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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. Socrates makes the comparison: medicine is to sickness and justice is to _____.

2. What description of rhetoric is Gorgias supposed to provide?

3. According to Socrates, what do politics preside over?

4. In Socrates' opinion, why is music useless?

5. Why does Socrates have a low regard for Sophists?

Short Essay Questions

1. In terms of ethics, why does Socrates consider rhetoric a dangerous tool?

2. What are the similarities and differences between learning and acquiring a belief?

3. In Socrates' opinion, what is the effect of someone with great power who has little common sense?

4. What is Socrates' differentiation between pleasures and gratifications in different skills?

5. Why does Socrates see all advantages as beneficial? Why does he see some wrong actions as just?

6. What makes Socrates see punishment (a negative action) as a positive one?

7. How is it that one can suffer justly or unjustly? What makes the difference in Socrates' opinion?

8. What role does knowledge and justice play in learning and practicing rhetoric?

9. When an unjust act is committed, Socrates asks whether the wrongdoer or the sufferer is more wretched. Why?

10. Why does Socrates favor Gorgias' answers more than Polus'?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one man from "Gorgias" to discuss and defend his position.

Essay Topic 2

Using examples from the book, take a position on the practice and use of rhetoric.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss and define Socrates' power, such as where it comes from, how it is used, and the ideology and reality of its usefulness.

(see the answer keys)

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