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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Machiavelli report that the Nobles controlled the process of Plebes having the opportunity to choose Plebes for four Tribunes?
(a) They were in charge of counting the votes.
(b) They controlled the means of Plebes to provide for themselves.
(c) They offered choices between highly reputable Nobles and ignoble Plebes who asked to be considered for the positions.
(d) They began a war and had many Plebes sent to a foreign province.

2. What is a Prince as Machiavelli uses the term?
(a) An underling to the ruling authority.
(b) A monarch over a sovereign system of government and territory.
(c) A dispatched bureaucrat that carries out orders over a territory.
(d) A hereditary noble.

3. According to Machiavelli in Section 1 of Book One, who are the two types of people who build cities?
(a) Craftsmen and politicians.
(b) Farmers and merchants.
(c) Men born in their location or foreigners.
(d) Princes and generals.

4. What can be inferred of Machiavelli's idea of virtue from reading the review of the first three kings of Rome as he begins his discourse of weak Princes and excellent Princes?
(a) The he considers moral integrity to be the primary virtue for Princes.
(b) That he believes being ferocious and warlike is an indispensible virtue for a Prince.
(c) That he considers bureaucratic expertise to be an important virtue for Princes.
(d) That he considers the most weak Princes to practice ambivalence to virtue.

5. According to Machiavelli, what was one negative consequence of the Roman Senate's decision to pay soldiers out of public money?
(a) It raised taxes on Nobles.
(b) So many Citizens joined the military that there were not enough to perform necessary jobs throughout the Republic.
(c) Soldiers began expecting regular pay raises.
(d) Rome was required to produce more currency to meet the payments, so the currency was devalued.

6. Why does Machiavelli suggest wars should be quick with limited damage to the conquered City?
(a) So armies can be brought home to participate in a productive economy.
(b) So Citizens are not burdened by the demands of the war.
(c) So armies can be readied for the next war.
(d) To reduce the cost to the conquering Prince and preserve the resources of the conquered city as booty for the conquering forces.

7. When Machiavelli writes, "For sometimes of necessity our judgment is the truth, as human affairs are always in motion, either ascending or descending," what is he writing about what he believes about truth?
(a) Truth is irrelevant to the reason for making judgments.
(b) You can't make sound judgments without having a firm grasp on the truth.
(c) Machiavelli considers truth to be relative.
(d) Truth is not as important as the people you make relationships with.

8. How did Roman soldiers provide for themselves before the Senate decided to pay them?
(a) They received sponsorships from Nobles.
(b) They worked as aides to Senators.
(c) They were required to provide for their own needs.
(d) They worked as farmers.

9. Why does Machiavelli claim these forms of government developed?
(a) To provide defense for people who gathered together.
(b) So those with influence could hold it without violence.
(c) To prevent people with the ability to use force from destroying each other.
(d) So those with wealth could protect themselves from those who had none.

10. What historical records did Machiavelli use to support his point for keeping two important items out of peril?
(a) Historical records of Hannibal and England.
(b) Historical records of Rome and France.
(c) Historical records of military tactics.
(d) Historical records of Tullus and Metius.

11. What does Machiavelli establish as the relationship between gold and good soldiers?
(a) Gold attracts good soldiers.
(b) The promise of gold will make soldiers weaker.
(c) Gold is not sufficient to find good soldiers, but good soldiers are indeed sufficient to find gold.
(d) Gold will cause good soldiers to go bad.

12. What is another method that Machiavelli reports leaders use to offend their citizens?
(a) Refusing to provide sufficient education for the youth.
(b) Persisting in harsh punishments for misdemeanors.
(c) Refusing to provide wealth to the general masses.
(d) Persisting in acts that are considered offensive to citizens.

13. What does Machiavelli identify as an important action for Nobles to take to control the ambitions of Citizens seeking position?
(a) Find ways to bring the ambitious Citizens into Noble circles to keep them under watch and compromise their influence.
(b) Find ways to have them sent to war.
(c) Forestall their paths to attain the rank they seek.
(d) Have them kidnapped and killed.

14. Of what should Princes be most ashamed in Machiavelli's view?
(a) Being discovered to be self-absorbed and not devoted to building the strength of their cities.
(b) Consuming his wealth in debauchery.
(c) Lacking their own soldiers for defense and offense.
(d) Missing opportunities to conquer other cities.

15. What is an obvious counterpoint to Machiavelli's assertion to the benefits of the power of the Caesars to the Roman Empire?
(a) Without the Caesars, provinces of the Empire would have moved to avoid hazards.
(b) If the Nobles of Rome had not sought to possess distant provinces, there would have been no need for Caesars.
(c) The cost of Empire caused hazards to gather domestically as well as throughout the Empire.
(d) Without the empire is it possible that the hazards the empire faced would not have materialized.

Short Answer Questions

1. What were the reasons that Machiavelli cited for the Roman Senate choosing to pay a public stipend to fighting men (soldiers)?

2. In defending his view that Roman Dictators served their city well, what phrase does Machiavelli use to explain how the Caesars absorbed their power?

3. How does Machiavelli suggest that Princes and other leaders deal with acts that offend their citizens?

4. What are the five types of government identified by Machiavelli?

5. What does Machiavelli identify as the easiest way to "...ruin a Republic where the People have authority...."

(see the answer keys)

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