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 Murrary 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 （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．
1. 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． |
| 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． |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】“You can use me as a last resort(选择), and if nobody else volunteers，then I will do it.” This was an actual reply from a parent after I put out a request for volunteers for my kids lacrosse(长曲棍球)club.
I guess that there's probably some demanding work schedule, or social anxiety around stepping up to help for an unknown sport. She may just need a little persuading. So I try again and tug at the heartstrings. I mention the single parent with four kids running the show and I talk about the dad coaching a team that his kids aren’t even on … At this point the unwilling parent speaks up,“Alright. Yes, I’ll do it.”
I’m secretly relieved because I know there’s real power in sharing volunteer responsibilities among many. The unwilling parent organizes the meal schedule, sends out emails, and collects money for end-of-season gifts. Somewhere along the way, the same parent ends up becoming an invaluable member of the team. The coach is able to focus on the kids while the other parents are relieved to be off the hook for another season. Handing out sliced oranges to bloodthirsty kids can be as exciting as watching your own kid score a goal.
Still, most of us volunteers breathe a sigh of relief when the season comes to a close. That relief is coupled with a deep understanding of why the same people keep coming back for more: Connecting to the community(社区)as you freely give your time, money, skills, or services provides a real joy. Volunteering just feels so good.
In that sense, I’m pretty sure volunteering is more of a selfish act than I’d freely like to admit. However, if others benefit in the process, and I get some reward too, does it really matter where my motivation lies?
1. What does the underlined phrase“tug at the heartstrings”in paragraph 2 mean ?| A．Encourage team work. |
| B．Appeal to feeling. |
| C．Promote good deeds. |
| D．Provide advice. |
【推荐2】One afternoon, after finishing shopping in a supermarket, my family and I went to the checkout. I suddenly thought we didn’t need any of the junk, and we abandoned all of those, saving $300.
That got me thinking about all our pointless expenses in life. With a promise that we’d stop if it was killing us, I convinced the family to take the leap into frugality (节俭). The rules were that we would buy nothing for 30 days except absolutely essentials.
Our adventure began with a great start. By 9 a.m., my wife, Ruth, had already made cakes from old strawberries and picked flowers I didn’t even know we had in the garden. I cleared the car by hand for the first time for years. I read and returned the neighbor’s newspaper before he woke up. Total spending on the first day: $0.
As days turned into weeks, we became so proficient at living frugally. We started riding our bikes to save gas. My child’s finger painting was recycled as gift wrap for the homemade presents. We started to use an Internet application like Skype for free phone calls and ask neighbors with gardens for extra vegetables and herbs.
In the end, we saved more than $2000 by not spending for a month. When we began, I imagined we would rush out the moment we were done and buy a lot of things in the supermarket, then maybe hit the mall or go to the movies.
1. We can infer from the passage that before that very afternoon, the family _________.| A．had had higher income |
| B．had had a good habit of saving money |
| C．had often spent money without thinking much |
| D．hadn’t realized they would have met financial problems |
| A．Two. | B．Three. |
| C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．Arranged. | B．Thrilled. | C．Disappointed. | D．Skilled. |
| A．how a family managed their daily life | B．a family’s no-buying try |
| C．a family’s way of solving life problems | D．how a new idea came up |
【推荐3】Sarah Toumi, a young girl growing up in France, had a dream of becoming a leader who could make a positive impact on the world. Her desire to help others was awakened when she accompanied her Tunisian father to his hometown in the eastern part of Tunisia during vacations. During her time there, she organized homework clubs and activities for children. Toumi personally witnessed the negative effects of desertification (沙漠化). She realized that within 10 years, wealthy farmers had become worse off. Toumi was determined to stop the progression of the Sahara Desert. Due to a decrease in average rainfall and an increase in severe droughts (干旱), nearly 75% of Tunisia’s agricultural lands are currently at risk of desertification.
Toumi understood the need for a change in farming practices. She firmly believed that even small plots of land could bring significant returns if farmers were willing to adapt. This adaptation involved planting sustainable crops, using advanced water treatment technologies, and using natural products and fertilizers (肥料) instead of chemical alternatives.
