Recently, the Oxford English Dictionary, or OED, added about 1,000 words and new definitions to its website. The changes are to help users understand a mix of terms, some dating back many centuries. The additions include words such as “brencheese”, “deathshildy” and “hip-pop”.
The new entries are part of the company’s update to oed.com, its searchable online dictionary for paid members. The OED makes changes to the website four times each year. But the latest print version has been in process since the year 2000, and may not be ready for 10 more years. That information comes from Katherine Connor Martin, who heads the company’s dictionary operations in the United States.
Usually, the OED watches usage of a word for at least 10 years before deciding whether to add a new entry, new definition or word related to an existing entry, she said. This general rule, however, is sometimes not followed. That is what happened with “tweet”, a word that the OED added far before the 10-year mark. Other times, the company adds words that are very old, but were not included in the dictionary in the past.
“It’s funny because we talk about new words, but many of the words we add are already obsolete. It’s just that they were never in the dictionary before,” Martin told the Associated Press.
That is the reality, she said, of a historical dictionary trying to put more than 1,000 years of English into books that already have over 855,000 entries. So, you get “brencheese”, a rarely used term for when bread and cheese are eaten together. The word dates back to the year 1665. The word “deathshildy” is from Old English. It means someone who is guilty of a serious crime and condemned to death.
The website defines the term “hip-pop” for music that combines parts of hip-hop and popular music. The OED discovered the term “hip-hip pop” was used in a 1985 story from a Pennsylvania newspaper. It noted that the term “hip-pop” appeared in a 1991 U. S. newspaper report about the rap artist M.C. Hammer.
The website has added several other terms related to modern culture. They include three popular terms: “binge-watching”, “spoiler alert” and “microaggression”.
Here are a few other new entries if you long to read on.
1.What has the OED done recently?
A. It has made changes to its words’ explanations.
B. It has sorted out some words which are out of date.
C. It has helped users to have more convenient use of the OED.
D. It has taken in more words and new meanings of some words.
2.The underlined word “obsolete” in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to __________.
A. deserted B. updated
C. changed D. explained
3.What will the paragraph following the passage most probably be about?
A. The influence cultures have on the words in the OED.
B. The difficulties the OED has in choosing the words.
C. The effect modern technology has on the OED.
D. The new vocabularies the OED has included.
4.What’s the best title of the text?
A. The OED, a Great Help for English Learners
B. A Brand New Version of the OED Website
C. A Better Understanding of Words in the OED
D. Examples of the OED Choosing Words
The impression you make at the beginning of an interview is very important. Employers often decide to hire someone in the first three minutes of the interview. They judge you by your appearance, attitude and manners.
A friendly smile when you walk into the room is important. A smile shows a confident and positive attitude.
When you introduce yourself, make eye contact with the interviewer. Some interviewers offer a handshake. Others don't.
Try to be as natural as possible. But pay attention to your body language. The way you sit, walk, gesture, use your voice and show feelings on your face is all part of your body language. It makes the interviewer know how you feel about yourself and the situation you are in. Are you feeling positively about yourself? Your abilities? Your interest in the job?
Speak clearly and loudly enough. Show interest and enthusiasm in your voice. When you speak, look at the interviewer. Also, don't say negative things about yourself, or former employer.
Listen to questions carefully. If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or explain:
"I'm sorry, but I didn't catch that. "
"I'm not sure exactly what you mean. "
Almost everyone is nervous in a job interview. Interviewers know that. They don't expect you to be totally calm and relaxed. But they expect you to try to control your nervousness. They expect you to show confidence in your ability to do the job.
At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for her or his time.
It's a good idea to send a short thank-you letter right after the interview, or deliver it by hand.
Phone the company if you have not heard anything after one week. Ask if they have made a decision about the job.
Good luck!
1.It can be learned from the passage that ______ .
A. you should always put on a smile when meeting the employer
B. you should stand still with respect before the employer
C. employers understand and like employees' nervousness
D. the first impression is very important in an interview
2.Why should we pay attention to our body language? ______
A. Because it can help us win the employer's positive impression.
B. Because it can help us feel about the employer.
C. Because it is needed by our employer.
D. Because we need it to improve our feelings.
3.The main purpose of the passage is ______ .
A. to give you some advice on the art of finding a job
B. to tell right from wrong about job interviews
C. to explain why we should do something about an interview
D. to suggest not being shy in an interview
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? ______
A. A Friendly Smile B. Making a Good Impression
C. Don't Be Nervous D. Sending a Thank-You Letter
Fourth-grade teacher Tori Nelson allowed one of her students to shave her head in the schoolyard, after bullies（仗势欺人者） teased him about his own buzz cut. Ms. Nelson got the idea after noticing that Matthew Finney, a shy boy from her homeroom at Winlock Miller Elementary School in Washington State, was standing outside his classroom crying and wearing a winter hat.
