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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What language was the unusual book that Montaigne's father came into possession of written in?
(a) Spanish.
(b) French.
(c) Latin.
(d) Italian.

2. What social class was Montaigne born into?
(a) The merchant class.
(b) The nobility.
(c) Foreign class.
(d) The commoner's class.

3. At the time that Montaigne was engaged in his translation of the unusual book, what philosophy was gaining significant popularity?
(a) Lutheranism.
(b) Calvinism.
(c) Empiricism.
(d) Predestination.

4. Montaigne doubts affection that is based on what?
(a) Business dealings.
(b) Reliance.
(c) Physical attraction.
(d) Gift-giving.

5. Near the end of Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 3, Montaigne discusses two men who suffer from what?
(a) The plague.
(b) Hallucinations.
(c) Epilepsy.
(d) Suicidal thoughts.

6. What language was this book originally written in?
(a) German.
(b) Latin.
(c) French.
(d) English.

7. What character trait does Montaigne say are specifically brought about by a particular treatment of children by parents?
(a) Sadism.
(b) Indolence.
(c) Ignorance.
(d) Cowardice.

8. What philosopher did Montaigne believe to have been a major influence on the unusual book that he translated?
(a) John Locke.
(b) Aristotle.
(c) Demosthenes.
(d) St. Thomas Aquinas.

9. In Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 2, Essay #3, what city do the soldiers who were allowed to escape go on to attack?
(a) Vienna.
(b) Athens.
(c) Syracuse.
(d) Jerusalem.

10. In Montaigne's story about the man leading a large number of troops, what moves the man to act with mercy?
(a) A group of women about to kill themselves.
(b) Three holdouts fighting bravely.
(c) Monks praying in a church.
(d) Children praying for mercy.

11. Montaigne responds to an argument that it is useless to defend Christianity from what standpoint?
(a) Rationality.
(b) Historical analysis.
(c) Divine inspiration.
(d) Empiricism.

12. Which of the following does NOT well-classify the quotations that Montaigne uses throughout his essays?
(a) Diverse.
(b) Numerous.
(c) Short.
(d) Inexplicable.

13. In Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 3, Essay #10, Montaigne says that the people he discusses view scars as marks of what?
(a) Strength.
(b) Beauty.
(c) Experience.
(d) Bravery.

14. What method of governance dominated Europe in Montaigne's time?
(a) Parliamentary democracy.
(b) Feudalism.
(c) Dictatorship.
(d) Constitutional monarchy.

15. In Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 3, Essay #10, Montaigne notes that the people he discusses tend to leave scars with what type of surgical procedure?
(a) Stitching.
(b) Leeching.
(c) Cauterizing.
(d) Blood-letting.

Short Answer Questions

1. Montaigne states that his method for discussing the book that is the topic of Book 2 of Essays: Chapter 7, Essay #12 is based on the writings of what philosopher?

2. In one of Montaigne's stories, the people who have a kind of social experiment performed on them are what?

3. What does Montaigne recommend to help a person develop self-awareness and uncensored thinking?

4. In Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 2, Essays #4 and #5, Montaigne says that many consider deceit to be an essential part of what?

5. What subject does the second introduction for this book cover?

(see the answer keys)

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