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

2. What is caused by the flaunting of one's possessions?
(a) Greed.
(b) Bitterness.
(c) Envy.
(d) Happiness.

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

4. According to Posidinus, who ruled in the past time?
(a) Gods.
(b) Historians.
(c) Mathmeticians.
(d) Philosophers.

5. According to Seneca, what was the goal of technological inventions of the past age?
(a) To outdo the previous generation.
(b) To make man comfortable or wealthy.
(c) To make life more basic than ever.
(d) To save money.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Scipio volunteer to do?

2. Who was Posidinius?

3. According to Seneca, where are the sharpest pains?

4. What affects Seneca's exercise time according to Letter LXXXIII?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Seneca, what destroyed man's harmonic relationship with nature and what was the result?

2. What is Seneca's criticism of the typical liberal arts scholar?

3. Why does Seneca move to the country and what effects result from the move?

4. What does Seneca say causes envy and how can envy be avoided?

5. What advice does Seneca give Lucilius about coping with illness and the sometimes severe symptoms that accompany it?

6. Why does Seneca believe only a philosopher can appreciate wisdom?

7. What is the purpose of technology, according to Seneca?

8. How, according to Letter LXXXIII, does Seneca spend his day?

9. How does Seneca feel about moving to improve studies?

10. What is the Stoic concept of causation?

(see the answer keys)

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