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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. According to Socrates, what do politics preside over?

2. Why does Socrates believe wrongdoers who go unpunished are more wretched than the punished?

3. What are Socrates' criteria in analyzing sciences?

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

5. What does Socrates believe is worse than being poor or sick?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Socrates feel would ensure happiness in society? Why?

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

5. How can pain or pleasure be useful, in Socrates' opinion?

6. How is Socrates able to gain insight into rhetoric?

7. Why does Socrates believe only those without knowledge can be persuaded by rhetoric?

8. How does Polus embody the negative sides of freedom as Socrates has discussed?

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

10. Is Polus' claim that even unjust people like Archelaus are happy correct or incorrect? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the nature of humanity based on their abilities to persuade and be persuaded as addressed by Gorgias.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the conversational design of the book and what it draws from the characters and complements the subject matter.

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