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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why did Aristotle consider metaphors to be useful in Book III, Chapter 10?
(a) People connect with similar ideas.
(b) People enjoy thoughtful ideas.
(c) People connect with sensible ideas.
(d) People enjoy new ideas.

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

3. Which of the following examples best demonstrates Aristotle's theory of possibility in Book II, Chapter 19?
(a) Clouds and rain.
(b) Thunder and lightening.
(c) Snow and ice.
(d) Heat and sunshine.

4. What was thought to be incorrect about the example of the misuse of the epithet that Aristotle provided?
(a) An ordinary adjective was applied to an extraordinary noun.
(b) An extraordinary verb was applied to an ordinary noun.
(c) An extraordinary adjective was applied to an ordinary noun.
(d) An ordinary verb was applied to an extraordinary noun.

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

6. Why was a refutative enthymeme considered to be more effective by Aristotle?
(a) It was more concise and less elegant.
(b) It was less concise and more elegant.
(c) It was less concise and less elegant.
(d) It was more concise and more elegant.

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

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

9. According to Aristotle, what was epideictic rhetoric most likely to deal with?
(a) Small crowds of uneducated people.
(b) Large crowds of educated people.
(c) Large crowds of uneducated people.
(d) Small crowds of educated people.

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

11. In order to object to an argument using Aristotle's explanations, how might it be attacked?
(a) Directly.
(b) Rationally.
(c) Scientifically.
(d) Humorously.

12. How were antithesis sayings defined by Aristotle?
(a) The reference to three vastly different ideas.
(b) The grouping of two similar qualities.
(c) The reference to three slightly different ideas.
(d) The grouping of two opposite qualities.

13. As explained by Aristotle in Book III, Chapter 2, which type of words should a speech writer use?
(a) Words whose meanings are not obvious.
(b) Words that are not easily pronounced.
(c) Words that are easily pronounced.
(d) Words whose meanings are obvious.

14. In Book II, Chapter 26, how many common errors did Aristotle discuss?
(a) Three.
(b) One.
(c) Two.
(d) None.

15. How many general forms of enthymemes were discussed by Aristotle in Book II, Chapter 23?
(a) Thirty four.
(b) Twenty eight.
(c) Twenty four.
(d) Thirty eight.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Aristotle, how was the structure of text conveyed in the periodic prose?

2. As discussed in Book III, Chapter 12, what should legal rhetoric blend argumentation with?

3. What did Aristotle think a high value of life in older people led to?

4. Which view did Aristotle think people in their prime had of money?

5. How did Aristotle define a maxim?

(see the answer keys)

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