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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. How many years from Trench's speech about a new dictionary did the project actually get off the ground?
(a) Sixteen years.
(b) Eighteen years.
(c) Twelve years.
(d) Twenty-two years.

2. In Chapter 2, The Man Who Taught Latin to Cattle, who is introduced as the first protagonist?
(a) Dr. Murray.
(b) Dr. Minor.
(c) Mr. Merrett.
(d) Mrs. Scott.

3. How many years did it take to complete the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) Forty.
(b) Seventy.
(c) Sixty.
(d) Twenty.

4. At what age was William sent to the United States?
(a) Twelve.
(b) Nine.
(c) Fourteen.
(d) Twenty-two.

5. Which of the following is noted to have been a fact four hundred years earlier than Mr. Trench's speeches?
(a) The first English dictionary was published.
(b) There was no English dictionary in existence.
(c) The word "dictionary" did not exist.
(d) People rarely used dictionaries.

Short Answer Questions

1. Trench argued that dictionaries should be histories of the life span of every word and that these lives should be ______.

2. What two words did the author use to describe the Minor family's beliefs?

3. What would the definitive quotes show in the Oxford English Dictionary?

4. Where was Dr. Minor's house located in London?

5. In Chapter 2, the author gives a detailed description of what word?

(see the answer key)

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