Dictionaries, Biographies and Statistics Assignment

This assignment will test your knowledge of Dictionaries, Biographical Resources and Statistical resources. Unlike the other assignments you do not have to use your research topic. Simply follow the directions for each question.

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1. Locate an unabridged dictionary and look up the word "interest."

How many different definitions of this word did you find?

Are any of the definitions new to you?

When did this word first enter the English language?

2. Find biographical information on Adrienne Rich:

What is the title of the resource you use to find the information?

Was there a bibliography? If so, did it list both works by and about Adrienne Rich?

Who is Adrienne Rich?

3. Use the Statistical Abstract of the United States to find the following information:

a) What percentage of white males between 25 to 34 years of age smoked cigarettes in 1992?

b) What percentage of black females between 18 to 24 years of age smoked cigarettes in 1992?

c) What group of persons smoked the most cigarettes in 1992?

d) How does the table that you used to answer the above three questions define a current smoker?

e) What source was the information found on this table taken from?

Do you think the source is reliable? Why?