View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What climate is the island of Ceylon?
(a) Tropical.
(b) Snowy.
(c) Koppen.
(d) Desert.

2. Who was the most famous editor of the Old English Dictionary?
(a) Dr. Minor.
(b) Dr. Sweet.
(c) James Murray.
(d) Frederick Furnivall.

3. What were Merrett's killer's two former professional positions?
(a) Qualified surgeon and police officer..
(b) Police officer and professor.
(c) Army officer and qualified surgeon.
(d) Professor and army officer.

4. Who wrote A Dictionary of the English Language?
(a) Samuel Johnson.
(b) John Samuel.
(c) James Johnson.
(d) Samual Jackson.

5. Who took over Furnivall's place as editor of the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) Scott.
(b) Dixon.
(c) Trench.
(d) Murray.

Short Answer Questions

1. How have many described the language of the Oxford English Dictionary?

2. According to the author, who is the "second" protagonist of the story?

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

4. How many supplements of the Oxford English Dictionary came out after the original?

5. What did Judith do professionally?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Many critics found the Oxford English Dictionary to be racist and sexist. Explain how the author suggests this may have happened.

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

4. Why does the author suggest Oxford finally conceded to the switch from Furnivall to Murray for the position of editor?

5. Did the "Battle of the Wilderness" push Minor past his mental capacities to function normally in social settings or public? If so, how does the author make this clear?

6. Why does the author suggest that Minor moved from his initial area of residence in London, St James Square, to Lambeth Marsh?

7. 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?

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

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

10. What might the audience find unique about the killer's professional past?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,071 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample