人物类 [精读语篇](2012•
山东高考阅读理解b) one of the greatest contributions to the first oxford english dictionary was also one of its most unusual. in 1879, oxford university in england asked prof. james murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the english language. it would include every english word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations (引文) showing how it was used. this was a huge task so murray had to find volunteers from britain, the united states, and the british colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in english. hundreds of volunteers responded, including william chester minor. dr. minor was an american surgeon who had served in the civil war and was now living in england. he gave his address as “broadmoor, crowthorne, berkshire，” 50 miles from oxford.
