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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Plutarch report of Phocion's temperament?
(a) "...That public bodies are most insulting and contumelious to a good man,...."
(b) "For assuredly there is difference enough among virtues of the same denomination as between the bravery of Alcibiades and that of Eapmindondas,..."
(c) "...that scarcely was he ever seen by any Athenian either laughing, or in tears."
(d) "He that remonstrates with them (public bodies) on their errors is presumed to be insulting over their misfortunes...."

2. After his return from Spain, with whom does Plutarch claim Caesar took power over Rome in the Triumvirate?
(a) Sylla and Nero.
(b) Antony and Octavius.
(c) Brutus and Cassius.
(d) Crassus and Pompey.

3. Who was the Persian King that Plutarch reported Alexander defeated on his expedition to India?
(a) Antipater.
(b) Philip.
(c) Darius.
(d) Hercules.

4. What did Plutarch report to be the difference between how the island allies of Athens treated other arriving Athenian admirals compared to their reception of Phocion?
(a) Other admirals were greeted with private boats and barges with streamers and garlands, but Phocion was treated as an enemy suspect.
(b) Other admirals were treated with ambivalence, but they regarded Phocion with tremendous fear.
(c) Islands were opened very freely to other admirals, but they feared Phocion's plundering ways.
(d) Other admirals were treated as an enemy suspect, but Phocion was greeted with private boats and barges with streamers and garlands.

5. There were 12 Roman Caesar's. Which one is Plutarch chronicling?
(a) The first Caesar, Gaius Julius Caesar.
(b) Octavious Caesar.
(c) Caesar Augustus.
(d) Tiberius Caesar.

6. What is a major difference between Sertorius and Eumenes that Plutarch recognized?
(a) Sertorius' soldiers yielded to him freely, whereas Eumenes won a contested office by proving his superiority.
(b) That Sertorius was a learned captain, but Eumenes gained all of his knowledge from battle.
(c) Sertorius was well read, but Eumenes was illiterate.
(d) That Sertorious had the support of the government, but Eumenes was in rebellion against the government.

7. In what hearing before the Senate did Cato first confront Caesar, according to Plutarch?
(a) The hearing for distributing land to homeless soldiers.
(b) The hearing of the conspirators with Cataline.
(c) The hearing during which Crassus and Pompey were announced in the Triumvirate with Caesar.
(d) The hearing to determine the fate of Lentulus and Cethegus who were discovered by Cicero to be conspiring to overthrow the Empire.

8. How did the separation of Alexander from Philip affect his reign over Philip's empire, according to Plutarch?
(a) Alexander moved the capital of Macedon to Athens.
(b) Alexander rejected all of Philip's military tactics and found new generals.
(c) Alexander chose to spread Greek culture through his captured lands rather than Macedonian culture.
(d) Alexander purged his government of all officials that were named by his father.

9. Why does Plutarch claim Philip believed that Alexander was a demi-god?
(a) Because Philip had a dream about serpents sleeping with Olympia that were signs of Jupiter's presence.
(b) Because there were three omens that prophets interpreted that Alexander's birth was exalted.
(c) Because Philip once saw a serpent sleeping with his wife and he was advised by a pagan priest that the serpent was Ammon (Zeus, Jupiter) who had taken that form.
(d) Because Alexander showed unnatural skill and intelligence from an early age.

10. What are the character qualities Plutarch attributes to Cato from infancy?
(a) He had an influential rhetorical style that easily impressed audiences.
(b) He showed great sensitivity to women and plebes.
(c) He had an uncommon ability to retain knowledge.
(d) He had an inflexible temper, resolute in purpose, and not easily provoked to anger.

11. According to Plutarch, who authored laws in Lacedaemonia that caused land that was once subject to inheritance within families to be taken into a few wealthy hands?
(a) Lysander.
(b) Leonidas.
(c) Epitadeus.
(d) Leotychides.

12. What came of Rome after Crassus died, according to Plutarch?
(a) The Senate was split in its support for Caesar or Pompey.
(b) It collapsed into a civil war between supporters of Caesar and Pompey.
(c) Caesar conspired to have Pompey assassinated.
(d) Pompey fled Rome out of fear of Caesar's desire to take total control.

13. With whom does Plutarch report Agis ruled over the Lacedaemonians?
(a) Cleomenes, husband to Agiatis.
(b) Leonidas, son of Cleonymus.
(c) Agesilaus, his half brother.
(d) Lysander, a Spartan General.

14. What did Plutarch report to be the result of Cato's management of the exchequer?
(a) Cato was inundated with dealing with corruption and faced down opposition.
(b) Cato reduced taxes, but the senate was preoccupied with using the treasury for political favors.
(c) Cato served only briefly because of the corrupt expectations of the political system.
(d) Cato filled it with treasure and made it appear the state might be rich without oppressing the people.

15. Who did Plutarch report to be the father of Agis and Agesilaus?
(a) Zeuxidamus, King of the Lacedaemonians.
(b) Alcibiades.
(c) Archidamus, king of the Lacedaemonians.
(d) Duris the historian.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Plutarch compare Sertorius and Eumenes in their views of war?

2. What five qualities does Plutarch claim that Sertorius possessed in greater qualities than the other generals to whom Plutarch compared him?

3. What did Plutarch claim was the final indication that Pompey had fallen out of Sylla's favor?

4. How did Plutarch compare Agesilaus and Pompey in their treatment of the men who supported their rise to power?

5. How did Alexander show favor to Eumenes, according to Plutarch?

(see the answer keys)

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