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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. Which of the following did Minor work at every day as part of his work on the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) Calling Murray to confirm word validity.
(b) Indexing.
(c) Making calls to those who had submitted words.
(d) Writing Latin references.

2. Where was Minor blocked after the first few months of his stay at Broadmoor?
(a) Block number 3.
(b) Block number 2.
(c) Block C.
(d) Block B.

3. The author compared Murray's way of organizing his work on the Oxford English Dictionary to ______________.
(a) A taxi driver in traffic.
(b) A cook on call.
(c) A doctor in surgery.
(d) A general on a battlefield.

4. How many pages did "A" have in the first published installment?
(a) 352.
(b) 341.
(c) 175.
(d) 142.

5. How did the author describe the words that Minor used in his first book?
(a) Lovely and attractive.
(b) Obscure and exotic.
(c) Strange and different.
(d) Direct and couth.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which word did Murray have so much trouble with that it had to be sent to Dr. Minor?

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

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

4. In four decades time, 352 pages would become how many pages?

5. On what day of the week in November did Murray decide to travel and meet Minor?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. Why could Minor more easily understand Murray's directions in comparison to others?

6. 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?

7. What can one infer from the fact that Minor had many people who wrote letters to Broadmoor, inquiring about his health and well-being?

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

9. Why is it important, in relation to Minor's past, that the author states that people admired Minor for his meticulous work?

10. What was one of the greatest mistakes Murray made upon arriving at Broadmoor and speaking to the superintendent?

(see the answer keys)

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