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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. What does Augustine encourage his critics to remember in the Preface?
(a) To practice the rhetorical skills he embraces to make criticism more effective.
(b) To be wary of falling into the trap of heresy.
(c) To remember experiencing learning for themselves.
(d) To patiently contemplate his points before they make a judgment.

2. Augustine endeavors to answer many questions about what subject in Book One?
(a) The Christian conception of Christ's deity.
(b) The doctrine of Scriptural infallibility.
(c) The doctrine of God's omnipotence.
(d) The Christian conception of love.

3. Of these influences on individual thought, which does Augustine claim Scripture teaches are negative to Christian thought?
(a) The devil can mislead someone to think that a Christian knows more than they do.
(b) A spouse can distract a Christian with the "needs of this world."
(c) Land owners can convince Christians that the blessings of God are demonstrated through material riches.
(d) A Rabbi can distract a Christian from the "Final Propitiation."

4. What Scriptural defense does Augustine use for encouraging critics to consider the validity of "On Christian Doctrine"?
(a) Augustine argues, in his blending of Greek and Christian thoughts, that Scripture contains many examples of God using pagans to exhibit his will.
(b) Augustine argues that Scripture does not negate any teaching extrapolated from Scripture.
(c) Augustine argues that Scripture contains many examples of people teaching others.
(d) Augustine argues that Scripture is the foundation of his writing, so his effort is divinely inspired.

5. How does Augustine characterize the argument that his teaching is not needed because it comes from a human source?
(a) It is intolerant.
(b) It is responsible for allowing "babes in the Faith being devoured by the wolves of the world."
(c) It is being logically inconsistent.
(d) It is being heretical.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Augustine claim to be the central law of love and the message of Christianity?

2. How does Augustine use the items of his example to illustrate his distinction?

3. What does Augustine reason is the consequence to human teaching if learning comes from Divine gifts?

4. What does Augustine use to illustrate a thing to be used?

5. When Augustine focuses on one of the types of criticism he expects to receive, what does he suggest to the reader?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Augustine claim an interpreter must consider regarding the author of Scripture to make a correct interpretation?

2. What are the tasks of the orator according to Cicero?

3. Why does Augustine claim the topic of Book Three is so difficult?

4. How does Augustine require that a speaker treat Scriptural interpretation?

5. Upon which type of critics does Augustine focus his attention in the preface?

6. What self-knowledge does Augustine write that students need and what steps does Augustine suggest for them to overcome the limits of that self-knowledge to learn to interpret Scripture?

7. What does Augustine write that God uses to teach men and how does that source achieve God's purpose?

8. What must a student keep in check while learning the subjects that Augustine recommends?

9. Why does Augustine believe that God will aid him in his teaching about learning and communicating Scripture?

10. To what sect of Christianity did Tyconius belong and and why is it ironic that Augustine references his rules of interpretation?

(see the answer keys)

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