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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. According to Chapter 5, which dictionary far surpassed all that came before it?
(a) The English Dictionary of America.
(b) The American Dictionary.
(c) The Oxford Cambridge Dictionary of English.
(d) The Oxford English Dictionary.

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

3. How many slips of paper came in from volunteers who wanted to add to the newly proposed dictionary?
(a) Twelve thousand.
(b) Fifty thousand.
(c) Six million.
(d) One million.

4. When was Murray born?
(a) February, 1837.
(b) January, 1832.
(c) April, 1823.
(d) December, 1842.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. With whom was William to live upon arriving in the United States?

2. At what age was William sent to the United States?

3. What did the killer do immediately upon being arrested by police?

4. Who took over Furnivall's place as editor of the Oxford English Dictionary?

5. Where was Minor born?

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

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. According to the author, "The quotes would show how words had been used over centuries and explained when they had changed. The project was commissioned in the 1850s but was not profitable, yet many believe the OED is valuable far beyond its price." Why might people believe it is valuable far beyond its price?

6. Why might the author have defined the word "protagonist" in such depth?

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

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

9. What aspects of his upbringing could have contributed to Minor's issues with the tempestuous and tempting country of Ceylon?

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

(see the answer keys)

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