View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Why did Aristotle say that metaphors were useful in a speech?
(a) They were not used frequently in common speech.
(b) They were used frequently in common speech.
(c) They sounded natural to mostly everyone.
(d) They sounded natural to everyone.

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Following the example given in Book II, Chapter 24, what false assumption could be made by describing a large crowd?

2. As discussed in Book III, Chapter 12, what should legal rhetoric blend argumentation with?

3. Focusing on what they found useful, what did Aristotle say older people cared less about?

4. In Aristotle's opinion, what did simple words convey?

5. What did the paean avoid in order to gain Aristotle's endorsement as the ideal rhythm for prose?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which example did Aristotle use to display the fallacious ways an enthymeme could be formed?

2. What would the a fortiori argument refer to in rhetoric?

3. Why might an enthymeme have been more effective with a surprising conclusion?

4. Which rules for poetry and prose did Aristotle outline in Book III, Chapter 2?

5. What value could surprises have in a speech, and what were some of the forms they could take?

6. Based on Aristotle's discussion at the beginning of Book II, Chapter 12, which things could influence a person's feelings?

7. What were some of the characteristics of a refutative enthymeme?

8. What was the benefit of using actual facts, the first type of example?

9. In Aristotle's opinion, why were non-logical ways necessary to convince certain audiences of a sound argument?

10. What were the four ways that Aristotle listed about how objections could be raised?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 860 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample