Keys to the exercises in Unit 16
Keys to the exercises in Check Your Understanding
a. False; b. False; c. False; d. False; e. False
Keys to the exercises in In-class Activities
1.
(1) According to the above criteria, good English language dictionaries have a reliable source,
include an appropriate number of vocabulary, provide a full spectrum of information, keep abreast
of the development of the time and the dictionary making, and make few demands on the users if
they want to use them.
(2) Other factors of good English language dictionaries may include the ease of word explanations,
the appropriateness of sample sentences, and the quality of translations.
2.
(1) The other advantages of printed dictionaries may be that they have a symbolic value because
they can be owned and admired.
The other advantages of electronic dictionaries may be that they take little space and have an low
weight and can be customized by the users.
The other advantages of online dictionaries may be that they provide hyperlinks so that the users
can easily find more information they want.
(2) The disadvantages of printed dictionaries may be that (1) they are falling out of fashion, (2)
they can not interact with the users, and (3) they can not be updated or expanded.
The disadvantages of electronic dictionaries may be that (1) they are much more expensive than
the printed dictionaries, (2) they do not provide adquate information, and (3) they use up batteries
quickly.
The disadvantages of online dictionaries may be that (1) they cannot be used when offline, (2) the
information they provide may not be subject to scrutiny and therefore may be inaccurate, and (3)
they may cause the users to lose their focus.
(3) This is a very personal question. Everybody has the right to have his or her favorite.
3.
(1) As far as the definition of the same entry word is concerned, Longman Advanced Dictionary of
Contemporary English (2004) and Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2007) are similar in
that both of them explain the semantic meaning of the given entry word in a straightforward way.
In contrast, Collins COBUILD Learner’s Dictionary (2006) takes an indirect approach to the same
task by providing a context, from which the semantic meaning of the given entry word can be
inferred. On the other hand, there is some difference between Longman Advanced Dictionary of
Contemporary English (2004) and Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2007) in that the
former provides Chinese translations for the given entry word, while the latter provides English
synonyms.
(2) The compilers of the three dictionaries may have their own reason to define entry words in the
way they do. The direct meaning-explaining approach coupled with Chinese translations taken by
Longman Advanced Dictionary of Contemporary English (2004) may it easy for learners to
understand. The direct meaning-explaining approach coupled with English synonyms taken by
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2007) may help learners to build a vocabulary network.
The contextualized approach taken by Collins COBUILD Learner’s Dictionary (2006) is
conducive to training the learners thinking in English.
4.
(1) As far as “procure” is concerned, its stylistic information is provided that it is a formal word.
When it comes to “propaganda”, however, its affective information is given that it is a derogatory
word.
(2) The pragmatic information on “procure” and “propaganda” provided by Longman Dictionary
of Contemporary English (2004) is lexically oriented. It will be desirable if syntactic and textual
pragmatic information can be provided.
5.
(1) “Derog” is the abbreviation of “derogatory”, which means “expressive of low opinion”.
“Approv” is the abbreviation of “approving”, which means “expressive of high opinion”.
(2) The dictionary at my hand is A New English-Chinese Dictionary: Third Revised Edition (英华
大字典 修订第三版). I turn to Page 1023 and find that this dictionary provides the affective
features of the word “Negro” in the following way.
Ne·gro /'ni:grəu/ n. (pl. ~es) 黑人，黑种人 [目前带有贬义，一般改用 black]
6.
(1) Strictly speaking, such a humorous or teasing way of definition is not straightforward or
scientific. It is not the mainstream way to define words, but an alternative way to explain the
words. Its main purpose is to add some fun to vocabulary learning, which is thought to be difficult
and boring by some people. Therefore, it is very helpful to the understanding of the word
meaning.
(2) Some famous thinkers and scholars have expressed their views on university in an interesting
way. For one example, Dunne said that “you can lead a man up to the university,but you can't
make him think.”For another example, Ludwig Wittgenstein said that “he limits of my language
means the limits of my world”.