In 2012, Toumi took a decisive step towards realizing her dream of fighting desertification. She moved to Tunisia and set up a program called Acacias for All, with the aim of putting her sustainable farming ideas into action. “I want to show young people in the countryside that they can create opportunities where they are. Nobody is better able to understand the impact of desertification and climate change than somebody who is living without water.”
By September 2016, over 130,000 acacia trees had been planted on 20 pilot farms, with a survival rate of 60% reported by farmers. Toumi estimates that around 3 million acacia trees are required to protect Tunisia’s farmland. She plans to plant 1 million trees by 2018. In the coming years, Toumi aims to promote the program to Algeria and Morocco.
1. How did Toumi’s holiday trips to Tunisia influence her?| A．They made her decide to leave the country. | B．They helped her better understand her father. |
| C．They destroyed her dream of being a teacher. | D．They inspired her to take action to help others. |
| A．Cold weather. | B．Soil pollution. | C．Low rainfall. | D．Forest damage. |
| A．To ensure access to primary education for children. |
| B．To promote the protection of agricultural land. |
| C．To create job opportunities for young people. |
| D．To persuade the farmers not to use fertilizers. |
| A．Determined and helpful. | B．Considerate and calm. |
| C．Wealthy and academic. | D．Thankful and flexible. |
【推荐1】Chopin, one of the most influential and popular pianists in the field of music, was born in Poland. He lived in a happy family. His father was a French teacher at the Warsaw Lyceum which Chopin later attended. His mother liked singing Polish folk songs very much. When Chopin was still a baby, his mother often sang songs to make him sleep. The charm of music was firmly rooted in the young Chopin’s heart and accompanied him until the end of his life.
His early training started at home, including getting piano lessons from his mother. When he was 4, his parents bought a piano at home. His mother often played the piano with him. Chopin had an unspeakable feeling for the piano. He often climbed onto the chair and beat the keys with his tender hands. “This is our son playing the piano. And it is a Polish folk song!” Chopin’s mother was surprised, and his father was very proud.
By the age of seven, Chopin had created original works, which showed his prodigious musical ability. Then his parents sent him to learn piano from Wojciech Zywny. When Chopin was sixteen, he attended the Warsaw Conservatory of Music, directed by composer Josephy Elsner. Like other young musicians during the Classical and Romantic Periods, Chopin was sent to Vienna, the center of music for that day. While he was in Vienna, Poland and Russia faced off in the beginnings of war. He returned to Warsaw to get his things for a more permanent move.
The war in Poland inspired Chopin to write many sad works expressing his grief for his motherland. Among these was the famous “Revolutionary Etude”. As the war continued in Warsaw and then reached Paris, Chopin retired to Scotland with friends. Although he was far beyond the reach of the revolution, he fell into deep depression. Besides, his health was in bad condition. Finally, he died at the age of 39, and was buried in Paris.
1. Who was Chopin’s first music teacher?| A．Wojciech Zywny. | B．His mother. | C．Josephy Elsner. | D．His father. |
| A．Chopin’s parents paid much attention to his education. |
| B．Chopin was forced to practice the piano by his mother. |
| C．His mother was his French teacher. |
| D．He lacked love in his childhood. |
| A．Because his health was poor. | B．Because he had special ability in music. |
| C．Because he loved his homeland, Poland so much. | D．He was inspired by his friends. |
| A．After first being sent to Vienna, Chopin never returned to Poland. |
| B．The center of music was in Paris for that day. |
| C．Chopin left Poland because he hated it. |
| D．He died early because of his poor health and his deep feeling of depression. |
【推荐2】I went shopping for a dress to wear to my daughter’s high school graduation half a year ago. To my horror, I could only fit into a size 20.
Being overweight most of my adult life, I always had very little self-confidence. Wearing a dress I didn’t like to such an important event was enough to make me look for help. Thankfully, a friend of mine was attending Weight Watchers meetings, and I noticed her great progress. Her success inspired me to give it a try. I joined Weight Watchers, attended their meetings and started following their Weight-Loss System.
