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

2. What central figure in the story happened across Murray's appeal to the English people in regards to the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) Nakiesha Wilson.
(b) Mr. Trench.
(c) Dr. William Minor.
(d) James Koss.

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

4. How old was Lucy when she died?
(a) Eighteen.
(b) Twenty-one.
(c) Twelve.
(d) Sixteen.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Who arrested Merrett's killer?

2. Many critics find the Oxford English Dictionary to be ______________.

3. What was the nickname of the Oxford English Dictionary?

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

5. What were Merrett's killer's two former professional positions?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Some critics say that Samuel Johnson put too much of his personality into his work on his dictionary. How would it be possible to avoid this type of criticism?

3. How did Minor's branding of a deserting Irish soldier become connected to his excessive guilt about his own perceived "wrongs"?

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

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

6. 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?

7. 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?

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

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

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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