AnswersOK-English IV A-CRWord Meaning in the Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language

Word Meaning in the Preface to A Dictionary of the English Language Answers

10 verified answers7 views
3

Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Which statement best describes Johnson’s treatment of the underlined word?

Question illustration
A
Johnson uses the word to criticize established publications.
B
Johnson uses the word to express indifference about written material.
C
Johnson uses the word to assert his admiration for published writing.
D
Johnson uses the word to suggest that his writing is worthy of high praise.
4

Which words have positive connotations? Check all that apply.luxuriousarrogantelegantpretentiousfashionable

A
luxurious
B
arrogant
C
elegant
D
pretentious
E
fashionable
9

Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Which statement best describes the use of the underlined word in the excerpts?

Question illustration
A
In excerpt 1, it refers to personal growth, while in excerpt 2, it suggests the physical act of moving.
B
In excerpt 1, it refers to personal growth, while in excerpt 2, it suggests scientific discoveries.
C
In excerpt 1, it refers to societal advancement, while in excerpt 2, it suggests the gradual march of time.
D
In excerpt 1, it refers to societal advancement, while in excerpt 2, it suggests steps toward a particular goal.
10

etymologiesdefinitionsomissionsquotations

A
etymologies
B
definitions
C
omissions
D
quotations
11

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.But to COLLECT the WORDS of our language was a task of greater difficulty: the deficiency of dictionaries was immediately apparent; and when they were exhausted, what was yet wanting must be sought by fortuitous and unguided excursions into books, and gleaned as industry should find, or chance should offer it, in the boundless chaos of a living speech. My search, however, has been either skilful or lucky; for I have much augmented the vocabulary.

A
changed the format of dictionaries.
B
searched literature and found more words.
C
applied rules to make language less chaotic.
D
selected only the most difficult words to define.
12

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.And such is the fate of hapless lexicography, that not only darkness, but light, impedes and distresses it; things may be not only too little, but too much known, to be happily illustrated.

A
unlucky or unfortunate; pitiable
B
unknown or unfamiliar; mysterious
C
without intelligence; foolish
D
without tenderness; harsh
13

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.It is the fate of those who toil at the lower employments of life, to be rather driven by the fear of evil, than attracted by the prospect of good; to be exposed to censure, without hope of praise.

A
a statement of wit or amusement
B
an expression of disapproval or condemnation
C
a sentiment of indifference or apathy
D
an exclamation of profound admiration or esteem
14

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.The solution of all difficulties, and the supply of all defects, must be sought in the examples, subjoined to the various senses of each word, and ranged according to the time of their authours.When first I collected these authorities, I was desirous that every quotation should be useful to some other end than the illustration of a word; I therefore extracted from philosophers principles of science; from historians remarkable facts; from chymists complete processes; from divines striking exhortations; and from poets beautiful descriptions.

A
reflects considerable literary research.
B
includes colorful drawings and illustrations.
C
is used by authorities in many fields of study.
D
explains many scientific principles.
15

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.The two languages from which our primitives have been derived are the Roman and Teutonick: under the Roman I comprehend the French and provincial tongues; and under the Teutonick range the Saxon, German, and all their kindred dialects.

A
clarifies words’ pronunciations.
B
questions words’ literary importance.
C
explains words’ origins and variations.
D
offers criticism of words’ common usages.
16

[BLANK]

A
etymologies
B
definitions
C
omissions
D
quotations
17

Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Which statement best describes the use of the underlined word in the excerpts?

Question illustration
A
In excerpt 1, it refers to personal growth, while in excerpt 2, it suggests the physical act of moving.
B
In excerpt 1, it refers to personal growth, while in excerpt 2, it suggests scientific discoveries.
C
In excerpt 1, it refers to societal advancement, while in excerpt 2, it suggests the gradual march of time.
D
In excerpt 1, it refers to societal advancement, while in excerpt 2, it suggests steps toward a particular goal.
18

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language.Mádness. n.s. [from mad.]Distraction; loss of understanding; perturbation of the faculties.Why, woman, your husband is in his old tunes again: he so rails against all married mankind, so curses all Eve's daughters, and so buffets himself on the forehead, that any madness I ever yet beheld seemed but tameness and civility to this distemper. Shakesp. Merry Wives of Windsor.There are degrees of madness as of folly, the disorderly jumbling ideas together, in some more, some less. Locke.

A
It provides more than one definition for the word.
B
It uses the word in a sentence.
C
It reveals the word’s root or derivative.
D
It includes published examples of the word’s use.
19

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Wherever I turned my view, there was perplexity to be disentangled, and confusion to be regulated; choice was to be made out of boundless variety.

A
wherever
B
view
C
disentangled
D
variety
20

Which statements describe Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language? Check all that apply.

A
It was published in the late 1800s.
B
It includes over forty thousand definitions.
C
It includes information about word origins.
D
It has a preface written by William Shakespeare.
E
It offers excerpted examples of the words in literature.

Did you find these answers helpful?