I focused on the plan with determination and never missed a weekly meeting! I discovered that I enjoyed the benefits of having the help and support of others. I also read the weekly online e-newsletter and was inspired by the stories, recipes and information offered there, I also read magazines produced by Weight Watchers, which have great tips and new ideas in each issue.
It’s hard for me to even remember the person I was before my amazing change. I didn’t walk anywhere and couldn’t wash my car or walk my dog. Today I do these simple tasks without even thinking about them. But the change didn’t happen overnight. I had to exercise with patience and perseverance. I decided to take it one day at a time and stick with it for good.
The “new me” is more self-confident and healthier. I love how I feel now. I have more energy and feel like I’m 25 again. So why not give Weight Watchers a try if you have the same overweight problem?
1. The underlined word “inspired” in the second paragraph can be replaced by .| A．excited | B．moved | C．encouraged | D．forced |
| A．often went shopping before she lost weight | B．was overweight when she was a child |
| C．ever wanted to give up losing weight | D．now is more confident than before |
| A．tell us how to gain self-confidence |
| B．show off the great progress that the author has made |
| C．give us some tips on how to lose weight quickly |
| D．advise overweight people to give Weight Watchers a try |
| A．Weak. | B．Calm. | C．Patient. | D．Silent. |
【推荐3】People have always been attracted to rock-climbing and plenty of accidents have resulted from this hobby. Seventeen-year-old Wendy Sherlock has fallen three times without any injury while rock-climbing, but after her latest accident last Saturday, she is lucky to be alive.
Wendy has been in hospital for two days after an eight-metre fall from a rocky cliff in the Sanderson National Park. She doesn’t remember much about the accident, and it’s not surprising considering her injuries.
“I’ve got quite a bad head injury-that’s the worst thing,” Wendy explained. “But I’ve also broken my arm and a couple of my ribs (肋骨) and there’s a problem with my left shoulder.” She doesn’t know how long she will have to stay in hospital, as the doctors haven’t told her yet. However, she is realistic about her recovery. “I’ll be in here for a while, and I need time to recover because I hit my head when I fell on the ground. That’s why I can’t remember anything about the accident.”
Wendy’s doctors are certain that there’s no long-lasting damage, but they’ve advised her to give up her dangerous sport. However, Wendy is undeterred. “Since I was a child, I’ve always loved climbing and I decided to continue doing it,” she said. “I think this accident is simply a reminder to take a little more care. I’ve started to feel better already, and I can’t wait to start climbing again.”
1. What can we know from the first paragraph?| A．Wendy isn’t interested in mountain climbing. |
| B．Wendy never had accidents while rock-climbing. |
| C．No difficulty can stop Wendy from rock-climbing. |
| D．Wendy got injured while rock-climbing lately. |
| A．She has a bad head injury. |
| B．She has fallen twice. |
| C．She has to stay in hospital. |
| D．She is too frightened to remember anything. |
| A．Not confused. | B．Not determined. |
| C．Not discouraged. | D．Not satisfied. |
| A．A Lesson for Wendy. | B．Cool Sports. |
| C．Sports and Fitness. | D．The Person and Nature. |
【推荐1】Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901. Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. He is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design.
Disney is famous for his contributions in the field of entertainment during the 20thcentury. His first success was through the series, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit which was created by the Disney studio for Charles Mintz of Universal Studios. When Disney asked for a larger budget for his popular Oswald series, Mintz refused and Disney had to quit. Later, Disney and his brother Roy O. Disney started from scratch and co-founded Walt Disney Productions, now known as The Walt Disney Company. Today, this company has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion. This success is largely due to a number of the world’s most famous fictional characters he and his staff created including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice.
Disney won 26 Academy Awards out of 59 nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He is also the name sake for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, as well as the international resorts in Japan, France, and China.
Disney died of lung cancer in Burbank, California, on December 15, 1966. The following year, construction began on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. His brother Roy Disney inaugurated The Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971.
