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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 supplements of the Oxford English Dictionary came out after the original?
(a) Five.
(b) Four.
(c) Two.
(d) Six.

2. In what area of Ceylon did the Minors set up their residence in 1834?
(a) Manepay.
(b) Doa.
(c) Cochin.
(d) Trivandrum.

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

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

5. Many critics find the Oxford English Dictionary to be ______________.
(a) Thoughtless and ridiculous.
(b) Ridiculous and sexist.
(c) Strange and racist.
(d) Racist and sexist.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. How did Mr. Trench define the importance of the English language insofar as Christianity?

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

4. On what notable holiday did the making of the Oxford English Dictionary begin?

5. How old was Lucy when she died?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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?

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

8. In what way was Trench's appeal to the masses who would be needed to help compile the Oxford English Dictionary democratic?

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

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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