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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. How did Murray spend most of his childhood?
(a) Playing soccer with an elite team.
(b) Traveling.
(c) Being alone.
(d) Singing with a group.

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

4. What two words does the author use to describe the Lambeth area, particularly in relation to the undrained marsh?
(a) Utterly hopeless.
(b) Positively vile.
(c) Sadly hopeless.
(d) Greatly disgusting.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In what century did some Latin-English dictionaries began to appear?

2. Who was the most famous editor of the Old English Dictionary?

3. What was the idea behind the Philological Society?

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

5. Who would publish the first Oxford English Dictionary?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways does the author state the compilation of the Dictionary of the English Language was different from the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary?

2. What reason(s) does the author give for Minor's parents sending him to the US to live with his uncle?

3. What aspects of the Latin-English dictionaries provided impetus for the makers of the Oxford English Dictionary to make their own English dictionary?

4. The author says that Minor became unworried by his "lascivious thoughts" while at Yale. What is a possible explanation for this?

5. What can be appreciated about the Oxford English Dictionary being called "The Big Dictionary"?

6. Why does the author take time to note the sheer volume of words and weight of the Oxford English Dictionary? What parallels can be drawn between this and the dictionary's makers?

7. What is significant about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary's beginnings to have begun on Guy Fawkes Day in England?

8. What effect could it have had on logophiles to learn that Samuel Johnson had imposed limits on the history of the definitions of words in his dictionary?

9. What seemed uncanny about the killer's cool, calm demeanor?

10. What is the effect of the author's choice to define the word "murder" on the audience?

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