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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Eryximachus define astronomy?
(a) The study of how the stars affect love.
(b) The study of the stars and their agreement with love.
(c) The study of the stars and their opposition to love.
(d) The study of how love orders the stars.

2. According to Aristophanes, how many faces does man begin with?
(a) One.
(b) Two.
(c) Three.
(d) None.

3. In Aristophanes' opinion, how are humans originally shaped?
(a) They are square.
(b) They are round.
(c) They have no definite shape.
(d) They are the same shape as they are now.

4. How does Socrates appear when he meets Aristodemus before going to the party?
(a) Bathed, but not in sandals.
(b) Wearing sandals, but not bathed.
(c) Bathed and in sandals.
(d) Neither bathed nor wearing sandals.

5. Why is Aristophanes unable to speak in his scheduled turn?
(a) He cannot remember what he wanted to say.
(b) He is not finished eating.
(c) He has the hiccups.
(d) He has disappeared.

6. How does Socrates respond to the idea of speaking about love?
(a) He disagrees, although it is a subject that he knows about.
(b) He agrees, but adds that he does not know much about it.
(c) He disagrees, because it is a subject that he does not know much about.
(d) He agrees, adding that it is a subject that he knows about.

7. According to Phaedrus' story, how could Achilles have avoided death?
(a) By slaying Agamemnon.
(b) By not slaying Agamemnon.
(c) By not slaying Hector.
(d) By slaying Hector.

8. According to Agathon, how does love deal with old age?
(a) It embraces it.
(b) It is unaware of it.
(c) It fights it.
(d) It runs away.

9. What is the "art" that Eryximachus refers to as the inspiration for the ideas in his speech?
(a) Sculpture.
(b) Prose.
(c) Medicine.
(d) Painting.

10. Which country does Pausanius use as an example of barbarian laws?
(a) Ionia.
(b) Armolia.
(c) Lithio.
(d) Olympi.

11. What fear does Aristophanes have before making his speech?
(a) That people will not enjoy it.
(b) That people will disagree with it.
(c) That people will not understand it.
(d) That people will laugh at it.

12. What news does Agathon give to Aristodemus when he arrives?
(a) That the other guests insisted that Aristodemus be invited.
(b) That Agathon forgot to invite Aristodemus the day before.
(c) That Agathon could not find Aristodemus to invite him the day before.
(d) That Socrates insisted that Aristodemus be invited.

13. What is the order of the three things in Hesiod's theory, as referenced by Phaedrus?
(a) First Earth, then Chaos and Love.
(b) First Earth, then Love and Chaos.
(c) First Chaos, then Earth and Love.
(d) First Love, then Earth and Chaos.

14. Why does Apollodorus have pity for rich men?
(a) Because they have more money than they can possibly spend.
(b) Because they never seem to have enough money no matter how much they make.
(c) Because they think they are doing something when they are doing nothing.
(d) Because they think they are doing nothing when they are doing something.

15. Where is Socrates before entering Agathon's house?
(a) The portico of a house that is two houses away.
(b) The dining room of the neighboring house.
(c) The portico of the neighboring house.
(d) The dining room of a house that is two houses away.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who requests that Socrates sit near him at the party?

2. What three elements share a harmonious love in nature, as stated by Eryximachus?

3. In Eryximachus' opinion, what is education in musical terms?

4. Why does Socrates refuse to attend Agathon's sacrifice of victory?

5. Why are the speeches between Phaedrus and Pausanias left out of Aristodemus' account?

(see the answer keys)

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