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THESE QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON THE DICTION OF JAMES BOSWELL in his biography of DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON. Answering these questions will help you to appreciate the types of words used by Boswell. Simultaneously, we can understand the personality of Dr. Johnson.
871. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'indolence':
"...He seemed to learn by intuition; for though indolence and procrastination were inherent in his
constitution, whenever he made an exertion he did more than any one else..."
a)deprivation b)deference c)contemplation d)laziness.
872. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'strut':
"... Johnson did not
strut or stand on tiptoe. ..."
a) speak pompously b) live pompously c) speak pompously d) walk pompously.
873. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'tenacious':
"... His memory was so tenacious, that he never forgot any thing that he either heard or read. ..."
a) articulating b) restive c)retentive d)redeeming.
874. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'saunter':
"...Mr. Hector relates, that 'he could not oblige him more than by sauntering away the hours of vacation in the fields, during which he was more engaged in talking to himself than to his companion....' "
a)sleep b) slough c)slog d)stroll.
875. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'licentiousness':
"(Dr. Johnson was moved to a school at Stourbridge). This step was
taken by the advice of his cousin, the Reverend Mr. Ford, a man in whom both talents and good dispositions were disgraced by
licentiousness, but who was a very able judge of what was right."
a)rudeness b)censuring nature c)lewdness d)sexual perversion.
876. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'desultory':
"... He (Johnson at the age of about 16) had no settled plan of life, nor looked forward at all, but merely lived from day to day. Yet he read a great deal in a desultory manner. ..."
a)consistent b)inconsistent c)careful d)causal.
877. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'avidity':
"... His curiosity having been thus excited, he sat down with avidity, and read a great part of the book. ..."
a)ease b)cool mind c)foresigh d)eagerness.
878. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'indolence':
"...I had looked into a great many books, which were not commonly known at the Universities, where they seldom read any books but what are put into their hands by their tutors; ..."(Here 'I' refers to Dr. Johnson.)
a) always b)sometimes c)rarely d)never.
879. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'fortitude':
"...I had no notion that I was wrong or irreverent to my tutor. BOSWELL: 'That, Sir, was great fortitude of mind.' ... "
a)wit b)pride c)strength of mind d)repartee.
880. From the following quote, identify the meaning of the word 'res angusta domi':
"The res angusta domi prevented him from having the advantage of a complete academical education. ". (Him here refers to Dr. Johnson).
a)ill health b) timidness c)indifference of teachers d) narrowed circumstances at home and poverty.
