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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Socrates' first defense against the charge that he is corrupting youth?
(a) He had only talked with elderly people at his school.
(b) Youth is made for corruption; only later in life does one find morality.
(c) If love is a crime, Socrates is guilty as charged.
(d) He has no hand in making laws, which is what truly corrupts youth.

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

3. What attitude has Meletus adopted about the trial of Socrates?
(a) He bears no opinion and avoids the issue.
(b) He is taking it quite seriously.
(c) He is stridently pro-Socrates.
(d) He thinks the whole thing is a sham.

4. What is Socrates' second defense against the charge that he is corrupting youth?
(a) He had only talked with elderly people at his school.
(b) Youth is made for corruption; only later in life does one find morality.
(c) If love is a crime, Socrates is guilty as charged.
(d) He wouldn't have corrupted youth knowingly, because he feared retaliation for his actions.

5. Which is NOT one of the insults lodged against Socrates by the citizens of Athens?
(a) He is a busybody.
(b) He is always off in his own world, thinking abstract thoughts.
(c) He questions the gods through science.
(d) He teaches about Zeus much too often.

6. How does the jury get to decide the sentence for Socrates?
(a) They choose between two proposed sentences.
(b) The mayor provides the sentence.
(c) The prosecution provides the sentence.
(d) No matter the crime, the penalty is death.

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

8. 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 hard to properly present.
(c) No one wants to hear the truth about how ugly they are.
(d) It is so elegant that everyone falls in love with the words, failing to see the truthful content.

9. What is Socrates' definition of piety?
(a) Obeying due to fear of punishment.
(b) Emulating the gods.
(c) Skillful service on behalf of the gods.
(d) Rigorous, logical pursuit of the truth.

10. According to Socrates, why would political life be dangerous for him?
(a) He is too tempted by power.
(b) He would become too absorbed by the affection and attention.
(c) Those who fight for justice are killed.
(d) He would try to help everyone, and despair when he could not.

11. What ultimate sentence is handed down by the jury?
(a) Life imprisonment.
(b) A fine.
(c) Death by poison.
(d) Death by hanging.

12. Why is Socrates heartened about the possibility of an afterlife?
(a) He will finally be the warrior he was destined to be.
(b) He will be able to properly plot his revenge upon the living.
(c) He will be able to visit oracles and learn about other lands.
(d) He will be able to continue his philosophical discussions there.

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

14. Socrates not only challenged Athenian morality but ... ?
(a) Athenian sense of purpose.
(b) Athenian restrictions on diet.
(c) Athenian understanding of fish and water fowl.
(d) Athenian political power.

15. What is Euthyphro's father accused of?
(a) Prostitution.
(b) Begging.
(c) Assault.
(d) Impiety.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Socrates believe he may lose his trial from the very start?

2. According to Socrates in Euthyphro, why don't wise men need to consult with the gods?

3. What is Socrates' general attitude toward the citizens of Athens?

4. Why does the Athenian community treat Euthyphro with contempt and derision?

5. What nationality was Socrates?

(see the answer keys)

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