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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the main theme of the Memoirs?
(a) Socrates is always correct.
(b) God does not exist.
(c) The ideal of the true good.
(d) Its not what you know; it's who you know.

2. At the start of subsection 3, whom does Socrates advise according to Xenophon?
(a) Plato.
(b) The Oracle of Delphi.
(c) Two brothers, Chaerephon and Chaerecrates.
(d) His nieces and nephews.

3. When in his life is Xenophon reported to have written the memoirs?
(a) Xenophon did not do the writings himself.
(b) Xenophon reportedly wrote them as a young man.
(c) The memoirs are supposedly written posthumously.
(d) It is believed Xenophon wrote them late in his life.

4. What makes the Memoirs of Socrates hard to date?
(a) The document is in pieces.
(b) It is written with horrible grammar.
(c) Socrates himself denounced the writings.
(d) The conversations are poorly organized.

5. What did the gods oppose Socrates doing in his own view?
(a) Working on his defense.
(b) Showing humility.
(c) Using force to defend himself.
(d) Dreaming.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Xenophon discuss with Critobulus in Subsection 6?

2. What does Plato think of Socrates' defense at the trial?

3. What were Socrates' friends doing that mystified him?

4. What does Xenophon argue Socrates could not lead people to do?

5. What does Xenophon note about Socrates' prophecy?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Xenophon why was Socrates convicted, and how was his fate appropriate?

2. In subsection 1 of Chapter 2, Book 1, what does Xenophon say about Socrates in defense of the charges that he worshiped different gods than the state and introduced new deities?

3. What type of friends does Socrates tell Cristobulus that he should set to acquire?

4. Why is Memoirs of Socrates hard to date? What does the editor believe about the validity of the piece?

5. What does Xenophon note at the opening of Socrates' defense, and whom does he cite as an important source of information?

6. According to the editor how does Xenophon's "Conversations of Socrates" compare to Plato's "Apology"?

7. How does Socrates' conversation with Antiphon serve to demonstrate that Socrates loved virtue?

8. Why did Socrates have an arrogant tone at his trial according to Xenophon?

9. How does Socrates open his defense, and how does he refer to the Oracle of Delphi as part of his argument?

10. What positive aspects does Socrates list about the possibility of being convicted of the charges brought against him?

(see the answer keys)

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