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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In order for an enthymeme to be successful, what recommendation did Aristotle have about its conclusion?
(a) It should be long.
(b) It should be obvious.
(c) It should be short.
(d) It should not be obvious.

2. How many common mistakes did Aristotle indicate were made in prose?
(a) Too many to list.
(b) Three.
(c) Four.
(d) Two.

3. As explained by Aristotle in Book III, Chapter 10, how should effective prose express its important points?
(a) With succinct, extravagant sayings.
(b) With elegant, extravagant sayings.
(c) With succinct, elegant sayings.
(d) With succinct, extravagant, elegant sayings.

4. What did the paean avoid in order to gain Aristotle's endorsement as the ideal rhythm for prose?
(a) An uncommon meter.
(b) A common meter.
(c) A definite meter.
(d) An indefinite meter.

5. How did Aristotle describe the difference between spoken and written prose?
(a) Written prose was generally more stylized and complicated.
(b) Spoken prose was generally more stylized and less complicated.
(c) Spoken prose was generally more stylized and complicated.
(d) Written prose was generally more stylized and less complicated.

6. According to Aristotle, what should vivid descriptions always depict?
(a) Something that is in activity.
(b) Something that is stationary.
(c) Something that is easily identified.
(d) Something that is not easily identified.

7. Using an example of the similarities or differences between parents and their children, how did Aristotle describe Socrates' children?
(a) Irrational.
(b) Intelligent.
(c) Foolish.
(d) Rational.

8. What did Aristotle think was wrong with the metaphor that compared a man with a square?
(a) He thought it was too simple.
(b) He thought it was too complex.
(c) He thought it was boring.
(d) He thought it was confusing.

9. In addition to context, what type of application of rhetoric did Aristotle think should determine the style?
(a) Simple.
(b) General.
(c) Complex.
(d) Specific.

10. What was the basic method used in the a fortiori argument that Aristotle referred to in Book II, Chapter 23?
(a) To focus on several positions at once.
(b) To prove one thing by proving another first.
(c) To argue two entirely different things at once.
(d) To focus on only one position at a time.

11. What about the past did Aristotle say that a legal orator was concerned with proving?
(a) Facts.
(b) Actions.
(c) Doubts.
(d) Opinions.

12. Based on Aristotle's explanation of the wealthy, how did wealthy people view the opinions of others about money?
(a) They thought that most people understood their view of money, but did not understand the reasons for it.
(b) They thought that everyone disagreed with their view of money.
(c) They thought that everyone shared their view of money.
(d) They thought that most people were incapable of understanding their view of money.

13. Which one of the following would be an example of amplification?
(a) The unintended effects of a political plan.
(b) The ineffective results of a political plan.
(c) The effective results of a previous political plan.
(d) The positive effects of a political plan.

14. How many periods of a lifetime did Aristotle discuss in Book II, Chapter 12?
(a) Four.
(b) Three.
(c) Two.
(d) Five.

15. According to Aristotle, how many ways could objections be raised?
(a) Four.
(b) Two.
(c) Three.
(d) Five.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Aristotle define a maxim?

2. How many general forms of enthymemes were discussed by Aristotle in Book II, Chapter 23?

3. In Aristotle's opinion, why should political rhetoric focus the most on sound argumentation?

4. Which one of the following would be an example of a fallacious enthymeme?

5. Why did Aristotle consider metaphors to be useful in Book III, Chapter 10?

(see the answer keys)

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