固定搭配；及物动词后多介词或副词以及不及物动词后少介词，英语中的一些固定句型与习惯搭配等。
My teacher advised me to keep my diary. 第16讲 短文改错2013新题赏析