USED AT THE Examination of Candidates for Direct Commissions, HELD IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1861. London: Bookseller to the Queen. 1861. EXAMINATION PAPERS. JANUARY--FEBRUARY 1861. ENGLISH LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND COMPOSITION. G. W. DASENT, D.C.L. 1. Describe a thaw and its comforts and discomforts. 2. Write an essay on the following theme: "The Battle of Life." 3. Explain the meaning of the following terms in English Grammar and Composition, "a part of speech," "a diminutive," "a patronymic," “a pleonasm," "an allegory," "a tautological expression," and "a plagiarism." 4. Explain the difference between a metaphor and a simile, and give three examples of each. 5. Out of what two languages is modern English mainly derived? Is it possible to write a sentence entirely composed of words derived from one or other of those languages? If it be possible, give two examples of such sentences. 6. Enumerate as many vulgarisms of speaking or writing as you can remember. A 7. Divide the History of the English Language into several great periods, and show how the language was gradually formed in each of these periods. 8. At what time did the following writers live? Chaucer, Gower, Surrey, Marlowe, Spenser, Shakespeare, Hooker, Milton, Hobbes, Dryden, Defoe, Pope, Addison, Gray, Cowper, Wordsworth. Sir Walter Scott, and Lord Byron. Mention the greatest work of each of these writers. 9. Describe the plot of any play, or the story of any novel with which you may be acquainted. 10. Give one or two plain rules for writing a good English style. 66 HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE G. W. Dasent, D.C.L. 1. What do you understand by the terms Heptarchy," "Danegelt," "Peter's Pence," and "Trial by Ordeal," when used in early English History? 2. Was the Feudal System ever introduced into England? If so, state at what time and by whom it was introduced. 3. What English kings had struggles with the Papacy? Describe briefly in each case the course and result of the struggle. 4. What English kings had struggles with their subjects? Describe briefly in each case the course and result of the struggle. 5. What English kings were most remarkable for their wars with foreign nations? Describe the campaigns abroad of one of those kings. 6. What is the meaning of the word Parliament? At what period in English History did Parliaments become a power in the State? 7. What do you understand by the terms, "Star Chamber,' 66 Benevolence," "Subsidy," "Monopoly," and "Ship Money," as employed in the times of the Tudor and Stuart Dynasties? 8. Mark on the Map of the British Isles the course of the chief rivers; insert the names of the principal bays, islands, headlands, and seaports, as well as those of twelve great inland towns. 9. Mark by name on the map the site of the battles fought during the Great Rebellion, and state-not on the map-the names of the Generals who commanded, and the result of the battle in each case. 10. Mark by name on the map the course of one great line of railway, and mention-not on the map the chief products and manufactures of the districts through which it passes. 11. By how many races are the British Isles inhabited? Mention the names of the languages spoken in the United Kingdom. 12. Compare the English national character with that of any other people, ancient or modern, with which you may be acquainted. ANCIENT HISTORY. 1. Describe the legislation of Solon at Athens. 2. Describe the legislation of Lycurgus at Sparta. |