But then Crippen was reputed as the first murderer to be caught by telegraphy (he had tried to escaped by ship to America). It is surprising to find Max Miller excluded when really not very memorable names get in. There has been a conscious effort to put in artists and architects from the Middle Ages. About their lives not much is always known. Of Hugo of Bury St. Edmunds, a 12th-century illuminator whose dates of birth and death are not recorded, his biographer comments:" Whether or not Hugo was a wall-painter, the records f his activities as carver and manuscript painter attest to his versatility". Then there had to be more women, too (12 per cent, against the original DBNs 3), such as Roy Strongs subject, the Tudor painter Levina Teerlinc, of whom he remarks:" her most characteristic feature is a head attached to a too small, spindly body. Her technique remained awkward, thin and often cursory". Doesnt seem to qualify her as a memorable artist. Yet it may be better than the record of the original DNB, which included lives of people who never existed (such as Merlin) and even managed to give thanks to J. W. Clerke as a contributor, though , as a later edition admits in a shamefaced footnote, "except for the entry in the List of Contributors there is no trace of J. W. Clerke".
14. The writer suggests that there is no sense in buying the latest volume ______
A) because it is not worth the price.
B) because it has fewer entries than before.
C) unless one has all the volumes in his collection.
D) unless an expanded DNB will come out shortly.
15. On the issue of who should be included in the DNB, the writer seems to suggest that ______
A) the editors had clear rules to follow.
B) there were too many criminals in the entries.
C) the editors clearly favoured benefactors.
D) the editors were irrational in their choices. 16. Crippen was absent from the DNB ______
A) because he escaped to the U.S.
B) because death sentence had been abolished.
C) for reasons not clarified.
D) because of the editors’ mistake.
17. The author quoted a few entries in the last paragraph to ______
A) illustrate some features of the DNB.
B) give emphasis to his argument.
C) impress the reader with its content.
D) highlight the people in the Middle Ages.
18. Throughout the passage, the writer’s tone towards the DNB was ______
A) complimentary.
B) supportive.
C) sarcastic.
D) bitter.
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