Dictionaries range broadly in purpose, size, and price; and choosing one is a very personal decision. The best advice is to make note of the things you and your family look up in a dictionary over a few weeks' time, and then go to a comprehensive bookstore to make the choice. Here are a few things to look for in making your selection.
Size
Big, complete (unabridged) dictionaries are expensive and take a lot of room in your office or home. They are also difficult for children to use because they are bulky, and it takes longer to look something up because new readers' alphabetizing skills are incomplete. An unabridged dictionary on the coffee table might impress your friends; but unless you use a dictionary on a daily basis, it probably is not a good buy. Perhaps you should look at smaller "college" dictionaries.
Pronunciation guide
Many people use a dictionary to help them pronounce new words. (One caller to the hot line saw an "etagere" advertised for sale, knew what it was and wanted one, but didn't want to call the seller without knowing how to pronounce the word.)
The pronunciation guide should be complete but not contain a lot of unfamiliar symbols that require continual cross-checking--especially with the vowels. The English vowel system is complex because we use one letter to spell many different sounds. For example, the letter A has three different sounds in the words at, age, and art. The job for the dictionary makers is to find three common symbols to represent the different pronunciations.
Examples
Sample sentences showing common uses of words are very helpful, both in clarifying the meaning and helping the reader remember the word. The words in the sentences should not be any more difficult than the target word, however, or the reader is sent off on a frustrating chase through the dictionary. In the words of technology, "A good dictionary should be user-friendly."
Usage Notes
Many dictionaries comment on the usage of words in different types of situations. Many of the old dictionaries contained only the standard accepted usages. "Ain't" was not to be found and teachers could correct their charges by saying, "Ain't isn't in the dictionary." Imagine the teachers' dismay when dictionaries started including such forms! The dictionaries do comment on the usage--non-standard, colloquial, regionalism are some of the terms used to let readers make their own decisions as to whether they want to use the term.
One final comment--forms of speech change much more rapidly than written forms; and many spoken items never make it to the written language (slang, for example). For this reason, you will need to buy several dictionaries during your reading life. Find one that you like, and consider its new editions when it's time for a new one.
2.假设你是一名来自农村的学生,你们村子里有不少儿童的父母都外出打工,这些儿童常年与祖父母生活,有些儿童因为祖父母身体不好而不得不承担家里繁重的劳动,由于缺乏父母的关爱,他们经常感到孤独和不快乐,有些儿童甚至沾染了坏习惯。请你以“The Children Left Behind in Their Hometown”为题写一篇短文,词数100左右。
3.关于“上大学是高中生唯一的选择吗?为话题。
参考要点:75%左右的学生认为应该上大学,15%左右的学生认为不应该上大学,10%认为无所谓。观点:(1)上大学能增长知识,提高素养,利于择业。(2)大学学费昂贵,毕业后就业困难。(3)成功的路千万条,不一定非要上大学。 词数120左右
4。写信介绍本校选修课开设情况。
课程分类6种:书法、英语口语、音乐欣赏、电影欣赏、摄影和游泳。
上课时间:每周二、五下午4:30-6:00
学生对课程的看法:很有趣;能学到许多课外知识;有实践机会。
学生建议:增加选修课;减少作业量;多组织参观;了解社会的活动。
参考词汇:选修课程optional course 音乐欣赏music appreciation
词数100左右。
5.
向笔友MIKE诉说昨天遇到的烦心事。
1)我有很多朋友,彼此相处融洽。
2)今天我被认为拿了朋友的100块钱。
3)我对此感到苦恼。
4)想知道到底什么是友谊和怎样才能让朋友再信任我。
这是我的寒假作业= =
望大家帮帮忙啊。10号就要开学了。9号以前一定要写完的。
拜托各位了!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~T_T