The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary Test | Mid-Book Test - Medium

Simon Winchester
This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 137 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary Test | Mid-Book Test - Medium

Simon Winchester
This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 137 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.
Buy The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary Lesson Plans
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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 what year was the Oxford English Dictionary completed?
(a) 1924.
(b) 1932.
(c) 1931.
(d) 1928.

2. How old was the man who killed Merrett?
(a) Forty-two.
(b) Thirty-eight.
(c) Thirty-one.
(d) Thirty-seven.

3. For what purpose was Murray asked to go to Oxford?
(a) To speak with the dean of Oxford University.
(b) To speak with the president of Oxford University.
(c) To speak with the residents of Oxford.
(d) To speak to the Oxford Publishing delegates.

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

5. What kind of work did the Minors do in Ceylon?
(a) Tea plantation.
(b) Missionary.
(c) Coffee plantation.
(d) Coconut farming.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the tragedy of the three shots fired named by the papers?

2. When was Minor born?

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

4. In what city was Murray born?

5. Who arrested Merrett's killer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What can be surmised about the author's intention by naming his first chapter, " The Dead of Night in Lambeth Marsh"?

2. In regards to Trench's speech, what did he view each word as having? What must be charted for each word?

3. Why might Minor's father have fallen so easily in love with Judith?

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

5. For what reasons did Minor become the most famous contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary?

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

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

8. Given the information that the reader gleans from the nature of the Philological Society, as well as people speaking in the London Library, what characteristics of the London Library in Minor's day show it to be different from a public library of this day and age?

9. What effect could the tragic death of his daughter have had on Murray's diligence in working on the Oxford English Dictionary?

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

(see the answer keys)

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