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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. Who does Plutarch claim led a successful conspiracy to murder Dion?
(a) His brother Thearides.
(b) Gelon.
(c) His half brother Ochus.
(d) His friend, Callippus.

2. How does Plutarch claim that Demosthenes became the best orator of his time?
(a) He had a natural flare that came naturally.
(b) By practicing long hours to develop a dramatic, persuasive style.
(c) He was trained in rhetorical arts by Aristotle.
(d) He was an avid reader and often quoted from the ancient masters.

3. What does Plutarch claim Demosthenes did with his suicide?
(a) Laughed to scorn the cruelty of Antipater.
(b) Cheated Antipater of the opportunity to publicly humiliate him.
(c) Satisfied his political opponents in the Athenian Assembly.
(d) Caused great sorrow to the Greeks who marveled in his wisdom.

4. Who did Plutarch identify as the Senator that Brutus opposed, but joined in a civil war against Caesar?
(a) Sertorius.
(b) Pompey.
(c) Crassus.
(d) Cassius.

5. According to Plutarch, why was the issue still alive for Tiberius in spite of previous efforts to address the issue?
(a) Caius Laelius folded under political pressure from men of authority.
(b) Crassus' well known animosity for Caesar put his causes on the losing side in the senate.
(c) Scipio could not overcome the political influence of senators who had sold their votes to wealthy landowners.
(d) Cicero's sarcastic rhetorical style alienated more senators than it won over.

Short Answer Questions

1. How was the Artaxerxes from Plutarch's "Lives" related to the first Artaxerxes to rule over Persia?

2. What does Plutarch identify as the difference in the characters between "The Roman Brothers" and "The Spartans"?

3. Plutarch's tone in the profile of Aratus changes from his other reports. Why is this?

4. What is the difference Plutarch cites between the leaders that Dion and Brutus overthrew?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Plutarch, how did Tiberius' death affect Caius' entry into Roman politics?

2. What does Plutarch claim was the result of Opimius undoing the land reforms that Caius enacted?

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

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

5. Why does Plutarch report that Artaxerxes had his son, Darius, executed?

6. How does Plutarch claim that Demosthenes become the best orator of his time?

7. How did Ochus put himself in line to inherit Artaxerxes throne according to Plutarch?

8. How did Plutarch compare the military achievements of Brutus and Dion?

9. What did Plutarch identify as the marks of Cicero's oratory style?

10. How does Plutarch compare the deaths of Demetrius and Antony?

(see the answer keys)

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