Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What did Merrett's killer claim about the murder?
2. When does this story take place?
3. In what year did Dr. Minor arrive in London?
4. At what time where the three shots fired in the opening of the book?
5. At what age was William sent to the United States?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why does the author suggest that Minor moved from his initial area of residence in London, St James Square, to Lambeth Marsh?
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. What might the audience find unique about the killer's professional past?
4. What is the effect of the author's choice to define the word "murder" on the audience?
5. In what way was Trench's appeal to the masses who would be needed to help compile the Oxford English Dictionary democratic?
6. The author says that Minor became unworried by his "lascivious thoughts" while at Yale. What is a possible explanation for this?
7. What can be surmised about the author's intention by naming his first chapter, " The Dead of Night in Lambeth Marsh"?
8. What seemed uncanny about the killer's cool, calm demeanor?
9. 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?
10. Many critics found the Oxford English Dictionary to be racist and sexist. Explain how the author suggests this may have happened.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
How does the author show that The Oxford English Dictionary was a completely different undertaking than any of the dictionaries that had come before it? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text.
Essay Topic 2
Despite the fact that this a work of non-fiction, there are elements of foreshadowing in the way the author tells the story. Explain how this occurs and discuss their effect.
Essay Topic 3
"The English-speaking world is better off for the death of Charles Merrett." How could this statement be considered to be true? Do you think the author agrees? Why or why not?
|
This section contains 1,055 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
