Question

   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 (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 uBroadmoor,Crowthome,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 staffs 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 Crowthome himself. When he arrived,he found Minor locked in a book-lined 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 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 414,825 words,and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.

45. 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

46. 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.

47. Why did Dr Minor refuse to visit Oxford?

   A. He was shut in an asylum.

   B. He lived far from Oxford.

   C. He was busy writing a book.

   D. He disliked travelling.

48. 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

49. Which of the following best describes Dr Minor?

   A. Brave and determined.

   B. Cautious and friendly.

   C. Considerate and optimistic.

   D. Unusual and scholarly.

50. 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 its patients.

   Whether you are a native English speaker or are learning English as a second language,you can benefit from learning how to improve English language skills. This article delivers the top five methods of improving your English language skill set in the shortest amount of time. 51

   Get a Dictionary

A dictionary can be a great way to improve your vocabulary—after all,it is filled with words. 52 Wherever it is,as long as you find yourself with a few extra free moments,take out your pocket dictionary and learn a new word.

53

    Two quick examples are Elements of Grammar by Strunk & White and Essentials of English by Hopper,Gale & Foote. Grammar books typically help with not only grammar,but also with the correct usage of punctuation and even tips to improve the clarity of your speech or writing.

Learn to Use Words in the Correct Order Words are used in different orders in different languages in the world when trying to express the same meaning. In order to speak English fluently as a native would speak,you are going to have to learn the proper order of words in English sentences. 54

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   A. Improve Your Grammar

   B. How to Learn English

   C. Get a Book on Grammar

   D. Practise often,and you will significantly improve.

   E. If you force yourself to speak the language,you will no doubt improve.

   F. The best way to learn is to study and pick apart English sentences.

   G. You should take a pocket dictionary that you can carry around with you.

Answer 1

45. D 46. C 47. A 48. B 49. D 50. C 51. D 53. C

45. D解析：细节理解题。从最后一段中的 44Minor died in 1920.seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. ”可知A项错误;从第一段 中的“In 1879.Oxford University in England asked Prof James Murray to serve as edi-tor.可知词典是由英国人Murray编辑 的，而后文提到的美国人Minoi.只是个捐 稿人，故B项错误;C项表示“包括了 Mur-ray发明的英语单词”，文中未提及本细节， 故错误；从文章第一段中的serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English lan-guage. ”可知D项正确。

46. C解析：细节理解题。文章第二段提到 Murray找志愿者而不是Minor帮着找，故 A项错误;B项文中并未提及;从第三段中 的 ‘‘ Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray.

知C项正确；从第四段中"... he would always decline to visit Oxford. ” 可知 D 项错 误。

47. A 解析：细节理解题。从第四段中的 uWhen he arrived,he found Minor locked in a book-lined cell at the Broadmoor Asy-lum...”可知选A.从第二段最后一句话 可知Broadmoor离Oxford仅50英里，并不 远，故B项错误。C项表示“他忙着写一本 书”，D项表示“他不喜欢旅行”，这两项文 中均未提及，故排除。

48. B解析：推理判断题。文章只在第二段 提到 Minor served in the Civil War,故可排 除A项;文中并未提及“在Murray的帮助 下Minoi.康复了”这件事，故C项错误；由 文章第四段可以看出，Murray是到离Oxford 不远的 Broadmoor 去拜访 Minor , 这是 在英国，而不是去了美国，故D项错误；由 文章第五段中的“Murray and Minor became friends,sharing their love of words. ” 可知B项正确。

49. D解析：推理判断题。通读全文及文章 最后一句我们不难看出D项正确。

A项表 示“勇敢且坚定的”；B项表示“谨慎且友 好的”；C项表示“体贴且乐观的”。

50. C解析：主旨大意题。综合全文及前面 的分析我们知道，本文主要讲的是Murray 与Minor,特别是Minor为第一本《牛津英 语大词典》所作的贡献，故只有C项最能 概括文章的主旨。

B项表示“Murray与 Minor之间的友谊”，概括不全面，有以偏 概全之感；A项表示“英国的语言史”，有 外延过大之嫌;D项表示“ Broadmoor精神 病院和它的病人们”，根据全文推断不出该 结论。

51. D解析:根据前文“这篇文章主要介绍了 在最短的时间内提高英语技能的五个方 法”可推知下面应建议读者照此练习以获 得成功。

52. G解析:根据下文“无论在哪里只要有时 间就可以拿出袖珍词典”可知本句表示 “你应该拿一本可以随身携带的袖珍 词典”。

53. C解析:浏览本段内容可知，这条建议的 内容是找一本语法书。

54. F解析:根据本段大意“介绍掌握英语句 法的方法”可推知选F。

55. E解析:因为段前有小标题，所以本段表 示要与英语本地人交谈，强迫自己说英语， 这样英语水平一定能提高，