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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was thought to be incorrect about the example of the misuse of the epithet that Aristotle provided?
(a) An ordinary verb was applied to an extraordinary noun.
(b) An extraordinary adjective was applied to an ordinary noun.
(c) An ordinary adjective was applied to an extraordinary noun.
(d) An extraordinary verb was applied to an ordinary noun.

2. To object to an argument, whose authority did Aristotle think could be appealed to?
(a) A respected writer or judge.
(b) A respected writer or lawyer.
(c) A well known writer or lawyer.
(d) A well known writer or judge.

3. 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.

4. What types of examples did Aristotle discuss in Book II, Chapter 20?
(a) Actual facts, hypothetical facts, and invented facts.
(b) Actual facts and invented facts.
(c) Actual facts and hypothetical facts.
(d) Hypothetical facts and invented facts.

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

6. According to Aristotle, what was the general difference between enthymemes and examples?
(a) Enthymemes were more persuasive than examples.
(b) Both enthymemes and examples were just as persuasive.
(c) Examples were more persuasive than enthymemes.
(d) Neither enthymemes nor examples were persuasive.

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

8. Which one of the following was not included by Aristotle in the forms of surprises he mentioned?
(a) Riddles.
(b) Puns.
(c) Limericks.
(d) Word-plays.

9. Based on Aristotle's discussion of objections, what would be the purpose in making a similar appeal to an argument?
(a) To simplify it.
(b) To contradict it.
(c) To complicate it.
(d) To overshadow it.

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

11. As explained by Aristotle in Book III, Chapter 10, how should effective prose express its important points?
(a) With succinct, extravagant sayings.
(b) With elegant, extravagant sayings.
(c) With succinct, elegant sayings.
(d) With succinct, extravagant, elegant sayings.

12. Why did Aristotle say that amplification and depreciation were not forms of enthymemes?
(a) They were not comprehensible arguments.
(b) They were not familiar arguments.
(c) They were not logical arguments.
(d) They were familiar arguments.

13. Using the same example in the previous question, why did Aristotle think a blossoming flower was a better choice for the metaphor?
(a) It was more beautiful and more inspiring.
(b) It was more familiar and more inspiring.
(c) It was more beautiful and more familiar.
(d) It was more beautiful, inspiring, and familiar.

14. In addition to context, what type of application of rhetoric did Aristotle think should determine the style?
(a) Simple.
(b) Specific.
(c) General.
(d) Complex.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Aristotle indicate was the result of using complex, foreign words?

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

3. Why did Aristotle prefer the periodic prose to the free-running prose?

4. According to Aristotle, how did people in their prime view success?

5. What was the basic method used in the a fortiori argument that Aristotle referred to in Book II, Chapter 23?

(see the answer keys)

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