TheOxfordEnglishDictionary(OED)isgenerallyregardedastheRollsRoyceofEnglishdictionaries.SowhentheOEDrecentlyannouncedthatthelatestupdatetoitsonlinedictionaryincludedmany“initialisms”likeOMG(ohmyGod)

Question

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is generally regarded as the Rolls Royce of English dictionaries. So when the OED recently announced that the latest update to its online dictionary included many “initialisms” like OMG (oh my God) and LOL (laugh out loud) a lot of people went a little nuts .
    The news that the OED has used initialisms is shocking but also on reflection not surprising at all. Anyone familiar with text messaging has seen these abbreviations(缩写) before. There are many texters and their number is growing. How then can anyone pretend to be surprised that textspeak is becoming mainstream?  

There is nothing wrong with the OED adding the above entries. In fact it would be irresponsible not to make such additions. With so many people actively using shortened forms of language on mobile phones someone has to step up and record and explain this usage.
    Some complained that the OED is just trying to be cool. Maybe the OED wants to be popular with young people in order to sell books. Every time I hear a native speaker of English say things like “She has less problems than me ” I cringe (难为情). But whether I like it or not this usage is quickly becoming acceptable in the spoken idiom.
    Be aware however written English is still useful. People who are in school or about to take exams need to know that textspeak can’t be used in academic writing.
    As a linguist (语言学家) I’m glad to see these informal words in our culture enter the pages of online dictionaries as long as these reference works remind us of the social conventions governing their usage.
66. The underlined phrase “went a little nuts” in Paragraph 1 means “became a little __________”.

   A. amused           B. embarrassed             C. confused         D. shocked

67. The point of Paragraph 3 is to __________.

   A. show the growing number of texters worldwide

   B. indicate text-messaging is growing around the world

   C. explain it’s natural for OED to make the additions

   D. note that texters are familiar with initialisms

68. What is probably textspeak according to the text?

   A. A writing system.                  

   B. A texting language.

   C. A special textbook.                   

   D. A type of message.

69. Which best sums up the point of view of the text?

   A. OED should not try to please the young.

   B. OED has to satisfy the needs of texters.

   C. Textspeak is not always appropriate.

   D. Textspeak has affected written English.

70. What’s the author’s attitude to the latest version of the OED online?

   A. Positive.       B. Oppositive.                      C. Subjective.          D. Doubtful.

Answer 1

DCBCA