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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What explanation is given for the unusual rule that Montaigne discusses in Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 3, Essay #48?
(a) No reason is given.
(b) It is a tradition that no one understands.
(c) It comes from a bible passage.
(d) It derives from a mistranslation.

3. In one of Montaigne's stories, the man who performs a kind of social experiment on people of a lower social station had what profession?
(a) Judge.
(b) Psychologist.
(c) Scholar.
(d) Politician.

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

5. What does Montaigne suggest is essential in order for a person to lead a good life?
(a) Parental affection.
(b) Religious dedication.
(c) A strong family.
(d) Discipline.

6. In Book 2 of Essays, Essay #11, Montaigne contrasts virtue with what?
(a) Cruelty.
(b) Vice.
(c) Permissiveness.
(d) Kindness.

7. What treatment of children by parents does Montaigne cite as leading to specific character traits?
(a) Scolding.
(b) Violence.
(c) Neglect.
(d) Apathy.

8. Montaigne says that a fabricated storyline must be what?
(a) Predictable.
(b) Unremarkable.
(c) Ordinary.
(d) Consistent.

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

10. What factor tends to restrict the conditions for women?
(a) Religion.
(b) Warfare.
(c) Economic booms.
(d) Drought.

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

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

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

14. Near the end of Book 2 of Essays: Chapter 8, Montaigne discusses means of what type?
(a) Evil.
(b) Morally grey.
(c) Good.
(d) Violent.

15. What subject does the second introduction for this book cover?
(a) Montaigne himself.
(b) Translation issues.
(c) The history of Europe.
(d) Philosophy in general.

Short Answer Questions

1. What age does Montaigne recommend that males remain virgins until?

2. What was unusual about what Gutenburg did with bibles?

3. How often does Montaigne criticize the book that he translated in his discussion of it?

4. What major factor significantly diminished the place of women in Britain?

5. Montaigne suggests that a kindly person goes through life inclined towards what?

(see the answer keys)

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