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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Seneca's ancestors treat their slaves?
(a) Emotionless.
(b) With mental torture.
(c) With respect.
(d) With physical abuse.

2. Who does Seneca thank for sending him a book?
(a) Euripides.
(b) His mother.
(c) Lucilius.
(d) Petronius.

3. In Letter XII, what does Seneca notice about one of his properties?
(a) It is delapidated.
(b) The tenants changed it without permission.
(c) It is not rented.
(d) It has burned down.

4. What does Seneca recommend avoiding in Letter VII?
(a) People without shoes.
(b) Prostitutes.
(c) The masses.
(d) Religious zealots.

5. According to Seneca in Letter XXXIII, what does Stoic writing generally lack?
(a) Use of Latin.
(b) Quotable quotes.
(c) Punctuation.
(d) Grammatical errors.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is there little value in if one cannot share it with friends, according to Seneca?

2. What is the characteristic of Lucilius' friend that Seneca does not hold against him?

3. What does Seneca say about slaves?

4. In Letter XII, what does Seneca's property remind him?

5. What purpose does fasting serve, according to Seneca?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the goal of philosophy, as stated by Seneca?

2. In Letter II, how does Seneca advise Lucilius to proceed with his study of philosophy?

3. Why does Lucilius call Seneca a hypocrite in Letter VIII?

4. What is Seneca's opinion of Vatia? How does it differ from public opinion?

5. What does Seneca say about the study of philosophy?

6. What happened when Seneca went out on the town in search of "witty entertainment" and how was he affected by the situation?

7. Discuss the necessity of and the problem with diversions, according to Seneca.

8. What does Seneca say about developing friendships?

9. How does Seneca explain how he partakes of the festivities of Saturnalia?

10. According to Seneca, from where where does one's soul originate?

(see the answer keys)

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