The Discourses Test | Mid-Book Test - Easy

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 201 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.

The Discourses Test | Mid-Book Test - Easy

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 201 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.
Buy The Discourses Lesson Plans
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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli recommend that those who want to reform a city should retain the appearance of the institutions they want to reform?
(a) Because keeping the appearance of those institutions helps to keep important advisers within the circle of government.
(b) Because keeping the appearance of those institutions helps to hide the true agenda of the Prince.
(c) Because keeping the appearance of those institutions assures a smooth transition of power.
(d) Because the general masses are satisfied with appearances and are moved by things as they appear rather than by the way they operate (perception is reality).

2. According to Machiavelli, what was one negative consequence of the Roman Senate's decision to pay soldiers out of public money?
(a) It raised taxes on Nobles.
(b) Soldiers began expecting regular pay raises.
(c) So many Citizens joined the military that there were not enough to perform necessary jobs throughout the Republic.
(d) Rome was required to produce more currency to meet the payments, so the currency was devalued.

3. What should the reader consider as evil when Machiavelli is advising Princes to "recognize evils".
(a) Evil is anything with which a Prince does not agree.
(b) Evil is those public reactions that oppose the Prince.
(c) Evil is those human inclinations that cause them to act selfishly.
(d) Evil should be considered to be any influence which challenges the power of the Prince.

4. Through what means does Machiavelli suggest that a City can achieve what he considers greatness?
(a) Through conquest and deceit.
(b) Through laws and wealth.
(c) Through love or force.
(d) Through fear and violence.

5. What, according to Machiavelli in Book , 1 Section 38, is the fate of irresolute Republics?
(a) They cannot settle conflicts except with force because their weakness prevents them from resolving doubts over issues.
(b) They will eventually fade away and reemerge as a tyranny.
(c) They face invasion, destruction and anhilation.
(d) They have no alternative but to join alliances with powerful Republics that will take control of them.

6. What are the five types of government identified by Machiavelli?
(a) Tyranny, constitutional, military oligarchy, principality, and democracy.
(b) Democracy, anarchy, monarchy, constitutional, and institutional.
(c) Monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, oligarchy, and anarchy.
(d) Republic, fascistic, democracy, principality, and oligarchy.

7. What was an example from Roman history that Machiavelli used to suggest the Plebes possesses greater wisdom than Nobles?
(a) A time when the Plebes could have chosen all Plebes for four Tribunes, chose, instead, four Nobles because they recognized the weaknesses of Plebes filling those offices.
(b) The Magistrates decision to delay battle against the Samnites.
(c) The failed attempt of the Nobles to put Plebes of ill-repute to selection for Tribunes.
(d) The willingness of the Plebes to go to war for the glory of Rome.

8. What does Machiavelli examine in Chapter 1 of Book 2?
(a) Whether the Roman Empire was built upon fortune or virtue.
(b) Why fortune is more important that virtue.
(c) How virtue can destroy fortune.
(d) How to develop fortune and virtue.

9. What can be inferred of Machiavelli's idea of virtue from reading the review of the first three kings of Rome as he begins his discourse of weak Princes and excellent Princes?
(a) That he believes being ferocious and warlike is an indispensible virtue for a Prince.
(b) That he considers bureaucratic expertise to be an important virtue for Princes.
(c) The he considers moral integrity to be the primary virtue for Princes.
(d) That he considers the most weak Princes to practice ambivalence to virtue.

10. What do fertile areas offer to those who settle there according to Machiavelli?
(a) Raw materials that can be sent to sterile areas for manufacturing and refinement.
(b) The ability to affect the economy of sterile areas.
(c) Resources that will sustain a growing population.
(d) The means by which a city can grow and have the ability to defend themselves.

11. What does Machiavelli identify as an important action for Nobles to take to control the ambitions of Citizens seeking position?
(a) Find ways to have them sent to war.
(b) Forestall their paths to attain the rank they seek.
(c) Find ways to bring the ambitious Citizens into Noble circles to keep them under watch and compromise their influence.
(d) Have them kidnapped and killed.

12. What did Machiavelli identify as the cause of conspiracy against a hereditary Princes?
(a) Less powerful people desired the power of the Prince.
(b) They degenerated from their fathers, and surpassed others in sumptuousness and lasciviousness and in every other kind of delight.
(c) The larger population of citizens became unhappy with the the political preferences of the Princes.
(d) The general population became dissatisfied with the distribution of wealth.

13. What does Machiavelli identify as tactics the Citizen seeking not to be harmed uses?
(a) The financial ability to buy protection.
(b) Acquiring friendships either through honest means or by supplying money to protect themselves from the powerful (bribes).
(c) Friendships with Citizens who are bold enough to fight.
(d) Obscurity.

14. What is a Prince as Machiavelli uses the term?
(a) A monarch over a sovereign system of government and territory.
(b) A dispatched bureaucrat that carries out orders over a territory.
(c) An underling to the ruling authority.
(d) A hereditary noble.

15. Why does Machiavelli claim these forms of government developed?
(a) So those with influence could hold it without violence.
(b) To prevent people with the ability to use force from destroying each other.
(c) So those with wealth could protect themselves from those who had none.
(d) To provide defense for people who gathered together.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Machiavelli begin the preface to "The Discourses"?

2. What does Machiavelli suggest causes corruption?

3. What does Machiavelli claim new sects (religions) do as they rise to prominence?

4. From what did Machiavelli develop the information that he wrote into "The Discourses"?

5. What does Machiavelli predict will come to Republics that do not provide for dictatorships or powerful authorities in times of urgent perils?

(see the answer keys)

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