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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. How much did the Board of Longitude award both Earnshaw and Arnold?

2. Nevil Maskelyne was a major proponent of ___________.

3. How did Maskelyne obtain all four of Harrison's clocks?

4. Who wrote "The British Mariner's Guide?"

5. How would you describe Nevil Maskelyne?

Short Essay Questions

1. What effect did Harrison's success have on the Longitude Act and the Board of Longitude?

2. Explain the title of Chapter 12: A Tale of Two Portraits.

3. Describe the H-4.

4. Explain the title of Chapter 14: The Mass Production of Genius.

5. What effect did Harrison's clocks have on Britain?

6. What advances did the H-3 make?

7. What was Harrison's ultimate vindication?

8. What happened when Harrison presented H-1 to the Board of Longitude?

9. Describe the progression of Harrison's clocks in Chapter 8: The Grasshopper Goes to Sea.

10. Explain the relationship between Harrison and Jefferys.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Sobel's writing style. How does she balance fact and opinion to further the plot of the book? Does her style lend itself more to fiction or nonfiction?

Essay Topic 2

In an essay, outline the accomplishments of the major players in the early quest to solve the longitude problem. Include the following: Thacket, Newton, Halley, Flamsteed, and the Board of Longitude.

Essay Topic 3

By entitling her book, Longitude: The True Story of the Lone Genius that Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time, Sobel seems to have a clear bias in her understanding of the history she portrays in her book. Using specific examples from the book, write an essay demonstrating ways in which Sobel's portrayal of history is biased towards Harrison.

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