1. Walt Disney can be described with the following words except _____.| A．Famous. | B．Creative. |
| C．Versatile. | D．Respectful. |
| A．Walt Disney’s talent was not valued by his old boss Charles Mints. |
| B．Mickey Mouse made a great contribution for The Walt Disney Company. |
| C．Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is considered the greatest success by Walt Disney. |
| D．Walt Disney and his brother started a new company with the help of a sponsor. |
| A．The road to fame and success for Disney. |
| B．Misfortunes and regrets in Disney’s life. |
| C．Disney’s talents in the field of entertainment. |
| D．Achievements and recognition that Disney gained. |
【推荐2】Tracy was always hard-working and creative. She started a website called TEAM for girls when she was 16, and it’s doing better than ever.
TEAM now has 10 million visits every month.
When she was ten, Tracy drew four characters (人物). They are all girls, and they are good friends. She called them “Amazing Girls”. The main amazing girl, Miss E, represents (代表) her younger sister Elizabeth. Amy writes stories, and Mary answers questions. “Amazing Girls” finally became TEAM. “TEAM” means “Together everyone achieves more”.
At that time, Tracy wanted a safe and warm site for girls, but she couldn’t find one. So she decided to create one herself.
At first, Tracy asked family members and friends for help. Her computer teacher also helped her a lot. She created a small website. “There was a homepage, which had the four characters and simple flash animations (动画),” Tracy says. “It was very, very simple, but it was a start.”
Now it is a heaven for millions of girls. It has message boards, quizzes, games, music, and more. Girls can help each other with homework here. And they can also discuss fashion, dancing and singing stars. They feel free and comfortable. They have made their life more fruitful and meaningful.
“I’m able to learn so much about culture around the world,” Tracy says. “The goal for the site was, and still is, to help young girls to believe in themselves.”
1. How many visits does TEAM have every month now?| A．10 million. | B．16 million. | C．17 million. |
| A．Answers questions. | B．Draws characters. | C．Writes stories. |
| A．Because she wanted to make money. |
| B．Because she couldn’t find one for girls. |
| C．Because her computer teacher asked her to create one. |
| A．do their homework | B．dance and sing | C．believe in themselves |
| A．Girls’ Success | B．Girls’ Website | C．TEAM’s Meaning |
【推荐3】A blind Chinese climber reached the summit (顶点) of Qomolangma, known in the West as Mount Everest, on Monday morning, becoming the first blind person from Asia ever to conquer the world’s highest summit.
Zhang Hong, 46, reached the top from the Nepali side, along with three high-altitude guides.
Zhang, who was born in Chongqing, lost his sight at the age of 21. He now works at Fukang Hospital Affiliated with Tibet University in Lhasa. As Zhang began his climb of Qomolangma, which is 8,848. 86 meters above sea level, his colleagues in Lhasa were excited to hear the news of his success.
“Many people may have doubted his attempt of climbing at first, but I was confident in him from the beginning,” said Kyila, the secretary of the Fukang Angel Foundation, who also is a blind person. “I knew before that he could make it, and he did make it. I am really happy for him. He is a model for blind people to encourage them to chase their dreams.”
Zhang’s passion for climbing was inspired by Lotse, a famous Tibetan climber who conquered all the world’s 14 summits above the altitude of 8,000 meters. Lotse had shared the story of the blind US mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer, who climbed Qomolangma in May 2001. Zhang was touched by the story, which ignited his dream of climbing.
As an amateur climber for years, Zhang had conquered three mountains above the altitude of 6,000 meters before climbing the world’s highest summit. He had begun preparing for the Qomolangma climb in 2019. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic (流行病), all mountaineering teams on Qomolangma were canceled in Nepal and China last year, and he had to wait until recently to finally make the attempt.
1. What can we infer from what Kyila said?| A．He had been inspired by Lotse. |
| B．He had much belief in Zhang’s success. |
| C．Zhang’s colleagues doubted his motivation. |
| D．Zhang centered on climbing in his spare time. |
| A．Lighted. | B．Accomplished. | C．Followed. | D．Recalled. |
| A．He was too weak. | B．He wasn’t well prepared. |
| C．A pandemic broke out. | D．Extreme weather occurred. |
| A．Zhang Hong Sets an Example to Others |
| B．A Blind Climber Reaches Qomolangma Summit |
| C．Qomolangma Attracts More Chinese to Climb |
| D．A Chinese Climber Got Through the Pandemic |
