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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. For what purpose was Murray asked to go to Oxford?

3. How many years did it take to complete the Oxford English Dictionary?

4. England's power grew, and it felt embarrassed for not studying its language. Why did citizens want a proper dictionary?

5. According to Mr. Trench, who approved of the global spread of the English language?

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. Many critics found the Oxford English Dictionary to be racist and sexist. Explain how the author suggests this may have happened.

3. 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?

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

5. What effect could the tragic death of his daughter have had on Murray's diligence in working on the Oxford English Dictionary?

6. Did the "Battle of the Wilderness" push Minor past his mental capacities to function normally in social settings or public? If so, how does the author make this clear?

7. What can be surmised about the author's intention by naming his first chapter, " The Dead of Night in Lambeth Marsh"?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Structure is equally important to non-fictional works as it is to fictional works." Explore this idea with reference to the text.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the links the author draws between various vices such as sex, drugs, and alcohol and their influence on the events of the story.

Essay Topic 3

Dramatic irony is in many ways a key element of the events of the text. Discuss with examples.

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This section contains 966 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample