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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Whose estate does Seneca ride past in Letter LV?
(a) Claudius.
(b) Vatia.
(c) Lucilius.
(d) Antonius.

2. What is an example of unrehearsed communication?
(a) Letter writing.
(b) Music.
(c) A speech.
(d) Public oratory.

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

4. What are Seneca's comments about the book he mentions in Letter XLVI?
(a) None - he wants to read it again.
(b) He disagrees with the entire contents of the book.
(c) He wholeheartedly agrees with the entire contents of the book.
(d) He likes the gift, but not its contents.

5. What does Seneca say cannot be learned only through reading?
(a) Astronomy.
(b) Virtue.
(c) Writing.
(d) Mythology.

6. What kind of ailments does Seneca say become more obvious as they worsen?
(a) Breathing-related ones.
(b) Mental.
(c) Spiritual.
(d) Physical.

7. What holiday is celebrated at the time Letter XVII is written?
(a) Ides of March.
(b) Saturnalia.
(c) Cinco de Mayo.
(d) Festival of Bacchus.

8. What is an oxymoron?
(a) Someone who does not practice virtue at all.
(b) A combination of contradictory words or phrases.
(c) A theory related to oxygen.
(d) Someone who does not understand Oxystoicism.

9. What topic does Seneca discuss in Letter XL?
(a) Speech.
(b) Money.
(c) Love.
(d) Death.

10. How does noise affect Seneca's ability to study?
(a) He is very distracted by noise from crowds.
(b) It does not affect it at all.
(c) He is very distracted by the smallest noise.
(d) He has a hearing disability and is slightly distracted by a constant, steady hum.

11. How long does it take Seneca to read the book he mentions in Letter XLVI?
(a) One week.
(b) One year.
(c) One month.
(d) One sitting.

12. What kinds of noises are more distracting, according to Senenca?
(a) Intermittent noises.
(b) Noises of crickets.
(c) Musical noises.
(d) Continuous noises.

13. What does Seneca say is the worst noise of all?
(a) Voices.
(b) Crashes.
(c) Insects.
(d) Music.

14. In Letter XVI, what kind of life is said to have no direction?
(a) Unphilosophicla.
(b) Philosophical.
(c) Lazy.
(d) Hard working.

15. What does Seneca recount taking a ride on in Letter LV?
(a) A chariot.
(b) A large unnamed creature.
(c) His sedan chair.
(d) A horse.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Letter XLI, what lives in each man's soul?

2. What does Seneca say happens to life when one focuses too much on trivial and fleeting activities?

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

4. Who is chastised in Letter III for not discussing his personal matters?

5. What ailment, according to Letter LIV, has become very serious for Seneca?

(see the answer keys)

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