View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How can a prince deal with the people when they see their lands burning outside the city walls?
(a) He can issue food stamps.
(b) He can make them believe it is all just an illusion.
(c) He can tell them it is not as bad as it looks from inside the city walls.
(d) He can tell them about the cruelties of the enemy if they are captured.

2. What is it that Machiavelli refrains from doing in his book?
(a) Making everything brief in his writing so that main points are missed.
(b) Using high sounding literary devices to make the work seem more important.
(c) Giving only the facts of great leaders and how they governed.
(d) Using language of respect that is usually spoken before a prince.

3. Machiavelli says that tensions between the nobles and commoners may result in a principality, a republic, or what other condition?
(a) Heavy taxation.
(b) Democracy.
(c) Indifference.
(d) Anarchy.

4. Cesare Borgia was helped in his drive for power by his father. Who was he?
(a) The military head of the Orsini.
(b) Pope Alexander IV.
(c) King Luis XII of France.
(d) Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan.

5. What is the irony of the death of Oliverotto of Fermo who came to power by assembling all the leaders for a dinner and then killing them all?
(a) He died of natural causes before he could become Prince of Fermo.
(b) Cesare Borgia did the same thing to him.
(c) A son of one of the murdered men put poison in his wine.
(d) He was accidentally killed by a poorly aimed arrow.

6. What is Machiavelli removing from the political thinking during a time when the Roman Catholic Church was still appointing Emperors?
(a) He is removing objections to the combination of church and state.
(b) He is removing God from politics and the power equation.
(c) He is removing political involvement of the church.
(d) He is removing constitutional authority.

7. What does Machiavelli say was the reason for successes by Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus?
(a) Like Moses, they could talk with God.
(b) They did not understand the thinking of the people.
(c) They were standing in the right place at the right time.
(d) It had nothing to do with fortune, but was because of their own talents.

8. Why does Machiavelli say that Prince Lorenzo should not be surprised at what he is saying about new princedoms?
(a) He will talk only about princes he has known personally.
(b) He is giving the highest examples from history.
(c) He is the only man who knows the facts he is about to reveal.
(d) He is citing his own experience as a new prince.

9. What problem faces a prince appointed by the nobles?
(a) The people will only support a prince appointed by the nobles.
(b) The nobles see themselves as his equal and are not inclined to obey him.
(c) The people know they have rights under a price appointed by the nobles.
(d) The nobles never have the good will of the people which makes for tensions.

10. What is Machiavelli's example of rule by a sole prince?
(a) The Kingdom of Spain.
(b) The Kingdom of France.
(c) The Holy Roman Empire.
(d) The Turk empire.

11. Prior to Charles VIII of France coming to Italy, what was the main focus of the Pope, the Venetians, the King of Naples, the Duke of Milan, and the Florentines?
(a) To war among themselves.
(b) To form an Italian Republic.
(c) To keep foreigners out of Italy.
(d) To restore the Roman Empire.

12. What reasons does Machiavelli put forward to get Prince Lorenzo to read his book?
(a) Experience and his low-born status.
(b) Experience and his personal need.
(c) Experience and his ability as a writer.
(d) Experience and the absence of flattery.

13. What powerful force does Machiavelli say can efface innovations in government?
(a) Expectations.
(b) Memories.
(c) Disdain for the past.
(d) More and more innovation.

14. How does Machiavelli say that those who help a prince obtain a new princedom may turn against him?
(a) By not receiving what was promised to them.
(b) By becoming jealous of his new power.
(c) By deciding that they do not need the prince.
(d) By going elsewhere to fight new battles.

15. Who was responsible for weakening the power of Colonna and Orsini, the barons of Rome?
(a) Charles VIII of France.
(b) Cesare Borgia.
(c) Remiro d'Orco.
(d) King Louis VII.

Short Answer Questions

1. Citing Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus, what distinction does Machiavelli make about Moses?

2. Why does Machiavelli say that new territories are harder to govern than hereditary ones?

3. What does Machiavelli suggest is the best solution for governing a new territory?

4. Machiavelli says some new princes may gain their new states either in exchange for money or as a favor. What other means does he point out for gaining a state?

5. What does Machiavelli say a new prince must do quickly after gaining a new dominion?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 930 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample