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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 5, The Big Dictionary Conceived.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When was Murray invited to Oxford?
(a) May 8th, 1878.
(b) April 21st, 1976.
(c) May 8th, 1876.
(d) April 26th, 1878.

2. How did the author describe the attitude of the killer caught for Merrett's death upon the killer's capture?
(a) Cool and collected.
(b) Embarrassed and sad.
(c) Excited and happy.
(d) Bored and uninterested.

3. How many men authored A Dictionary of the English Language?
(a) Six men.
(b) Fourteen men.
(c) Five men.
(d) Nine men.

4. To whom were Richard Chenevix Trench's speeches directed?
(a) Londoners.
(b) Americans.
(c) The general public.
(d) The London Phililogical Society.

5. England's power grew, and it felt embarrassed for not studying its language. Why did citizens want a proper dictionary?
(a) Many wanted to sell them in bookstores.
(b) Schools made more demands on scholars to make a new dictionary.
(c) Many wanted a dictionary for the English language in its entirety.
(d) Many wanted a dictionary for helping immigrants.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the overall effect of the large amount of word donors on Furnivall and his dictionary volunteers?

2. When was Minor born?

3. What was the driving force behind Minor's spiral into "lust, madness, and perdition"?

4. Where were George Merrett and his wife originally from?

5. How many years later did the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary come out after the original?

(see the answer key)

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