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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was a fan of Huxley?

2. What time span did the author use to describe the length of time Minor took to complete his first word list?

3. What was the name of Minor's first book?

4. According to the author, for how long had Minor been planning to physically mutilate his sexual organs?

5. The Scriptorium made out of ______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how Minor may have felt when he entered the property at the Broadmoor Asylum.

2. How did it become clear that Murray had very little idea of what psychological state Minor experienced?

3. The author compares Murray to a general on a battlefield. Why?

4. Why is it important, in relation to Minor's past, that the author states that people admired Minor for his meticulous work?

5. It is suggested that Murray's letter to Minor was a token of forgiveness. Why?

6. What was the overarching reason why Murray decided to visit Minor?

7. Explain the significance of Minor's submissions evolving from one slip of paper to large paper bags arriving in Murray's office.

8. In what ways could Murray be seen as a voice of reason and motivation for Minor to stay on task to the Oxford English Dictionary?

9. What was revealed about Minor's character in regards to his response to Murray's letter for help on the Oxford English Dictionary?

10. What showed the great essence of teamwork between Murray and Minor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think The Oxford English Dictionary represents to the author? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Explore the ways in which self-delusion is important to the events in the text. Make reference to Minor as well as at least one other figure.

Essay Topic 3

While Minor and Murray are the central figures in the text, secondary figures are also an important element of the book. Explore the ways in which three of these secondary figures are shown to have had an important influence on the events of the two protagonists' lives.

(see the answer keys)

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