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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 5, The Big Dictionary Conceived.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 2, The Man Who Taught Latin to Cattle, who is introduced as the first protagonist?
(a) Dr. Murray.
(b) Mr. Merrett.
(c) Mrs. Scott.
(d) Dr. Minor.

2. Merrett's killer was from ______________.
(a) New York, New York.
(b) New Haven, Connecticut.
(c) Portland, Maine.
(d) Seattle, Washington.

3. On what holiday did Dr. Minor arrive in London in the opening of Chapter 4, Gathering Earth's Daughters?
(a) Fourth of July.
(b) Easter.
(c) Christmas.
(d) Guy Fawkes Day.

4. According to Chapter 5, which dictionary far surpassed all that came before it?
(a) The English Dictionary of America.
(b) The American Dictionary.
(c) The Oxford English Dictionary.
(d) The Oxford Cambridge Dictionary of English.

5. Who would publish the first Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) Penguin Books.
(b) Academic Press.
(c) Harper and Row.
(d) Oxford University Press.

Short Answer Questions

1. Trench argued that dictionaries should be histories of the life span of every word and that these lives should be ______.

2. In Chapter 5, what was the name of Mr. Trench's speech in regards to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary?

3. How many men authored A Dictionary of the English Language?

4. Who took over Furnivall's place as editor of the Oxford English Dictionary?

5. What was the overall effect of the large amount of word donors on Furnivall and his dictionary volunteers?

(see the answer key)

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