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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What, according to Machiavelli, determines whether or not a Republic falls into tyranny.
(a) The weakness of its Princes.
(b) The corruption of its Nobles.
(c) The reputation of its Citizens.
(d) The absence of its military.

2. What does Machiavelli write will prevent a bad Citizen from working evil in a Republic?
(a) Conspiracy against the bad Citizen.
(b) The absence of corruption.
(c) General disregard for their reputation.
(d) The government taking steps to temporize the bad Citizen.

3. What does Machiavelli name as the reason that good men cannot accomplish good for his country?
(a) Incompetence.
(b) The lack of methods to pass down customs.
(c) Envy of other men.
(d) They are at war.

4. What does Machiavelli praise of the ancient Roman battlefield tactics?
(a) The ability of the three divisions to outman enemies and scare them from the battlefields.
(b) The fierceness of the soldiers to dictate the terms of every battle.
(c) The ability of the second and third divisions to absorb fallen lines ahead of them and proceed in battle.
(d) The ability of the first division to puncture enemy lines so the second and third divisions can over run the command centers.

5. What does Machiavelli identify as the difference between a Republic and the State (government) in how they can handle maladies?
(a) A Republic has time to correct maladies, but a State does not.
(b) A Republic appoints a bureaucracy, but a state goes to war.
(c) A Republic counts on the wisdom of its Plebes, but a State uses the wealth of its Nobles.
(d) A Republic uses its freedom, but a state uses its laws.

6. Why does Machiavelli believe that leaders of his time refuse to follow the examples of dealing with tumults set by leaders of ancient times.
(a) They did not have the virtu of the Romans.
(b) They were too easily influenced by women.
(c) They did not have the power of the Romans.
(d) They regard the judgments of ancient leaders to be inhuman and impossible to apply.

7. What did Livius' history of Rome identify as the three divisions of the Roman army?
(a) Principi, Infantry, and Navy.
(b) .Triari, Navy, and Ordinance.
(c) Astati, Principi, and Triari.
(d) Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery.

8. How do weak men handle changes in fortune, according to Machiavelli?
(a) They are arrogant in good times and cowards in bad times.
(b) They are insufferable in good times and obscure in bad times.
(c) They are greedy in good times and beggars in bad times.
(d) They are vain and inebriated by good fortune and vile and abject in bad fortune.

9. Why does Machiavelli advise Captains to use new things at the time that he does?
(a) Because the enemy won't see them in camp.
(b) Because the new technology requires different tactics.
(c) Because training is the best time to determine their use.
(d) To give courage to his enemies and take it from enemies.

10. What are the two ways that Machiavelli claims that envy can be extinguished?
(a) Through conspiracy and corruption.
(b) Through war and crisis.
(c) Through life threatening disaster or through the death of rivals.
(d) Through friendship and common wealth.

11. What does Machiavelli claim happens to great men in times of peace?
(a) They become neglected.
(b) They become tyrants.
(c) They become corrupted and evil.
(d) They retire and slip into obscurity.

12. What does Machiavelli claim causes men to conspire against their target?
(a) The desire to manipulate the general masses.
(b) The desire to take control of the Senate
(c) The desire to liberate a country occupied by the Prince.
(d) The desire to take power over the military.

13. Of what is Machiavelli referring when he addresses the use of deceit in managing wars?
(a) Fooling his soldiers to do things he needs.
(b) Fooling the city he attacks to hide in a fort.
(c) Using tactics that mislead the enemy in battle.
(d) Fooling the Senate to put him where he can win.

14. What does Machiavelli believe comes to a good army without a good Captain?
(a) It regroups and promotes its most virtuous member.
(b) It breaks apart and goes home.
(c) It becomes insolent and dangerous.
(d) It sells itself to the highest bidder.

15. What does Machiavelli identify as the cause of using dishonorable words against an enemy?
(a) Poor military tactics of the enemy.
(b) False hopes brought by victory.
(c) Corruption that leads to an enemy's defeat.
(d) Poor discipline in the army.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who were the two Roman Consuls whose tactics Machiavelli compares as an example of how Princes can take what belongs to another?

2. Who was esteemed as being wise for acting foolish from Livius' history of Rome?

3. What does Machiavelli claim to be the conduct of excellent and courageous men whether they experience good fortune or bad?

4. What does Machiavelli cite as Aristotle's three causes of ruin women bring on tyrants.

5. How did Phillip of Macedonia avoid battles with Fabius Maximus?

(see the answer keys)

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