1、Module 6Why Do We Need Dictionaries?话题导入英语词汇起源及妙记School学校School这个词是从希腊语schole一词来的，意思是“闲暇”。在古希腊人看来，那些从事战争和搞政治的人是辛苦的，而只有“闲暇”的人才有时间读书学习。后来，古希腊的哲学家亚里士多德、柏拉图给青年讲课的地方就被称作schole，这个词以后转成拉丁语词school，后又被英语借用。和school密切相关的还有一个词：scholar（学者）。同样道理，这个词是指那些有“闲暇”时间读书、研究、构思以及进行学术讨论的人。背景知识第一本英语词典是仅有120多页的一本小书，编者是一个叫罗伯特考
2、德雷的人，于1604年出版，书名为词汇表。塞缪尔约翰逊博士于1746年6月18日在早餐时，同出版商罗伯特多德斯莱签署了出版一本词典的合同。他的酬金是1575英镑，分期付款。他从中拿出钱来支付了高夫广场17号的租金，在这儿他设立了他的词典作坊。他的传记作者詹姆斯博斯威尔形容约翰逊工作的阁楼“装置得像一间存账室”，一张长桌放在正中，抄写文员在桌边站着工作。约翰逊本人则在一张“很旧的摇摇晃晃的松木桌”旁置身在一把东倒西歪的椅子里，周围是乱糟糟的借来的书籍。他有6个助手帮忙(5个苏格兰人，其中一个是“下等黑话片语”的专家，以及1个英国人)，其中有两个人在词典仍处于筹备期间就死了。他的工作量极其巨大。约
3、翰逊写作用了大约80多本大号笔记本，写了四万多词条的定义，从伊丽莎白时代的作家到他本人时代的有关所有主题的英语作品中引用了11.4万条引文，以说明这些词条的意思。他并不指望达到完全的独创。为了赶截止期，他不得不从以前的词典中撷精取华，把他的作品变成了一种具有英雄胆略的集大成之作。事实上他的成果远不止于此。约翰逊与他之前的词典编纂者不同，他以实事求是的态度来对待英语，把它当成一种活的语言，认为英语有着许多不同层次上的意义。他采纳的词条定义均基于英国普通法的原则一一根据惯例。他的词典出版之后，一个多世纪里没有劲敌与之相匹配，而且其中有些词条的定义一直十分有名。约翰逊因其词典和其他作品而成名并受到景
4、仰，他的朋友最后说服乔治三世，给了他一笔养老金。从此，他就不用为生计担忧了。塞缪尔约翰逊死于1784年12月13日，死后葬于威斯敏斯特大教堂。1791年，他的朋友兼学生博斯威尔(Boswell)出版了他的传记，后来成为经典。引入型阅读Electronic DictionariesThe concept of high-tech is not just for rocket scientists anymore.It is trickling down to everyday usage,and serving a useful purpose for humanity.The electron
5、ic dictionary,also known as had-held translator or pocket translator,is an effective learning tool that captures students interest and does much more than just translate.Idioms,antonyms,synonyms,irregular verbs can be used interchangeably.The class time is not wasted on the flip-flip-flip of diction
6、ary pages any more.This machine shortens much of the distance between English and Chinese speakers.Students can be shown how to use the dictionary,with little technical direction.Using the dictionary removes the responsibility of the students who even dont know a word.Beginners gain a feeling of con
7、trol over their learning environment and learning process.Even the most negative students lose their hatred of English by having a tool that simplifies and speeds up the learning process.Its fast and easy.Best of all,not everyone has to have their own machines.These can be shared.The next obvious co
8、ncern is which electronic dictionary to purchase.There are many different ones on the market.The “credit card” size ones do not have a large enough memory to be useful.At least 20 megabytes are necessary.If there are too many buttons in a small space,the machine becomes boring to use.The screen shou
9、ld be large enough so the user can easily read it.Most electronic dictionaries also feature items such as a calendar or an appointment book,a calculator,or an alarm watch.An honest evaluation of the users needs should be considered.True of False:1.An electronic dictionary can only be used as a trans
10、lator.2.Beginners can gain much confidence by using this machine.3.When buying an electronic dictionary,we should choose one with small size,fashion style and many different functions.答案：13 F T F课前导引一、词汇扫描根据句意及各题括号中所给的汉语意思，从下面的方框中选择合适的单词，用其适当形式填空。compilequotationfaultcomprehensiveprolificabstractcom
11、plexityarguableembarrassmentimmensefacultyample1.There was _(足够的)time to get to the airport.2.We are trying to _ (编制)a list of suitable people for the job.3.She retained her mental _ (官能，天赋)until the day she died.4.The book began with a _ (引语)from Goethe.5.There is still an _ (极大的)amount of work to
12、be done.6.They were _ (彻底的)beaten in the final.7.I nearly died of _ (难堪)when he said that.8.That was one of the most _ (多产的)periods in her career.9.It is _ (有论据的)that giving too much detail may actually be confusing. 10.The research shows that pre-school children are capable of thinking in _ (抽象的)te
13、rms.11.I was astonished by the size and _ (复杂性)of the problem.12.It was his_ (过错)that we were late.答案：1.amplepile3.faculties4.quotation5.immenseprehensively7.embarrassment8.prolific9.arguable10.abstractplexity12.fault二、句型聚焦 观察下列句子，试着归纳其划线部分所包含的句型结构。1.Work started on the second edition of the diction
14、ary in 1957，and it took 29 years to complete._答案：sth.+take(s)/took+时间+to do（干某事花费多少时间）2.Christmas or birthday presents,or to spend on our summer holidays,and the only way to get it was to sort slips._答案：the only way to do is/was+to do（做某事的惟一方式/方法是做）三、语法平台观察下列句子中的画线部分并将其译成汉语。1.I cant understand why E
15、nglish is so complicated._答案：为何2.I do enjoy reading about history._答案：的确3.She wants me to help her with her homework._答案：想让4.Hell be home by three oclock this afternoon._答案：在之前5.Wed better go,or else we wont see the beginning of the concert._答案：否则6.Can you tell me if this is the right bus for the city?_答案：是否
