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 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(拒绝) 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（地窖） 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（下定义） 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

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：1.D 细节题。根据第一段2,3行James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language.说明他是想把牛津字典成为最好的字典，故正确。

2.C 推理题。根据第一段最后2行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.说明这些志愿者要做的事情就是寻找到世界上所有的英语词汇，在提高出处和证明，这也正是Dr. Minor所做的。故C正确。

3.B 细节题。根据第五段第一行Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words.说明B正确。

4.C 主旨大意题。文章主要讲述的是第一版牛津字典的出版中的志愿者Minor在这本字典的出版过程中所起的作用。故C正确。

考点：考查人物传记类短文阅读