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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Scipio volunteer to do?
(a) Care for the ailing Seneca.
(b) Help teach Seneca.
(c) Kill Seneca.
(d) Go into exile.

2. Who was Posidinius?
(a) God of an ancient river.
(b) A sailor.
(c) A historian.
(d) A sea god.

3. What teaches men how to live well, according to Seneca?
(a) Religion.
(b) Science.
(c) Study of liberal arts.
(d) Philosophy.

4. According to Seneca, what is death?
(a) An unconscious state of non-existence or a better state than life.
(b) The gateway to Heaven and an opportunity to meet the gods.
(c) A doorway into a wonderful after life.
(d) Nothing but an unconscious state of non-existence.

5. What does Seneca called the past age?
(a) The Silver Age.
(b) The Bronze Age.
(c) The Golden Age.
(d) The Platonic Age.

6. Why does Seneca say he considered suicide once?
(a) To escape his illness.
(b) Out of consideration for his parents.
(c) He felt worthless.
(d) He didn't feel loved or needed by society.

7. Who objects to Posidinus' claims about past rulers and technological inventions?
(a) Lucilius.
(b) Seneca.
(c) Plato.
(d) Vatia.

8. What creates certain habits of study and thought which are actually useful?
(a) Business studies.
(b) Sciences.
(c) Liberal arts.
(d) Fine arts.

9. According to Stoic thought, what is the formless substance with "unlimited potential?"
(a) Matter.
(b) Cause.
(c) Reason.
(d) Mass.

10. What includes the studies of literature, rhetoric and history?
(a) Fine arts.
(b) Liberal arts.
(c) Still life art.
(d) Bachelor of arts.

11. Which of Seneca's friends grieved the burning of the town discussed in Letter XCI?
(a) Flaccus.
(b) Liberalis.
(c) Tibius.
(d) Lucilius.

12. Which line of studies does Seneca say tends to have a special temptation to vanity?
(a) Sciences.
(b) Liberal arts.
(c) Business and politics.
(d) History.

13. To whom will a person who is well-acquainted with poetry or history often be impressive?
(a) To the entire public.
(b) To the small-minded masses.
(c) To himself only.
(d) To the royalty.

14. What happens to Seneca's work ethic and studies once he moves to the country?
(a) He finds himself distracted by nature.
(b) They improve.
(c) He stops all together.
(d) He studies less, but says it really isn't distraction since he is focusing on nature.

15. Who does Posidinus credit for the invention for various technological innovations?
(a) Mathematicians.
(b) Philosophers.
(c) Gods.
(d) Historians.

Short Answer Questions

1. Whose first instinct is it to incorporate wisdom into his life and actions?

2. What does Seneca say prepares the mind for philosophy?

3. What is a syllogism?

4. What does Seneca admit that he cares less about as he ages?

5. Who ran away in Letter CVII that made Lucilius grieve?

(see the answer keys)

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