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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Plutarch claim to be the differences in motivation between Demosthenes and Cicero?
(a) Demosthenes was motivated by personal gain, but Cicero refused to take any gifts.
(b) Demosthenes was humble and generous, but Cicero was impulsive and greedy.
(c) Demosthenes sought glory and honor, but Cicero was motivated by personal gain.
(d) Demosthenes was motivated by inspiring Greeks to their past glory, but Cicero was driven by the desire for glory.

2. What quote from Plato does Plutarch use to begin a criticism in his profiles of Demetrius and Antony?
(a) "Great natures produce great vices as well as virtues."
(b) "Whence it was that, men say, Simonides called Sparta "the tamer of men," because by early strictness of education, they became wise."
(c) It is not great wonder if in long process of time, while fortune takes her course hither and thither, numerous coincidences should spontaneously occur."
(d) "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

3. Why did Plutarch claim Artaxerxes' mother favored Cyrus as king when Darius died?
(a) Because she had given birth to Cyrus after Darius had become king.
(b) Because Artaxerxes travelled on campaigns with his father, while Cyrus stayed and managed the home for his mother.
(c) Because Cyrus was peaceful and Artaxerxes was a warrior.
(d) Because Artaxerxes' mother became pregnant with him while Cyrus was married to another woman.

4. Based upon the intended audience of the profile on Aratus, what does Plutarch establish as his focus?
(a) The gratitude of the decendants of Aratus.
(b) The desire of other public figures to conduct themselves like Aratus.
(c) The influence that ancestral examples can have on developing the character of children.
(d) His personal similarity to the nobility of Aratus.

5. For what does Plutarch claim Marcus Brutus is known?
(a) For being the, "Noblest Roman of them all."
(b) For his role in the civil war with Pompey.
(c) Acting as one of the assassins of Caesar.
(d) For being the illegitimate son of Caesar.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Plutarch, what was Artaxerxes' name before he became king?

2. Who does Plutarch report to be the father of Tiberius and Caius Gracchus?

3. What does Plutarch record that Antony did in response to Brutus' and Cassius' assassination of Caesar?

4. Why does Plutarch claim that Cicero's leading the execution of conspirators to overthrow Rome was controversial?

5. What did Plutarch claim that Caius had to overcome before he was elected to tribune?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Artaxerxes become King of Persia, according to Plutarch?

2. How did Plutarch show the differences in the motivations for speaking between Demosthenes and Cicero?

3. What steps did Plutarch describe that gave Tiberius the ability to pass his land reform laws?

4. 1.What does Plutarch recognize as the major difference between the governing styles between the Gracchi and the Spartans?

5. What does Plutarch consider to be the difference in the deaths of the Gracci and the Spartans?

6. What important position does Plutarch report Atarus took with Achaea, a league of Greek cities?

7. What difference does Plutarch recognize in the raising of the Gracchi Brothers (Tiberius and Caius) and The Spartans (Agis and Cleomenes)?

8. How does Plutarch show the differences in the personalities between Demosthenes and Cicero through their rhetorical style?

9. What did Plutarch consider to be the difference between the several wives that Demetrius took as opposed to Antony taking up with Cleopatra?

10. What is a primary difference that can be inferred between the ancient Spartan civilization and the ancient Roman Empire from Plutarch's comparison between the Gracchi and the Spartans?

(see the answer keys)

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