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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. As explained by Socrates, is love ugly or beautiful?
(a) It is mostly ugly.
(b) It is neither ugly nor beautiful.
(c) It is mostly beautiful.
(d) It is somewhere between ugly and beautiful.

2. What example does Socrates use as a tale that has lived throughout generations?
(a) Agamemnon.
(b) Odysseus.
(c) Achilles.
(d) Heracles.

3. What complaint does the drunken Alcibiades have at the end of Part 7?
(a) That he missed Socrates' speech.
(b) That Socrates is sneaking up on him.
(c) That Socrates is wiser than him.
(d) That there is no more wine.

4. In Alcibiades' opinion, why does Socrates associate with young boys?
(a) He is trying to change them.
(b) He is confused by them.
(c) He is excited by them.
(d) He is reminded of his youth by them.

5. How does Alcibiades claim that Socrates assaulted him?
(a) Verbally.
(b) Mentally.
(c) Physically.
(d) He does not claim that Socrates assaulted him.

6. How does Agathon describe love?
(a) The eldest of the gods.
(b) The youngest of the gods.
(c) The strongest of the gods.
(d) The weakest of the gods.

7. As explained by Socrates, which images can the young philosopher understand and reproduce?
(a) Virtue and wisdom, but not beauty.
(b) Virtue, beauty, and wisdom.
(c) Virtue and beauty, but not wisdom.
(d) Beauty and wisdom, but not virtue.

8. Which one of the following is not included in Diotima's list of things that spirits help with?
(a) Fortune telling.
(b) Prayers.
(c) Dreams.
(d) Reason.

9. What does Diotima compare Love to in explaining its features?
(a) A wrong opinion.
(b) An opinion that is neither right nor wrong.
(c) A right opinion.
(d) An opinion that can be perceived as right by some and wrong by others.

10. What does Diotima tell Socrates about Love's function?
(a) It allows the wise to feel ignorant.
(b) It allows humans to understand immortality.
(c) It allows the ignorant to feel wise.
(d) It allows humans to taste immortality.

11. According to Socrates, which love helps a philosopher reproduce an idea?
(a) The love of patience.
(b) The love of generosity.
(c) The love of beauty.
(d) The love of intelligence.

12. According to Diotima's explanation, what will beasts die to protect?
(a) Their pride.
(b) Love.
(c) Status.
(d) Their offspring.

13. According to Socrates, what ideas can a man become "pregnant" with?
(a) How to best run a city and the nation.
(b) How to raise children.
(c) How to resolve conflict without wars.
(d) How to fight wars.

14. Whose permission does Socrates seek before asking Agathon questions?
(a) Eryximachus.
(b) Aristophanes.
(c) Pausanius.
(d) Phaedrus.

15. Which one of the following is not listed by Socrates as an idea that can be transmitted through love?
(a) Politics.
(b) Virtue.
(c) War.
(d) Government.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which one of the following is not used by Diotima to describe Love?

2. How does Diotima think women are helped to give birth?

3. How does Diotima think a young person should interact with beautiful minds?

4. What characteristics does love have, according to Agathon?

5. As explained by Diotima, how many people is a young person initially attracted to?

(see the answer keys)

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