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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Aristotle describe arrhythmic prose for speech writing purposes in Book III, Chapter 1?
(a) Too unrestricted.
(b) Too restricted.
(c) Too predictable.
(d) Too unpredictable.

2. In Aristotle's opinion, what should a good birth lead to?
(a) Optimism.
(b) Balance.
(c) Wealth.
(d) Ambition.

3. Using an example of the similarities or differences between parents and their children, how did Aristotle describe Socrates' children?
(a) Foolish.
(b) Rational.
(c) Intelligent.
(d) Irrational.

4. Why did Aristotle prefer the periodic prose to the free-running prose?
(a) Free-running prose had just been introduced.
(b) Free-running prose had fallen out of fashion.
(c) Periodic prose was easier to use.
(d) Periodic prose was more familiar.

5. According to Aristotle, what should vivid descriptions always depict?
(a) Something that is easily identified.
(b) Something that is stationary.
(c) Something that is not easily identified.
(d) Something that is in activity.

6. What was Aristotle's opinion about using compound words in a speech?
(a) They should generally be avoided.
(b) Most were acceptable if they were used correctly.
(c) Some were acceptable if they were used correctly.
(d) They should generally be used.

7. How often did Aristotle think complex words should be used in a speech?
(a) Never.
(b) Rarely.
(c) Frequently.
(d) Occasionally.

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

9. Based on Aristotle's explanation of the wealthy, how did wealthy people view the opinions of others about money?
(a) They thought that everyone disagreed with their view of money.
(b) They thought that everyone shared their view of money.
(c) They thought that most people were incapable of understanding their view of money.
(d) They thought that most people understood their view of money, but did not understand the reasons for it.

10. 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 remember it.
(b) The listener would be more likely to repeat it.
(c) The listener would be more likely to agree with it.
(d) The listener would be more likely to understand it.

11. What did Aristotle think orators should be careful of when writing their speeches?
(a) Not to make them overly informative.
(b) Not to make them overly poetic.
(c) To make them over ten minutes in length.
(d) To make them under ten minutes in length.

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

13. In order to object to an argument using Aristotle's explanations, how might it be attacked?
(a) Humorously.
(b) Rationally.
(c) Directly.
(d) Scientifically.

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

15. What did Aristotle think the structure of a sentence should always be?
(a) Implied.
(b) Simple.
(c) Clear.
(d) Detailed.

Short Answer Questions

1. In comparison to a spoken speech, how did Aristotle think a written speech would often appear?

2. Why did Aristotle say that amplification and depreciation were not forms of enthymemes?

3. As explained by Aristotle in Book II, Chapter 24, what else might a person equivocate?

4. Which one of the following was not included by Aristotle in his description of young people?

5. How many common mistakes did Aristotle indicate were made in prose?

(see the answer keys)

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