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

2. Which clock was Harrison's greatest triumph?

3. How were Harrison and Maskelyne different?

4. Which of Harrison's clocks continue to function to this day?

5. Who was to test H-3 and H-4 at sea?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the title of Chapter 10: The Diamond Timekeeper.

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

3. What advances did the H-3 make?

4. Why was Maskelyne threatened by Harrison?

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

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

7. What did the Board of Longitude hire Larcum Kendall to do?

8. Who were Harrison's enemies? Why?

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

10. What role did the astronomers elitism play in the quest for solving the longitude problem?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

We learn in Longitude the struggles that astronomers had gone through in developing a solution to the longitude problem and they would not allow all their work to be shown unnecessary. Sobel is able to come to allow the reader to come to this conclusion through the use of objective and subjective details. According to the Royal Academy of Astronomers, why was Harrison not "worthy" to solve the problem of longitude? How do you know this? Through objective or subjective details?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

A theme central to the book is that of ambition. Harrison's ambition comes through with his determination to solve the longitude problem through timepieces, despite various obstacles. In an essay, discuss Harrison's motivation for winning the longitude prize. Was Harrison intrinsically motivated because he was a hard worker and wanted to succeed or extrinsically motivated by wealth and fame?

(see the answer keys)

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