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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Laelius, what two things should be avoided in friendship?
(a) Condemnation and pretense.
(b) Hypocrisy and insult.
(c) Hypocrisy and pretense.
(d) Insult and pretense.

2. What type of writing style is "Laelius: On Friendship" written in?
(a) Prose.
(b) Journal.
(c) Dialogue.
(d) Poetry.

3. What is "On the Orator" considered to be in comparison to the rest of "On the Good Life"?
(a) The longest work of the book.
(b) The greatest work of the book.
(c) The weakest argument of the book.
(d) The shortest work of the book.

4. What does Scipio desire in his dream?
(a) To become a ruler.
(b) To join the afterlife.
(c) To never wake up.
(d) To live forever.

5. Whom does Cicero note the art of oratory is possessed by?
(a) He alone.
(b) Only a few.
(c) All rulers.
(d) He and his friend.

6. Why are great orators hard to find, according to Cicero in "On the Orator"?
(a) Few have the mastery of the many distinct arts.
(b) Many have information on many arts, but speak poorly.
(c) Stage fright.
(d) Many speak well, but lack information.

7. Who visits Scipio in his dream?
(a) His dad.
(b) His grandmother.
(c) His grandfather.
(d) His best friend.

8. What does Africanus tell Scipio about Earth?
(a) It is small.
(b) It will die soon.
(c) It is insignificant.
(d) It is significant.

9. What must the orator master?
(a) Thought.
(b) The entire sphere of philosophy.
(c) Science.
(d) Art.

10. What do the younger men ask Crassus to tell them in "On the Orator"?
(a) The nature of oratory.
(b) How he became a polished orator.
(c) If they could be good orators.
(d) The nature of art.

11. What is the name of Cicero's brother he writes to?
(a) Cassius.
(b) Petrarch.
(c) Quinten.
(d) Quintus.

12. What does Africanus argue about God, in "The Dream of Scipio"?
(a) He is just.
(b) He is eternal.
(c) He is needed.
(d) He is virtuous.

13. What does "The Dream of Scipio" suggest about virtuous people?
(a) Only they can see their loved ones in heaven.
(b) Only they are exempt from hell.
(c) They are given eternal love.
(d) Only they are given eteral life.

14. Where does Scipio travel in his dream?
(a) Ireland.
(b) England.
(c) Africa.
(d) America.

15. What does "Laelius: On Friendship" concern itself with?
(a) Cicero's concept of friendship.
(b) Laelius's idea of friendship.
(c) What makes a friend a friend.
(d) Laelius's meditation of his legendary friendship.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does oratory require beside good speech, according to "On the Orator"?

2. What exists in the smallest sphere discussed in "The Dream of Scipio"?

3. Why does Cicero return to Rome, in "Laelius: On Friendship"?

4. What do Rufus and Cotta ask Antonius and Crassus in "On the Orator"?

5. What does Africanus encourage Scipio to focus on, in his dream?

(see the answer keys)

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