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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Machiavelli begin the preface to "The Discourses"?
(a) As a letter to two political thinkers from Florence.
(b) As a cynical commentary to the weakness of leaders of his time.
(c) As a warning to future generations of the tenuous nature of freedom.
(d) With advice to two friends on how to keep their friends close and their enemies closer.

2. How does Machiavelli expect a city can keep its freedom after a weak Prince follows an excellent Prince?
(a) Only if the citizens ignore the weak Prince and organize themselves to retain virtue.
(b) Only if administrators conspire to act with the virtue of the excellent Prince.
(c) Only if a Prince with the virtue of the excellent Prince follows the weak Prince.
(d) Only if the city does not fall into war with a more virtuous city.

3. What does Machiavelli consider prudence in a Prince or a King?
(a) In times of peace not neglecting the arrangements of war.
(b) Knowing that the enemy of his enemy is his friend.
(c) Picking battles that are important enough to fight and small enough to win.
(d) Keeping friends close and enemies closer.

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?
(a) Train its citizens to form a strong army.
(b) Hire mercenaries.
(c) To give itself freely to whomever would defend the city.
(d) Make alliances with powerful Cities.

5. What does Machiavelli announce as the purpose of Book Two of "The Discourses" in the preface?
(a) How to secure power by expanding it.
(b) How to use truth to persuade Citizens to support the power of the Prince.
(c) How to secure freedom for an Empire by keeping the military active.
(d) What Roman people did to aggrandize the Empire.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Machiavelli suggest that a man with power should present himself to a city in turmoil?

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

3. According to Machiavelli, what caused the Roman Republic to form?

4. Of what should Princes be most ashamed in Machiavelli's view?

5. What were the "demonstrations made to the benefit" of Plebes that Machiavelli reported were taken by Roman Nobility in Book 1, Section 52?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Machiavelli explain that a City grows either through love or through force?

2. To what is Machiavelli referring when he writes of men jumping, "...from one ambition to another?"

3. What does Machiavelli recommend to be done if one wants to establish a Republic where it does not exist?

4. Why does Machiavelli report that the Roman Senate decided to pay a public stipend to the soldiers in the army?

5. What does Machiavelli claim proves the Romans' love for liberty?

6. Why does Machiavelli advise that a Prince "temporize" a perceived evil in his State?

7. Why should a Prince measure his forces and govern by his decisions based upon them before he enters a war?

8. What acts by governing officials does Machiavelli consider "pernicious" or damaging to the authority of the government?

9. Why does Machiavelli recommend to leaders of a Republic to keep a shadow of the institutions that are being reformed?

10. From what did Niccolo Machiavelli make the present that he sent to Zanobi Buondelmonti and Cosimo Rucellai?

(see the answer keys)

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