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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Trench argued that dictionaries should be histories of the life span of every word and that these lives should be ______.
(a) Ended.
(b) Charted.
(c) Explained.
(d) Given.

2. For what purpose was Murray asked to go to Oxford?
(a) To speak with the residents of Oxford.
(b) To speak with the dean of Oxford University.
(c) To speak with the president of Oxford University.
(d) To speak to the Oxford Publishing delegates.

3. How did the author describe the attitude of the killer caught for Merrett's death upon the killer's capture?
(a) Excited and happy.
(b) Embarrassed and sad.
(c) Cool and collected.
(d) Bored and uninterested.

4. England's power grew, and it felt embarrassed for not studying its language. Why did citizens want a proper dictionary?
(a) Many wanted a dictionary for helping immigrants.
(b) Many wanted to sell them in bookstores.
(c) Schools made more demands on scholars to make a new dictionary.
(d) Many wanted a dictionary for the English language in its entirety.

5. Many critics find the Oxford English Dictionary to be ______________.
(a) Racist and sexist.
(b) Ridiculous and sexist.
(c) Thoughtless and ridiculous.
(d) Strange and racist.

6. What was the idea behind the Philological Society?
(a) To gather and discuss new admissions to the Oxford English Dictionary.
(b) Improvement upon the understanding of the properly dominant language of the world.
(c) To promote Christian missionary work.
(d) To promote new admissions to the Oxford English Dictionary.

7. According to Mr. Trench, who approved of the global spread of the English language?
(a) God.
(b) Jesus.
(c) The Queen.
(d) Christians.

8. What was the nickname of the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) "The Little Dictionary."
(b) "The One and Only."
(c) "Old English."
(d) "This Big Dictionary."

9. When was the project to create the first Oxford English Dictionary commissioned?
(a) In the 1860's.
(b) In the 1840's.
(c) In the 1850's.
(d) In the 1830's.

10. Who heard the three shots fired in the beginning of the book?
(a) William Ward.
(b) Henry Burton.
(c) Eliza Ward.
(d) Henry Tarrant.

11. How have many described the language of the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) Basic.
(b) Arrogant.
(c) Easy.
(d) Complicated.

12. Where were George Merrett and his wife originally from?
(a) Hampshire.
(b) Lambeth.
(c) Gloucestershire.
(d) Derry.

13. What kind of work did the Minors do in Ceylon?
(a) Coffee plantation.
(b) Coconut farming.
(c) Tea plantation.
(d) Missionary.

14. How does the author describe the words in the early English dictionaries in Chapter 4, Gathering Earth's Daughters?
(a) Odd and poorly defined.
(b) Strange and simple.
(c) Simple and odd.
(d) Poorly defined and too little.

15. What central figure in the story happened across Murray's appeal to the English people in regards to the Oxford English Dictionary?
(a) Dr. William Minor.
(b) Mr. Trench.
(c) Nakiesha Wilson.
(d) James Koss.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what century did some Latin-English dictionaries began to appear?

2. What kind of Christianity did the Murray family follow?

3. In what city was Murray born?

4. At what age was William sent to the United States?

5. On what holiday did Dr. Minor arrive in London in the opening of Chapter 4, Gathering Earth's Daughters?

(see the answer keys)

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