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

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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.
2
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Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.From the authours which rose in the time of Elizabeth, a speech might be formed adequate to all the purposes of use and elegance. If the language of theology were extracted from Hooker and the translation of the Bible; the terms of natural knowledge from Bacon; the phrases of policy, war, and navigation from Raleigh; the dialect of poetry and fiction from Spenser and Sidney; and the diction of common life from Shakespeare, few ideas would be lost to mankind, for want of English words, in which they might be expressed.It is not sufficient that a word is found, unless it be so combined as that its meaning is apparently determined by the tract and tenour of the sentence; such passages I have therefore chosen.

A
He defines literary and poetic terms.
B
He studies the diction of everyday speech.
C
He relies on the credibility of established authors.
D
He refuses to include biblical terminology.
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A
etymologies
B
definitions
C
omissions
D
quotations
4

Read the excerpts from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.In both excerpts, the word structure refers to the

Question illustration
A
ways a dictionary is assembled.
B
organization of alphabetical entries.
C
components, or parts, of words.
D
places, or institutions, that house books.
5

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.
6

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
7

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.I have studiously endeavoured to collect examples and authorities from the writers before the restoration, whose works I regard as the wells of English undefiled, as the pure sources of genuine diction.

A
studiously, endeavoured
B
examples, authorities
C
writers, restoration
D
pure, genuine
8

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.
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

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

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