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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. Nevil Maskelyne was a major proponent of ___________.

2. What was Nevil Maskelyne known as?

3. What country was Thomas Godfrey from?

4. How long would Nevil Maskelyne test the H-4 at the Royal Observatory?

5. Who did Harrison first contact when he arrived in London?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why didn't the H-4 win the Longitude Prize?

2. Why was the Board of Longitude biased against Harrison?

3. What was the problem with Maskelyne's lunar-distance method?

4. What happened when King George III took an interest in Harrison's clocks?

5. According to the Royal Academy of Astronomers, why was Harrison not "worthy" to solve the problem of longitude?

6. What was Harrison's ultimate vindication?

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

8. Describe Harrison's relationship with the Board of Longitude.

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

10. Describe the H-4.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay describing each of Harrison's clocks. What were the advancements of each one? How long did they take to build? Which ones were shrouded in controversy? Which one was closest to winning the prize?

Essay Topic 2

Complete a historical analysis of John Harrison. How would you describe him? What qualities did he posses that helped him to be successful?

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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