【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[听力原文]29-31
A dictionary lists the words of a language, usually arranged in alphabetical order, but sometimes also by topic, with their meanings or their equivalents.
The first important contribution to lexicography in the United States was The American Spelling Book, issued by educator and lexicographer Noah Webster. Although not a true dictionary, The American Spelling Book, because of its American origin and its simplification of English, became a household reference wordbook throughout the United States. Its success led Webster to compile A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language. He then concentrated on his major contribution to lexicography, An American Dictionary of the English Language, begun in 1807 and published in 1828. This ambitious work included 12,000 more words and 40,000 more definitions than any previous dictionary of the English language. Despite its emphasis on typically American usage, distinguished from British usage, this work was never popular.
Webster's International Dictionary appeared in 1890; Webster's New International Dictionary appeared in 1909. The second edition of Webster's New International Dictionary, published in 1934, remains impressive today, with 600,000 entries. Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language was made available to the public in 1961, which included many slang words and technical terms, end its pronunciation schemes indicate regional speech patterns. Many critics denounced it for what they considered its failure to uphold traditional standards, and many defended it energetically as a comprehensive and accurate depiction of its material.
29. Which dictionary is Noah Webster's major contribution to lexicography?

文中明确提出“he then concentrated on his major contribution to lexicography 'An American Dictionary of the English Language'”，故选C。

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[听力原文]
When was the most controversial dictionary mentioned in the passage published?

文章指出评论家对1961年出版的Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language有截然不同的意见，由此可确定这部词典最具争议，进而可知D为正确答案。

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[听力原文]
Why was The American Spelling Book so popular?

文章在开始部分提到此题信息，但却在最后对此提问，由此增加此题的难度。根据“Although not a true dictionary，'The American Spelling Book'，because of its American origin and its simplification of English，became a household reference wordbook throughout the US”可知“The American Spelling Book”虽然不能算是一部真正意义上的词典，但由于它出自美国而且用语简单，因而成为备受欢迎的单词册，由此D为正确答案。