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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The Euthyphro is a dialogue between which men?
(a) Zeus and Hades.
(b) Aristophanes and Cato.
(c) Socrates and Euthyphro.
(d) Plato and Socrates.

2. What does Socrates tell the jury after his sentence is decided?
(a) He thanked them for their service to the community.
(b) His students will visit more harm upon the city than he ever could.
(c) He will have his revenge, if not in this life, then the next.
(d) He is truly sorry for what he did.

3. How many speeches did Socrates give in his defense during his trial in Athens?
(a) Three.
(b) Two.
(c) One.
(d) Zero.

4. What is prophecy?
(a) Faith in the gods.
(b) A ritual rite of passage to manhood.
(c) Hatred for one's own family.
(d) Knowledge of the future.

5. According to Euthyphro, what might Socrates say about his own level of knowledge?
(a) Socrates feels wisdom is completely unimportant.
(b) Socrates feels he knows nothing.
(c) Socrates feels he has a great memory.
(d) Socrates feels he is a storehouse of knowledge.

6. What does Socrates claim about his relationship with his students?
(a) He has never claimed to teach, only to talk honestly.
(b) He makes them suffer only so he can teach them more.
(c) He has no students, and the trial is a complete farce.
(d) His students are all too stupid to do much damage.

7. Why did Socrates decide to worship the god that the oracle of Delphi channeled?
(a) The oracle complimented his looks.
(b) The oracle had a correct pronouncement concerning wisdom.
(c) Socrates did it out of spite, because the oracle did not want Socrates to worship his god.
(d) Socrates chose a god to worship randomly, because they don't exist, so it doesn't matter.

8. Why does Euthyphro decide to end his conversation with Socrates?
(a) Euthyphro was personally insulted after Socrates mentioned his father.
(b) Socrates has become belligerent and angry.
(c) Euthyphro successfully argued his case, and emerged victorious.
(d) He is frustrated at the logical traps Socrates has put him in.

9. How does Socrates try to prove that the Athenian definition of corruption is defective?
(a) By arguing that laws are meant to be broken.
(b) By asking the prosecution to produce concrete evidence of the alleged corruption.
(c) By showing that he pursues a good life in a proper way.
(d) By calling forth a large number of his students to testify.

10. Why does Socrates believe his oratorical skill is superior to his opponents in his trial?
(a) His speech bears impressive flourishes.
(b) He speaks the truth, and they do not.
(c) He is much more knowledgeable about rhetorical strategies and logic.
(d) He has practiced his entire life to defend what he stands for, and so is better prepared.

11. Why does Socrates object to the notion that piety is a system of exchange between gods and men?
(a) There is no delivery system in place for the exchange.
(b) The "currency" between gods and men does not translate well.
(c) Men can never offer the one thing the gods truly crave: mortality.
(d) Gods could not possibly need anything from humans.

12. What is the subject of Plato's Apology?
(a) Socrates' definition of piety.
(b) A day of Socrates teaching at his school.
(c) Socrates' trial.
(d) Socrates' execution.

13. Why is "true speech" often not persuasive?
(a) True speech is often delivered by politicians, who are always at odds with citizens.
(b) It is so elegant that everyone falls in love with the words, failing to see the truthful content.
(c) It is hard to properly present.
(d) No one wants to hear the truth about how ugly they are.

14. What is Euthyphro's initial definition of piety?
(a) Piety is what is dear to the gods.
(b) Piety is following the arbitrary will of the universe.
(c) Piety is behaving according to a strict set of morals.
(d) Piety is a faith to end all faiths.

15. What is the basic impression of Socrates' overall defense strategy?
(a) It was strong, but just not enough.
(b) It was meaningless because Meletus rigged the trial.
(c) It displayed Socrates' full wit and brilliance.
(d) It was weak and full of holes.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Socrates compare himself to Achilles?

2. Why does the dialogue in Euthyphro end?

3. According to Socrates, what is dangerous about the conclusion that human good is related to what is dear to the gods?

4. What attitude has Meletus adopted about the trial of Socrates?

5. What does Socrates discover when he speaks with and interviews "wise men"?

(see the answer keys)

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