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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Augustine arrange to marry?

2. Why do Augustine and his friends steal a pear?

3. What sort of philosophy does Augustine have?

4. What does Hortensius promote?

5. What is the name of a book Augustine wrote that he later lost?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Augustine believe about the men in the Bible and how does he apply that to people in general?

2. Where does Augustine want to move and why?

3. What did Augustine write about that involved a theft of pears and how did he feel about it?

4. Who teaches Augustine about astrology and what does he say?

5. What gives Augustine an excuse to continue following his baser desires?

6. What is Augustine's primary thoughts of when he arrives in Carthage and what does he do with them?

7. How does Augustine's initial conversion to Christianity come about?

8. What does Augustine feel the pear tree incident symbolized?

9. What kind of pressure does Augustine feel as a young person and what does he do about it?

10. What does Augustine say is the difference between how the simple-minded and intellectuals read and understand the Scriptures?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Augustine thinks about sin, and feels overwhelmed with the task of avoiding sin. Babies and the saintly are affected or tempted by sin.

1. Do you think the second sentence above is true? Why or why not?

2. Do you think, given Augustine's definition of sin, that humans can avoid sin? Why or why not?

3. Discuss Augustine's ideas about sin.

Essay Topic 2

Augustine recalls that he was under a lot of peer pressure to seek sexual pleasure and to applaud those who seek it from his peers that he knew from his town and from school. Augustine remembers even inventing sexual exploits to tell his peers, just to impress them.

1. Do you think Augustine's feelings of pressure from his peers was valid? Why or why not?

2. Do you think young men today feel the same peer pressure Augustine felt? Why or why not?

3. Discuss your beliefs about how young people are subjected to peer pressure and what a young person can do about it.

Essay Topic 3

In book VII, Augustine rejects astrology after speaking to an old man Vindicianus, and also due to the arguments of his friend Nebridius. They both say that the predictions of astrologists are purely a matter of chance, plus taking into account a person's condition, wealth, and circumstances. Discuss one of the following ideas:

1. What do you think Augustine's Christian beliefs would say about the concept of astrology? Use examples from the text and your own knowledge.

2. Why do you think many people in those times believed in astrology? Do you think the people who believe in astrology today do so for the same reasons?

3. Do you think science has disproved the validity of astrology? Why or why not? Discuss thoroughly.

4. What do you think about the thoughts of Augustine's two friends who say that the predictions of astrologists are purely a matter of chance, plus taking into account a person's condition, wealth, and circumstances?

(see the answer keys)

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