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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the topic of Letter III?
(a) Investing.
(b) Money.
(c) Friendship.
(d) Greed.

2. What is it that Seneca says no human being merits?
(a) Mental torture.
(b) Love.
(c) Correction.
(d) A beating.

3. What ailment, according to Letter LIV, has become very serious for Seneca?
(a) A tumor in his throat.
(b) Indigestion.
(c) Asthma.
(d) Irregular heart beat.

4. What does Seneca say happens to life when one focuses too much on trivial and fleeting activities?
(a) It ends earlier.
(b) It is fulfilled with recreation.
(c) It becomes meaningless and not worth living.
(d) It causes much sickness.

5. Who is chastised in Letter III for not discussing his personal matters?
(a) Lucilius.
(b) Vatia.
(c) Seneca.
(d) Plato.

6. What, according to Seneca, generally presents more opportunity to be tempted away from virtuous living?
(a) Mass crowds.
(b) Religion.
(c) Public hangings.
(d) Theater.

7. Who does Seneca thank for sending him a book?
(a) Petronius.
(b) His mother.
(c) Lucilius.
(d) Euripides.

8. What is there little value in if one cannot share it with friends, according to Seneca?
(a) Money.
(b) Gladiator battles.
(c) Learning.
(d) Ceremonies.

9. How should an owner be seen by his slaves, according to Seneca?
(a) Feared.
(b) With no emotion.
(c) Loved.
(d) Hated.

10. At what time does Seneca say he has already experienced death?
(a) When doing yoga.
(b) During meditation.
(c) Once in a brawl when he was younger.
(d) Before he was born.

11. What does Seneca say many slave-owners foolishly think?
(a) That it is to their credit that they are the slave-owners.
(b) That they will never have to work again.
(c) That their slaves must love and respect them.
(d) That the slaves will care for their families once the owner dies.

12. While looking for witty entertainment, what does Seneca stumble upon?
(a) A musical production.
(b) A poetry reading.
(c) A comedian telling jokes.
(d) A gladiator battle.

13. Seneca says that a philosopher must distinguish himself from others with virtue, but what must the philosopher obey when doing so?
(a) No one.
(b) Society's conventions.
(c) Seneca's laws.
(d) The emperor and no one else.

14. Why does Seneca say he took the ride in Letter LV?
(a) For a little splurge on luxury.
(b) Because of his asthma.
(c) It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
(d) He had no choice.

15. Which word is the best meaning of apatheia?
(a) Apathetic.
(b) Humble.
(c) Pathetic.
(d) Invulnerable.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which city does Seneca say is so filled with wicked people that it could be a threat to even a wise man's soul?

2. How does Seneca say a wise man should act toward the festival celebrated in Letter XVII?

3. According to Seneca in Letter XXXIII, what does Stoic writing generally lack?

4. What type of studies does Letter XII use as an example?

5. Who thinks they are the most virtuous people, according to Senenca?

(see the answer keys)

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