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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. What time span did the author use to describe the length of time Minor took to complete his first word list?
(a) Years.
(b) Decades.
(c) Days.
(d) Months.

2. What quality did many people who worked on the Oxford English Dictionary admire in Minor?
(a) Love of words.
(b) Meticulousness.
(c) Sense of patience.
(d) Zest for life.

3. How did the author describe Murray's instructions in the beginning of Chapter 7, Entering the Lists?
(a) Simple.
(b) Bossy.
(c) Detailed.
(d) Confusing.

4. How long did it take Murray to travel to see Minor?
(a) A bit under an hour.
(b) A bit over an hour.
(c) A little over a day.
(d) A bit under a day.

5. What wing in Broadmoor was kept for parole patients?
(a) Block B.
(b) Block number 6.
(c) Block number 2.
(d) Block C.

Short Answer Questions

1. The author compared Murray's way of organizing his work on the Oxford English Dictionary to ______________.

2. According to the author, what sort of life did Minor live at Broadmoor?

3. Who was a fan of Huxley?

4. To which block was William Minor taken upon commitment to Broadmoor?

5. How did Minor feel about the rules being sent to him by Minor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the author give as the chief purpose behind Minor's self-mutilation? Was it achieved?

2. In Chapter 6, what do the author's previously established characteristics of Minor suggest about how he may have gotten along with the parole patients in Block 2?

3. What was the overarching reason why Murray decided to visit Minor?

4. What was revealed about Minor's character in regards to his response to Murray's letter for help on the Oxford English Dictionary?

5. What was miraculous about Mrs. Merrett deciding to see Minor at Broadmoor?

6. Was it good that Minor began to view the asylum as his home?

7. What does Murray's Scriptorium represent to present day scholars of the English language?

8. What is controversial about the story of the meeting of Minor and Murray?

9. What about Murray does the author feel may have triggered Minor's religious feelings of guilt and shame for his past misdeeds?

10. What effect did Murray and his workers' reliance on Minor's letters and help have on Minor?

(see the answer keys)

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