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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the two different ways a Scriptural passage can be considered, according to Book Three?
(a) They can be considered linguistically or grammatically.
(b) They can be considered culturally or historically.
(c) They can be considered figuratively or literally.
(d) They can be considered as details of things or details of signs.

2. What does Book Three state is the purpose of God or angels using condemning terms?
(a) In relation to destroying evil or lust.
(b) To announce displeasure with human conduct.
(c) To announce judgment.
(d) To identify human nature.

3. How does Augustine treat Tyconius' rules that he cites in his book?
(a) Augustine compares them to his own set of principles to point out differences and similarities.
(b) Augustine applies them to particular cases to the end of Book Three.
(c) Augustine uses them to prove what he considers misguided thinking of Donatists.
(d) Augustine merely illustrates Tyconius' rules as one of several approaches for interpreting Scripture of the day.

4. According to Augustine, how should misunderstood signs become understood?
(a) By examining the context in which things appear as signs.
(b) By considering how the used thing is accepted by the community.
(c) By examining the use of the word that appears to be a thing.
(d) By committing the misunderstood words or expressions to memory.

5. What Scriptural passage does Augustine use to remind the reader of "On Christian Doctrine" of the condition that affects holy men?
(a) "And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children that He raised up Jesus."
(b) "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
(c) "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'"
(d) "Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah, through all his prophets and every seer, saying, 'Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through my servants the prophets.'"

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Augustine call signs that are only used to express and transmit thoughts?

2. Augustine writes in Book Three that in order to make the type of evaluation of the command given to the intended target, what knowledge must a student of Scripture possess?

3. According to Augustine in Book Two, in order for the student to become an effective teacher, what two skills must the student master?

4. What is an important omission that Augustine commits as it applies to moral rules in Scripture?

5. By the end of Book Two, Augustine devoted much of this text to refuting critics who believe Scriptural interpretation comes simply. What does this infer of Augustine's methods of debate?

(see the answer keys)

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