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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Machiavelli say a prince can make himself feared without making himself hated?
(a) By leaving people's property alone.
(b) By taking the women away.
(c) By hanging only unpopular criminals.
(d) By giving pardons to criminals.

2. What does the prince gain from rewarding his ministers well for jobs well done?
(a) He gets their support without fear of their trying to overthrow him.
(b) He gets time to look around for new ministers who are not so dangerous.
(c) He gets a percentage of all those ministers make from taking bribes.
(d) He gets losts of gifts from those ministers who become wealthy.

3. What, according to Machiavelli, is better than actually having all the good qualities of leadership?
(a) Having the appearance of being religious.
(b) Never forgetting anything said in the past.
(c) Keeping all promises.
(d) Really understanding the problems of the people.

4. How does Machiavelli define auxiliary forces?
(a) The best insurance a prince has for his safety.
(b) Extra manpower that may be called to active duty during a war.
(c) Those borrowed from other principalities to wage war.
(d) Women mercenaries who fight along side of men.

5. Who is Machiavelli's ultimate example of the correct use of cruelty?
(a) King Louis.
(b) Alexander the Great.
(c) Hannibal.
(d) Moses.

6. What is Machiavelli's advice about people who do things that ultimately enrich the princedom?
(a) They should be viewed with suspicion.
(b) They should be amply rewarded.
(c) They should be taxed heavier than others.
(d) Their property should be confiscated.

7. What is it that a prince cannot control among his subjects?
(a) Their taxation.
(b) Their love.
(c) Their fear.
(d) Their cooperation.

8. What is the advantage of taking sides when both warring factions are weaker than the prince?
(a) He could become a prisoner if he does not.
(b) He will get money from the side he chooses.
(c) He eliminates one and gains the obligation of the other.
(d) He can take over both principalities after the war is over.

9. What does Machiavelli see as an insurmountable chasm?
(a) The understanding of the people versus the understanding of the prince.
(b) The reality of the way we live versus the ideas of how we ought to live.
(c) Idealism and Christian philosophy of living.
(d) The difference between the very rich and the very poor.

10. What must a prince always do concerning advice?
(a) He must never accept anyone's advice except his own.
(b) He must listen to everyone all the time.
(c) He must wait for his ministers to offer their advice.
(d) He must discourage advice that he has not asked for.

11. What is the advantage of being miserly?
(a) The people will not work harder to receive the prince's generosity.
(b) Everything eventually belongs to the prince.
(c) The prince can go count his money when he cannot sleep.
(d) Waging was is possible without having to tax the people heavily.

12. Who does Machiavelli cite as an example of generosity that ended badly?
(a) Moses.
(b) Alexander the Great.
(c) Julius Caesar.
(d) Marc Anthony.

13. What message does a prince give his subjects if he builds a fortress for himself?
(a) That he trusts his military advisors.
(b) That he will always be ready to defend the people.
(c) That he fears the people.
(d) That he is more important than the people.

14. What does Machiavelli suggest is the best fortress for a prince?
(a) A palace in the center of the city.
(b) Military barracks surrounding his palace.
(c) A palace surrounded by a wide moat.
(d) Favorable public opinion.

15. Who does Machiavelli assign blame to when a prince loses his dominion?
(a) The prince himself.
(b) The fickleness of the people.
(c) The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
(d) The nobility.

Short Answer Questions

1. What can a new prince be assured of?

2. What in Machiavelli's opinion is the problem with a prince being too liberal with his subjects?

3. What is more effective than honesty in a prince?

4. What does Machiavelli say is the only art expected of a prince?

5. What is a constant threat to any prince?

(see the answer keys)

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