Ms. Nelson could see the back of his neck had been shaved, and since Matthew usually had very thick curly brown hair, she realized that he'd had a haircut over the weekend. She asked him what was wrong， and he said he'd gotten a buzz cut for the summer. But this morning, a fifth grader on the bus made fun of him, and he didn't want to come to class and get laughed at by other kids. Ms. Nelson tried to convince Matthew to come inside, but since school rules banned kids from wearing hats indoors he refused—explaining that he was afraid of showing his haircut to the other children in case they also made fun of him.
"Finally I said, ‘ If you take your hat off and come to class, I'll let you give me a buzz cut too, " Ms. Nelson told Yahoo Parenting. "I figured it's just hair, and mine is already short anyway. I might as well get it shorter in time for the warm weather.
Matthew excitedly took her up on the offer, and Ms Nelson and another teacher gathered all the fourth graders together during break time. A school employee brought in scissors, which Matthew used to the cheers of his classmates, excitedly watching as their teacher's hair fell away onto the ground in the schoolyard.
"It was a lot of fun for the kids, and it helped Matthew feel better about himself. " said Ms Nelson. " You have to do what it takes to reach children. Teaching isn't just about reading and writing: it's about self-worth and accepting differences.
1.What does the underlined word "teased" probably mean？ ______
A. caught up with B. made fun of
C. looked up to D. learned from
2.What mainly led to Matthew's standing outside the classroom？ ______
A. His fear of being laughed at
B. His unwillingness to study
C. His breaking school rules
D. His not finishing his homework．
3.Why did Ms Nelson have her head shaved？ ______
A. To prepare for the warm weather． B. To show sympathy for Matthey
C. To comfort and encourage Matthew． D. To show her unique personality
4.Which words can best describe Ms Nelson？ ______
A. Knowledgeable and strict B. Responsible and caring
C. Humorous and easygoing． D. Stubborn and determined
CLASSIC TOURS—COACH BREAK INFORMATION
Luggage
We ask you to keep a medium-sized suitcase per person, but a small holdall can also be taken onto the coach.
Seats
Requests for particular seats can be made on most coach breaks (巴士旅游) when booking, but since seats are booked on a first come, first serve basic, early booking is advisable. When bookings are made with us, you will be offered the best seats that are available on the coach at that time.
Travel Documents
When you have paid your deposit（订金）, we will send you all the necessary documents, so that you can receive them in good time before the coach break leaving date. Certain documents, for example, air or boat tickets, may have to be reserved and your guide will then give them to you during the break.
Special Diets
If you require a special diet, you must inform us at the time of booking with a copy of the diet. This will be told to the hotels on your coach break. The hotels for certain coach breaks are tourist class and they may not have the equipment to deal with special diets. Any extra costs must be paid to the hotel by yourself before leaving the hotel.
Accommodation
On any coach break there are only a limited number of single rooms. When a single room is available, it may be subject to an extra charge and this will be shown on the brochure page.
Entertainment
Some of our hotels arrange extra entertainment which could include music, dancing, films, etc. The nature and frequency of the entertainment presented is decided by the hotel and therefore not guaranteed and could be withdrawn if there is a lack of demand or insufficient numbers in the hotel.
1.If you want to choose certain seats of the coach, you should _________.
A. take little luggage B. avoid traveling in holidays
C. book your seat well in advance D. arrive early on the leaving date
2.It may be necessary to pay extra for_________.
A. single rooms B. particular seats
C. entertainment D. hand luggage
3.Where is the passage mostly taken from?
A. A fashion magazine. B. A business report.
C. A legal document. D. A travel brochure.
假如你是李华，你的美国朋友Jim来信，询问如何保持健康，请你给他回信提一些建议。内容要点包括：
1.注意合理饮食，饮用适量的水；
2.保证充足的睡眠，远离坏的生活习惯；
3.坚持锻炼身体，多参加体育运动；
4.保持积极乐观的生活态度。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头和结尾已给出，不计人总词数。
Dear Jim,
You sent a letter to ask some advice about how to keep healthy. Here are some ways that you can have a try.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
语法填空
How are you getting along with your high school? It may be hard for you as this is the first time that you 1.(leave) your parents. I know that you are now having trouble 2.(communicate) with others. That's3. you are new here and people don't know about you. But I think you can follow the advice below.
First, you should take 4.active part in the discussions and show your own opinions about the matters, and at the same time, learn to listen to other people's views5.(careful). Second, you should learn about your classmates' likes and dislikes,6. can make you get familiar with them. Only in this way can you get to know more 7. (difference) people and show them that you are just as friendly. I'm always here ready to help. We can take part in some8. (activity) together and I can introduce you to others.
There's no need 9.(worry) too much. People will know you more very soon and will like to make friends 10.you if you can do as the above.
