Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language . I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary, which, by degrees, I reduced to method, establishing to myself, in the progress of the work, such rules as experience and analogy suggested to me; experience, which practice and observation were continually increasing; and analogy, which, though in some words obscure, was evident in others. The excerpt suggests that Johnson’s work is significant because it
Answer
A
follows a method prescribed by other dictionaries.
B
includes obscure words not previously defined.
C
reflects an exhaustive study of its words.
D
teaches readers how to understand analogies.
Explanation
Johnson says he read writers and collected examples that could clarify each word or phrase, gradually organizing those materials into a dictionary. He also developed rules through continued practice and observation. This suggests the dictionary reflects an extensive study of words and their uses, so the best answer is C, “reflects an exhaustive study of its words.”
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