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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where is Seneca when he writes Letter LXXXVI?
(a) At Lucilius' house.
(b) In the hospital.
(c) In bed at home recuperating.
(d) On vacation.

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

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

4. What affects Seneca's exercise time according to Letter LXXXIII?
(a) The amount of time he studies.
(b) His lack of time.
(c) His old age.
(d) His lack of interest.

5. According to his criticism in Letter CVIII, what does Seneca say literary scholars do with philosophical theories?
(a) Ruin them by writing them down incorrectly.
(b) Read them over and over.
(c) Help spread them to the masses.
(d) Dissect the words without garnering the meaning.

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

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

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

9. What is symptomatic of excessive attachment to the body, according to Seneca?
(a) Frequent trips to community baths.
(b) Excessive primping.
(c) Frequent baths.
(d) Excessive concern with pain.

10. What is a syllogism?
(a) Two words that sound alike but have different meanings.
(b) A form of deductive reasoning/logic.
(c) A word or phrase with repetitive consonants.
(d) Two words with the same number of syllables and same meanings.

11. According to Seneca, what is the fruit of man's own efforts?
(a) Peace between nations.
(b) Love.
(c) Life.
(d) Philosophy.

12. What does Seneca say that many people find attractive for the wrong reasons?
(a) Politics.
(b) Philosophy.
(c) Outward appearance.
(d) Religion.

13. According to Letter XCI, what town was destroyed by fire?
(a) Croton.
(b) Vatican City.
(c) Rome.
(d) Lyons.

14. For Stoics, what are two basic elements found in any object?
(a) Sound and fury.
(b) Weight and size.
(c) Matter and cause.
(d) Mass and reason.

15. Who wrote the "Aeneid?"
(a) Homer.
(b) Odyseus.
(c) Plato.
(d) Petronius.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Posidinus, who ruled in the past time?

2. What is duty that Seneca states all men are bound to eventually carry out?

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

4. What phrase best sums up Letter XCI?

5. Who especially does Seneca consider when he makes his move to the country?

(see the answer keys)

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