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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Seneca move to the country?
(a) To be farther from the corruptness of Rome.
(b) To be closer to Lucilius.
(c) To get out of the greedy city of Croton.
(d) For the health benefits of fresh air.

2. According to Seneca, who can truly appreciate wisdom?
(a) Only priests and oracles.
(b) Scholars who are well-read.
(c) Only the philosopher.
(d) Teachers of all sorts.

3. Who especially does Seneca consider when he makes his move to the country?
(a) His father.
(b) Himself.
(c) His mother.
(d) His wife.

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

5. Whose first instinct is it to incorporate wisdom into his life and actions?
(a) The teacher.
(b) The priest.
(c) The philosopher.
(d) The literary scholar.

6. What is duty that Seneca states all men are bound to eventually carry out?
(a) Public service.
(b) Civic responsiblity.
(c) Death.
(d) Taxes.

7. What kind of events does Seneca say upsets people the most?
(a) Surprise events.
(b) Calm events.
(c) Hysterical events.
(d) Planned events.

8. What becomes of people who live a quiet, private life which incites neither anger nor envy?
(a) They accomplish nothing.
(b) They are stoned.
(c) They remain safe.
(d) They are bored.

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

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

11. What does Seneca say prepares the mind for philosophy?
(a) Fine arts.
(b) Liberal arts.
(c) Meditations.
(d) Religion.

12. Who ran away in Letter CVII that made Lucilius grieve?
(a) Some of his slaves.
(b) His oldest daughter.
(c) His dog.
(d) His wife and kids.

13. What does Seneca name as never too great for a man to endure, thanks to nature's way of minimizing them?
(a) Loves.
(b) Pains.
(c) Heartbreaks.
(d) Choices.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to Seneca's work ethic and studies once he moves to the country?

2. Where is Seneca when he writes Letter LXXXVI?

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

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

5. What does Seneca consider to be the gift of gods?

(see the answer keys)

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