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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When are the first Latin dictionaries noted to have been in existence?
(a) 1273.
(b) 1232.
(c) 1321.
(d) 1225.

2. Where was Dr. Minor's house located in London?
(a) Newington.
(b) St. James Square.
(c) Paddington.
(d) Shacklewell.

3. What did Merrett's killer claim about the murder?
(a) It was easy.
(b) He had been waiting to do that for some time.
(c) He was too drunk to know what was happening.
(d) It was in self defense.

4. Who killed Merrett?
(a) James Chester Minor.
(b) John Washington Wilcox.
(c) William Chester Minor.
(d) Chester James Wilcox.

5. What was the name of Eastman Minor's second wife?
(a) Judith.
(b) Jenny.
(c) Scarlett.
(d) Elizabeth.

6. According to Mr. Trench, who approved of the global spread of the English language?
(a) Christians.
(b) Jesus.
(c) God.
(d) The Queen.

7. What was the nickname of the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) "This Big Dictionary."
(b) "The Little Dictionary."
(c) "Old English."
(d) "The One and Only."

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

9. When does this story take place?
(a) Mid 19th century.
(b) Late 18th century.
(c) Early 19th century.
(d) Late 19th century.

10. Lucy was born to the Minors __________after William's birth.
(a) Three years.
(b) Two years.
(c) One year.
(d) Six years.

11. Why did the demand for dictionaries increase according to the author in Chapter 4?
(a) More immigrants came to England.
(b) The language changed markedly.
(c) People wanted to learn about more difficult words.
(d) Many of the original dictionaries were burned.

12. In what year did Dr. Minor arrive in London?
(a) 1831.
(b) 1832.
(c) 1864.
(d) 1857.

13. What word is defined in the opening of the book?
(a) Love.
(b) Word.
(c) Murder.
(d) Kill.

14. Who arrested Merrett's killer?
(a) William Ward.
(b) Constable Tarrant.
(c) Officer Burton.
(d) Henry Burton.

15. How many years later did the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary come out after the original?
(a) Forty-five years.
(b) Fifty years.
(c) Thirty years.
(d) Thirty-eight years.

Short Answer Questions

1. For what purpose was Murray asked to go to Oxford?

2. Where was Minor born?

3. What kind of Christianity did the Murray family follow?

4. England's power grew, and it felt embarrassed for not studying its language. Why did citizens want a proper dictionary?

5. When was Minor born?

(see the answer keys)

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