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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Aristotle define a maxim?
(a) A short statement about practical conduct.
(b) A series of short statements about practical conduct.
(c) A series of long statements about impractical conduct.
(d) A long statement about impractical conduct.

2. How many general forms of enthymemes were discussed by Aristotle in Book II, Chapter 23?
(a) Thirty four.
(b) Thirty eight.
(c) Twenty four.
(d) Twenty eight.

3. How were antithesis sayings defined by Aristotle?
(a) The reference to three vastly different ideas.
(b) The grouping of two similar qualities.
(c) The grouping of two opposite qualities.
(d) The reference to three slightly different ideas.

4. As pointed out by Aristotle, what advantage did a speech that included a surprise have for a listener?
(a) The listener would be more likely to understand it.
(b) The listener would be more likely to agree with it.
(c) The listener would be more likely to remember it.
(d) The listener would be more likely to repeat it.

5. In Book II, Chapter 26, how many common errors did Aristotle discuss?
(a) Three.
(b) One.
(c) Two.
(d) None.

6. In Aristotle's opinion, why were many people not swayed by sound arguments?
(a) They were too emotional.
(b) They were too educated.
(c) They were not emotional enough.
(d) They were too uneducated.

7. As explained in Book III, Chapter 3, in what way did writers misuse the epithet?
(a) By forgetting how to apply it.
(b) By applying it to insignificant subjects.
(c) By forgetting to apply it.
(d) By applying it to inappropriate subjects.

8. What did Aristotle think was wrong with the metaphor that compared a man with a square?
(a) He thought it was boring.
(b) He thought it was too complex.
(c) He thought it was confusing.
(d) He thought it was too simple.

9. What effect did Aristotle think an antithesis saying had on the point it was making?
(a) It made the point especially startling.
(b) It made the point less complex.
(c) It made the point especially striking.
(d) It made the point more complex.

10. Why did Aristotle consider metaphors to be useful in Book III, Chapter 10?
(a) People enjoy thoughtful ideas.
(b) People enjoy new ideas.
(c) People connect with sensible ideas.
(d) People connect with similar ideas.

11. As explained by Aristotle in Book II, Chapter 18, what was political argumentation concerned with?
(a) Both past and future events.
(b) Past events.
(c) Neither past nor future events.
(d) Future events.

12. Focusing on what they found useful, what did Aristotle say older people cared less about?
(a) Honor and the opinions of others.
(b) Honor, the past, and the opinions of others.
(c) The past and the opinions of others.
(d) Honor and the past.

13. In Aristotle's opinion, what did simple words convey?
(a) What people do not want to know.
(b) What people want to know.
(c) What people do not already know.
(d) What people already know.

14. Which view did Aristotle think people in their prime had of money?
(a) A view that was mostly correct, but incorrect in some ways.
(b) A correct view.
(c) A view that was mostly incorrect, but correct in some ways.
(d) An incorrect view.

15. How did Aristotle describe the difference between spoken and written prose?
(a) Spoken prose was generally more stylized and complicated.
(b) Spoken prose was generally more stylized and less complicated.
(c) Written prose was generally more stylized and complicated.
(d) Written prose was generally more stylized and less complicated.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Aristotle's opinion, why should political rhetoric focus the most on sound argumentation?

2. Continuing the theme of Aristotle's logic, what could be used to deduce the impossible?

3. How did Aristotle describe arrhythmic prose for speech writing purposes in Book III, Chapter 1?

4. To object to an argument, whose authority did Aristotle think could be appealed to?

5. According to Aristotle, what was the general difference between enthymemes and examples?

(see the answer keys)

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