Question

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(引文) 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 booklined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum(精神病院) for the Criminally Insane.

      Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10000 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 414 825words, 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.Which of the following best describes Dr. Minor?

A. Brave and determined.                             B. Unusual and scholarly.

C. Considerate and optimistic.                      D. Cautious and friendly.

4.What does the text mainly talk about?

A. Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary.

B. The friendship between Murray and Minor.

C. The history of the English language.

D. Broadmoor Asylum and its patients.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲述了Minor与第一本牛津英语词典的故事。在编写第一本牛津英语词典的时候，Minor作为志愿者之一，提供了大量的资料。他也因此与主编Murray成了好朋友。

1.根据第一段“what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language”可知，the first Oxford English Dictionary在当时，是规模最大的一次英语字典编纂。故选D。

2.根据“Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray.”可知，Minor加入了志愿者大军，提供了words and quotations。故选C。

3.“he found Minor locked in a booklined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum(精神病院) for the Criminally Insane...Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America...414 825words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient”可知，Minor因犯罪倾向精神病而住进了精神病院，字典中有成千上万的词语是Minor贡献的，而他是一个有学者风度的精神病患者。故选B。

4.文章开始介绍了第一本牛津字典的编纂，接着介绍了Minor作为一个志愿者，为字典的编纂做出的贡献，后来讲述的是Minor的生活，他在第一版牛津字典完成前几年去世了。故选A。

考点：人物类短文阅读