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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In his example of suffering for the sake of knowledge, who does Seneca say was executed for blasphemy?
(a) Socrates.
(b) Homer.
(c) Plato.
(d) Claudius.

2. Who wrote the Iliad?
(a) Virgil.
(b) Homer.
(c) Seneca.
(d) Petronius.

3. What do the friends Seneca talks about in Letter LXV compare to concepts by Aristotle and Plato?
(a) The Stoic concept of causation.
(b) Arelius' thoughts about life.
(c) Seneca's thoughts about death.
(d) Zeno's concept of relationships.

4. How much duty does Seneca say one must must fulfill before his life ends?
(a) No set amount.
(b) At least one good deed per day.
(c) 25 years worth.
(d) Whatever the tax collector chooses to bill him.

5. Who is the author of all that happens in the world, according to Seneca?
(a) God.
(b) Zeus and Jupiter.
(c) Seneca.
(d) Yourself.

6. Who says there are four causes?
(a) Seneca.
(b) Sophocles.
(c) Plato.
(d) Aristotle.

7. Who is Scipio?
(a) Seneca's arch enemy.
(b) His student.
(c) Another Roman philosopher.
(d) A renowned Roman general.

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

9. What tends to either not last very long or to at least have periods of subsidence?
(a) Grief.
(b) Marriages.
(c) Studies of other philosophies.
(d) Severe pains.

10. What is the unusual transgression about, ending Letter LXXXVI?
(a) Transplanting human organs.
(b) Transplanting flowers.
(c) Transplanting sheep organs.
(d) Transplanting trees.

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

12. What does Seneca admit that he cares less about as he ages?
(a) His appearance.
(b) His financial affairs.
(c) His friends.
(d) His hair.

13. According to Seneca, what destroyed man's harmonic relationship with nature?
(a) The Iliad.
(b) War.
(c) Love.
(d) Greed.

14. In Letter LXXXIII, whose logic does Seneca question?
(a) Plato's.
(b) Sappho's.
(c) Zeno's.
(d) Aristotle's.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What creates certain habits of study and thought which are actually useful?

2. According to his criticism in Letter CVIII, what does Seneca say literary scholars should do with philosophical theories?

3. According to Seneca, who can truly appreciate wisdom?

4. What does Seneca say the gods give man the capacity for?

5. What does Seneca say that many people find attractive for the wrong reasons?

(see the answer keys)

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