4.standard

　　n. 规格，标准［C&U］

　　raise/improve/lower standard 提高/降低标准

　　set （sb.） a standard 给某人定一个标准

　　e.g.He set himself such a high standard that he often disappoints himself.

　　of high/low standard 具高/低标准的

　　standards 行为标准，道德标准

　　a man of high standards 一个道德高尚的人

　　Step 3 Reading

　　T：We have learnt English for many years. Then in your opinion，what is a very important help to your English study？

　　S：teachers，books，tapes ...

　　T：Anything else？Is there anything that you can turn to for help when you are confused while learning English？

　　S：I think a dictionary is a great help.

　　T：Yeah. When we meet across new words we often look them up in a dictionary. What is the most widely-used dictionary in Chinese？

　　S：Xinhua Dictionary.

　　T：Then which one do you think is used widely in English？

　　S：I'm sorry I have no idea.

　　T：It's Longman Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary. Today，we'll read a passage on the Oxford English Dictionary. Now according to the title，what do you think will be mentioned in the passage？

　　S：I think the writer，the time when was it written，why it was written，how it was written，the feature of the dictionary will be mentioned.

　　T：Now，let's listen to it to see whether your answer is right.

　　（after listening）

　　T：Do you think that your answer is right？

　　S：I think that it doesn't mention the feature of the dictionary.

　　T：Yes. Now let's read it aloud to answer these questions then.

　　①Why was it written？

　　②When did it start to be written？

　　③Who is the writer？

　　④How it was written？

　　S：①To encourage everybody to spell the same.

　　②The idea was raised in 1857.And 22 years later，it began to be written.

　　③Three men worked together on the dictionary：Samuel Johnson，Noah Webster，and James Murray.

　　④It took the three men nearly all of their lives to try to collect words.

　　T：Good job! Then who first began to work on the dictionary？

　　S：Murray.

　　T：Yes. Now let's read the last paragraph. And then finish the table about notes on James Murray's life with your partners.

（check together）