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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Machiavelli, what type of people seek what office to cause a city to become corrupt?
(a) The working poor seek to become plebes.
(b) Weak and dependent people seek to become senators.
(c) Generals seek to become senators.
(d) The rich and powerful, rather than the virtuous, seek to become judges (magistrates).

2. Who were the Decemvirs?
(a) Courtiers who gathered around the Caesars to protect them during times of festivals.
(b) The 12 Nobles who the Caesars appointed to help him manage the Empire.
(c) Ten citizens created by the Roman people to make the laws in Rome.
(d) Officials who took their power in the last month of the year.

3. What does Machiavelli predict will come to Republics that do not provide for dictatorships or powerful authorities in times of urgent perils?
(a) A Republican government will always move in the benefit of everyone dependent on them.
(b) The gathering of officials will paralyze the Republic in debate.
(c) The trust leaders show in the people will inspire them to overcome the peril.
(d) They will always be ruined in grave incidents.

4. What is Machiavelli's explanation for initiating his recommended approach with enemies against an empire?
(a) Because putting the leaders of enemies in positions of public responsibility will require them to make decisions that will be rejected by conspiracies.
(b) Because taking out the head of a movement will lead to the death of the body.
(c) Because the public humiliation of the enemy will expose supporters to the Citizens who will then act to neutralize the conspiracy.
(d) Because those who try to crush it, make its force greater, and make that evil which is suspected from it to be accelerated.

5. To what does Machiavelli compare great kingdoms and republics from history?
(a) To his projections of the future in which Machiavelli speculated on how power would be preserved.
(b) To his ideal state that combined the most successful institutions from those civilizations.
(c) To the state of political instability in which was common to Machiavelli's day.
(d) To great works of antique art that have been found and preserved.

6. What does Machiavelli identify as the easiest way to "...ruin a Republic where the People have authority...."
(a) For the Nobles to promote corrupted Citizens in elections.
(b) Cause them to distribute wealth.
(c) For Nobles to cultivate rivalries between partisans among the People.
(d) Involve them in a brave enterprise.

7. What does Machiavelli claim will make a City great?
(a) Many soldiers.
(b) Many inhabitants.
(c) Many administrators.
(d) Many industries.

8. Why does Machiavelli suggest that a Prince keep his conquered territories disunited from the City over which he has his power?
(a) So that the Prince alone can profit from the acquisition.
(b) So the conquered territories cannot unite with his existing Citizens to overthrow him.
(c) So his City is not affected by immigration.
(d) So the merchants can benefit from the trade between the City and the conquered territory.

9. What does Machiavelli consider to be the worst example to be provided by leaders in a Republic?
(a) For leaders to make a law and refuse to observe it.
(b) For leaders to avoid harsh punishments for law breakers.
(c) For leaders to neglect the ordering of an army.
(d) For leaders to choose weak captains.

10. Reviewing earlier chapters of "The Discourses", why would Machiavelli consider long wars in foreign lands important?
(a) Because long wars give Nobles an opportunity for Nobles to encourage Plebes to perform glorious works for the Republic.
(b) Because long wars assures that poverty will be maintained for everyone in the Republic.
(c) Because Machiavelli considers fighting wars and building empires to be signs of virtuous leaders.
(d) Because Machiavelli suggested long wars helped to keep Republics united.

11. What does Machiavelli examine in Chapter 1 of Book 2?
(a) How to develop fortune and virtue.
(b) How virtue can destroy fortune.
(c) Why fortune is more important that virtue.
(d) Whether the Roman Empire was built upon fortune or virtue.

12. How does Machiavelli recommend a Republic deal with enemies that spring up within an empire?
(a) He advises Princes to allow his supporters to conspire to assassinate the enemies.
(b) Princes should name appoint them to offices to leave their actions open to public scrutiny.
(c) He advocates smearing them with public proclamations about the threat they pose.
(d) He recommends that efforts be made to temporize (compromise) them rather than crush them.

13. What are the five types of government identified by Machiavelli?
(a) Democracy, anarchy, monarchy, constitutional, and institutional.
(b) Republic, fascistic, democracy, principality, and oligarchy.
(c) Tyranny, constitutional, military oligarchy, principality, and democracy.
(d) Monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, oligarchy, and anarchy.

14. According to Machiavelli, what caused so much hard work for Rome as it expanded its Empire to distant provinces?
(a) The damage to families who sent their working sons to war.
(b) The cost of sending the military to distant provinces.
(c) The love of people of other lands for liberty.
(d) The demands on farmers to provide the food for soldiers on long trips.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli claim that the rule of the Caesars was preferable to the regime of the Decemvirs?

2. What is the main point Machiavelli investigates as he prepares to discuss the affects of strong Princes and weak Princes?

3. What is an obvious counterpoint to Machiavelli's assertion to the benefits of the power of the Caesars to the Roman Empire?

4. What does Machiavelli recommend to a City that is unable to defend itself, but wants to be protected from anyone who would attack it?

5. What do fertile areas offer to those who settle there according to Machiavelli?

(see the answer keys)

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