Question

It is an odd coincidence（巧合）that in the year when the Oxford English Dictionary is being put on to a computer, which will be able to read all of it in 10 minutes, we should also be celebrating the bicentenary of the death of the last man to write an English dictionary only with single－handed－Dr. Samuel Johnson.

Johnson’s dictionary took him eight years from 1747 to 1755, working in the attic of his London home, now one of the city’s tourist sights. Then, it was like a counting house with his copyists on high stools, transcribing the works and their illustrative contexts, which he had underlined（勾画）in his wide range of reading.

He had six assistants and finished his task in eight years. The editor of the Oxford dictionary had 25 lexicographers（词典编纂人员）to assist him and, although the first volume was published in 1884, the last supplement（补编）would not be ready until next year－101 years later. The present editor, Robert Burchfield, had put 28 years into it.

Yet Johnson's dictionary was still being used until the Oxford dictionary replaced it, and it was regularly reprinted long after his death in 1784. It was written, he said, to refine the English language,“to clear it from colloquial barbarisms（不规范语言）and licentious idioms.”

It certainly bore the stamp of one man's personality. Many of his definitions（释义）show his sense of humor. “Novel”, for instance, is defined as “a small tale, generally of love”, and“dull” is illustrated by the sentence:“To make dictionaries is a dull work.”

 

72.We know from the passage that the Oxford English Dictionary     .

A.was put on to a computer in 1984

B.was published at the year when Dr. Johnson died

C.was published 200 years after Dr. Johnson died

D.was put on to a computer in 1985

73.The sharp contrast mentioned in the passage between Johnson’s dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary is     .

A.the former came before the latter.

B.the former bore the stamp of one man’s personality while the latter that of 25 lexicographers.

C.the latter was put on to a computer while the former was replaced by the latter.

D.the former was finished almost single－handed while the latter was the product of a group of lexicographers.

74.Dr. Johnson's dictionary is s dictionary of     .

A.colloquial barbarisms   B.licentious idioms 

C.standard English        D.colloquial barbarisms and licentious idioms

75.Which of the following is not true?

A.After Johnson joint efforts are employed to compile dictionaries.

B.The compiling of the Oxford English Dictionary was finished in 1985.

C.Johnson’s dictionary is popular for more than 100 years.

D.Johnson’s dictionary is the first English Dictionary.

Answer 1

ADCD