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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why did neither Tiberius or Livia attend the Roman funeral for Germanicus?
(a) They would have been attacked by the people there.
(b) They were too grief-stricken by his death.
(c) They did not want to encounter his wife, Agrippina.
(d) They were busy reviewing the annual tax records.

2. Who wrote most of the satiric songs and poems about Tiberius?
(a) Castor
(b) Livia
(c) Claudius
(d) Agrippina

3. What class of people did Augustus especially distrust?
(a) Traitors
(b) Generals
(c) Senators
(d) Informers

4. Why is Egypt so important to Rome?
(a) Most of the troops come from Egypt.
(b) The largest library in the world is there.
(c) It is a good source of marble.
(d) It supplies Rome with corn.

5. How did Afer escape death when he was tried by Caligula for treason?
(a) He bribed Caligula to deliver a non-guilty verdict.
(b) He left town before the trial started.
(c) He offered to let Caligula sleep with his wife.
(d) He flattered Caligula on his oratorical style.

6. What does Tiberius do when he meets with Agrippina?
(a) Tries to seduce her in his bedchamber
(b) Beats her senseless with a vine sapling
(c) Promises to help her any way that he can
(d) Calls her a traitor and cuts off her head

7. With Tiberius gone, who was left in charge of the Roman Empire?
(a) Caligula
(b) Livia
(c) Sejanus
(d) Nero

8. What does Tiberius do after Livia shames him?
(a) He begs her to stop persecuting him.
(b) He accuses her of murdering Postumus.
(c) He leaves Rome on the advice of Sejanus.
(d) He cultivates a friendship with Agrippina.

9. What thought does Claudius comfort himself with as he is made emperor?
(a) That people will finally want to read his books
(b) That Livia was right about him after all
(c) That he was able to save his wife and young son
(d) That he will be able to restore the Republic soon

10. What does Calpurnia ask Claudius for instead of presents?
(a) The equivalent in cash
(b) That he buy more cows for the farm
(c) That he save his money instead
(d) To marry her and make her honest

11. What does Claudius advise the old Sergeant to do?
(a) Never turn his back on any of the German guards
(b) Keep his sword with him during Caligula's assembly
(c) Compliment Caligula as much as he possibly can
(d) Leave the regiment and never look back again

12. What does Claudius receive from Livia?
(a) A warning about Sejanus's intentions.
(b) An invitation to dine with her.
(c) A copy of Augustus's letters.
(d) An appointment to join the Senate.

13. What did Caligula promise Cassius Chærea?
(a) To allow him to retire with honors
(b) To appoint him as Macro's replacement
(c) To give him an appointment to the Senate
(d) To send him back to Germany to fight

14. What does Livia ask Plancina to do?
(a) Persuade Piso to kill himself before the trial ends
(b) Use her witchcraft to kill Agrippina and her children
(c) Get the incriminating letter that Livia wrote to Piso
(d) To leave Rome and return to Syria after Piso's death

15. Caligula made all the palace men shave their heads because:
(a) He was going bald himself.
(b) Only the Gods can have hair.
(c) He was afraid of lice.
(d) He thought it looked better.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Claudius surprised about once Livia is dead?

2. Caligula amuses the populace by using what class of people as sword-fighters?

3. What number did Germanicus consider especially unlucky?

4. What, according to Sejanus, is the Leek Green Party?

5. What does Antonia say that Caligula did to Drusilla?

(see the answer keys)

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