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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. When was the publishing of the first installment of the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) December 12th, 1887.
(b) January 29th, 1884.
(c) February 6th, 1882.
(d) May 8th, 1883.

2. How old was Broadmoor when Minor first arrived?
(a) Five months old.
(b) Six years old.
(c) Twelve years old.
(d) Nine years old.

3. What thoughts did Minor have once he received the rules?
(a) He would become a scholar again.
(b) He would escape the asylum.
(c) He would marry Eliza.
(d) He would begin work in Ceylon again.

4. The Scriptorium made out of ______________.
(a) Copper.
(b) Steel.
(c) Corrugated iron.
(d) Aluminum.

5. How did Minor regard the Asylum?
(a) As his home.
(b) As his temple.
(c) As his playground.
(d) As his library.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did the author describe Murray's instructions in the beginning of Chapter 7, Entering the Lists?

2. The word which troubled Murray and was sent to Minor had _______________ "shades of meaning."

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

4. Why did Hall not come to the great dictionary dinner?

5. How long did each book of the dictionary take Minor to complete?

Short Essay Questions

1. The author compares Murray to a general on a battlefield. Why?

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

3. Describe how Minor may have felt when he entered the property at the Broadmoor Asylum.

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

5. How did it become clear that Murray had very little idea of what psychological state Minor experienced?

6. What is relevant about the fact that Minor was a fan of Huxley, particularly his idea of agnosticism?

7. Explain the significance of Minor's submissions evolving from one slip of paper to large paper bags arriving in Murray's office.

8. Do you think it is the author's opinion that electroshock therapy affected Minor?

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

10. In what ways could Murray be seen as a voice of reason and motivation for Minor to stay on task to the Oxford English Dictionary?

(see the answer keys)

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