Read Johnson's preface excerpt. The excerpt suggests that Johnson's work is significant because it

• A. teaches readers how to understand analogies.
• B. follows a method prescribed by other dictionaries.
• C. reflects an exhaustive study of its words.
• D. includes obscure words not previously defined.

Answer: (C)

Johnson’s preface presents the dictionary as the product of broad, patient research into how words have actually been used, with definitions supported by quotations from credible authorities. This extensive evidence-gathering and citation-based approach show that the work stands on an exhaustive study of its words, not merely on a particular method borrowed from others or on collecting obscure terms. The emphasis is on depth and reliability—each sense is formed from careful examination of usage across many sources. The other options don’t fit because the project isn’t presented as a guide to solving analogies, nor as following a method dictated by others, nor primarily as a collection of obscure words; its significance lies in the comprehensive, evidence-backed study of language.