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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is generally regarded as the Rolls Royce of English dictionaries. So when the OED recently announced that the latest update to its online dictionary included many ¡°initialisms¡±, like OMG (oh my God) and LOL (laugh out loud), a lot of people went a little nuts.
The news that the OED has used initialisms is shocking, but also, on reflection, not surprising at all. Anyone familiar with text messaging has seen these abbreviations(Ëõд) before. There are many texters, and their number is growing. How, then, can anyone pretend to be surprised that textspeak is becoming mainstream?
There is nothing wrong with the OED adding the above entries. In fact, it would be irresponsible not to make such additions. With so many people actively using shortened forms of language on mobile phones, someone has to step up and record and explain this usage.
Some complained that the OED is just trying to be cool. Maybe the OED wants to be popular with young people in order to sell books. Every time I hear a native speaker of English say things like, ¡°She has less problems than me,¡± I cringe (ÄÑΪÇé). But, whether I like it or not, this usage is quickly becoming acceptable in the spoken idiom.
Be aware, however, written English is still useful. People who are in school, or about to take exams, need to know that textspeak can¡¯t be used in academic writing.
As a linguist (ÓïÑÔѧ¼Ò), I¡¯m glad to see these informal words in our culture enter the pages of online dictionaries, as long as these reference works remind us of the social conventions governing their usage.
66. The underlined phrase ¡°went a little nuts¡± in Paragraph 1 means ¡°became a little __________¡±.
A. amused B. embarrassed C. confused D. shocked
67. The point of Paragraph 3 is to __________.
A. show the growing number of texters worldwide
B. indicate text-messaging is growing around the world
C. explain it¡¯s natural for OED to make the additions
D. note that texters are familiar with initialisms
68. What is probably textspeak according to the text?
A. A writing system.
B. A texting language.
C. A special textbook.
D. A type of message.
69. Which best sums up the point of view of the text?
A. OED should not try to please the young.
B. OED has to satisfy the needs of texters.
C. Textspeak is not always appropriate.
D. Textspeak has affected written English.
70. What¡¯s the author¡¯s attitude to the latest version of the OED online?
A. Positive. B. Oppositive. C. Subjective. D. Doubtful.
DCBCA
ÔĶÁ¿ì³µÏµÁдð°¸Almost 55,000 people who have had a major impact on British society are profiled in a new 60-volume book that has taken 12 years to compile.
It has cost more than ¡ê25 million and taken 10,000 writers to update the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Murder victims Stephen Lawrence and James Bulger are among those joining the likes of Queen Victoria and Gandhi.
The new version of the dictionary, which was founded in 1882, costs ¡ê7,500 and takes up 12 feet of shelf space.
Projects director Robert Faber said Stephen Lawrence was included because his death triggered "dramatic developments in British policing and social policy".
Women make up 10% of the entries - double the previous share - and include Queen Elizabeth I, Dusty Springfield, Linda McCartney and Virginia Woolf, whose father compiled the first edition.
Alongside the famous names are lesser known individuals such as the inventor of snooker, army reservist (Ô¤±¸ÒÛ¾üÈË) Neville Chamberlain.
Stephen Lawrence and James Bulger were both included because of the "overwhelming soul-searching (ÕæÖ¿µÄ×ÔÎÒ·´Ê¡¡¢Éî˼) and examination of education and social policy" which followed their deaths.
Mr Faber said: "These are not just people who were killed but people who had an impact. Jill Dando is there as much for her career but also because her death became a public event.
"So many of these people have seized the public imagination and have contributed to public debate."£¿
| ¡¾Ð¡Ìâ1¡¿ |
|
| A£®died in a case of murder which drew the public much attention |
| B£®isn¡¯t included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |
| C£®is the director of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |
| D£®is included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography only for her death |
| A£®Those who were murdered in history | B£®Those who have shaped Britain |
| C£®Those who are famous all over the world | D£®Those who live in Britain |
| A£®More than ¡ê25million. | B£®More than ¡ê400, 000. | C£®¡ê7, 500. | D£®¡ê125 |
One of the greatest contributors to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations(ÒýÎÄ) showing how it was used.
This was a huge task, so Murray had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as ¡°Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire,¡± 50 miles from Oxford.
Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next 17 years, he became one of the staff¡¯s most valued contributors.
But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in 1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a book-lined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum(¾«Éñ²¡Ôº) for the Criminally Insane.
Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds.
In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend.
Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volunteers defined 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.
¡¾Ð¡Ìâ1¡¿According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary ____.
| A£®came out before Minor died |
| B£®was edited by an American volunteer |
| C£®included the English words invented by Murray |
| D£®was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary |
| A£®He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers. |
| B£®He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray. |
| C£®He provided a great number of words and quotations. |
| D£®He went to England to work with Murray. |
| A£®Brave and determined. | B£®Cautious and friendly. |
| C£®Considerate and optimistic. | D£®Unusual and scholarly. |
| A£®The history of the English language. |
| B£®The friendship between Murray and Minor. |
| C£®Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary. |
| D£®Broadmoor Asylum and its patients. |
One of the greatest contributions to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations (ÒýÎÄ) showing how it was used.
This was a huge task. So Murray had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American Surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as "Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire," 50 miles from Oxford.
Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next years, he became one of the staff's most valued contributors.
But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline(¾Ü¾ø) to visit Oxford. So in 1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a book-lined cell£¨µØ½Ñ£© at the Broadmoor Asylum (¾«Éñ²¡Ôº) for the Criminally insane.
Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds.
In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend.
Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volumes defined£¨Ï¶¨Ò壩 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.
1.According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary .
|
A£®came out before Minor died |
|
B£®was edited by an American volunteer |
|
C£®included the English words invented by Murray |
|
D£®was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary |
2.How did Dr. Minor contribute to the dictionary?
|
A£®He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers. |
|
B£®He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray. |
|
C£®He provided a great number of words and quotations. |
|
D£®He went to England to work with Murray. |
3. Prof. Murray and Dr. Minor became friends mainly because .
|
A£®they both served in the Civil War |
B£®they had a common interest in words |
|
C£®Minor recovered with the help of Murray |
D£®Murray went to America regularly to visit Minor |
4.What does the text mainly talk about?
|
A£®The history of the English language. |
B£®The friendship between Murray and Minor |
|
C£®Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary |
D£®Broadmoor Asylum and his patients |