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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. During what decade did Henry VIII reject the Papal authority?
(a) The 1550s.
(b) The 1490s.
(c) The 1530s.
(d) The 1620s.

2. Negative numbers first appeared where historically, according to the author in Chapter 3, “Nothing Ventured”?
(a) Europe and the Americas.
(b) India and China.
(c) Egypt and Babylonia.
(d) In Mayan and Native American cultures.

3. Pythagoreanism was a cult that greatly influenced what philosophical system?
(a) Hinduism.
(b) Athenism.
(c) Buddhism.
(d) Platonism.

4. What was the fifth element that Aristotle proposed, in addition to earth, water, fire, and air?
(a) Aether.
(b) Metal.
(c) Sanctities.
(d) Volume.

5. Pythagoreanism developed into two separate schools of thought. What group was called “the listeners” in Greek?
(a) The akousmatikoi.
(b) The Hippasusikoi.
(c) The mathēmatikoi.
(d) The omnimatioi.

6. How was Giordano Bruno executed?
(a) He was given lethal injection.
(b) He was burned at the stake.
(c) He was hung.
(d) He was shot by firing squad.

7. What god within Hinduism represents both creator and destroyer?
(a) Pavarti.
(b) Kartikeya.
(c) Ganesha.
(d) Shiva.

8. What term refers to an argument that produces an inconsistency?
(a) Quantization.
(b) Dividend.
(c) Paradox.
(d) Reprimand.

9. The ancient Mayans used a numeral system that was based on what increment?
(a) 5.
(b) 10.
(c) 3.
(d) 20.

10. Approximately when did Pythagoras live?
(a) 570-495 BC.
(b) 684-610 BC.
(c) 481-412 BC.
(d) 1200-1195 BC.

11. What 12 Century rabbi sought to reconcile Greek philosophy with the Semitic Bible?
(a) Maimonides.
(b) Robert Wexler.
(c) Nahmanides.
(d) Shlomo ben Aderet.

12. Zero is the only number that when added to itself does what?
(a) Remains unchanged.
(b) Increases.
(c) Turns into an imaginary number.
(d) Decreases.

13. The word “Renaissance” derives from what meaning?
(a) Rebirth.
(b) Art.
(c) Destruction.
(d) Beauty.

14. Approximately when did Copernicus live?
(a) 1325-1342.
(b) 1473-1543.
(c) 1401-1452.
(d) 1597-1652.

15. According to the author in Chapter 2, “Nothing Comes of Nothing,” the ratio of zero to any number is what?
(a) 0.
(b) ∞.
(c) 3.
(d) 1.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the author refer to as “zero’s twin” in the book?

2. What refers to a system in which the location of a point is given by coordinates that represent its distances from perpendicular lines that intersect at a point called the origin?

3. Aristotle referred to Zeno of Elea as the inventor of what?

4. Approximately when did Aristotle live?

5. The author states in Chapter 3, “Nothing Ventured” that the Indians borrowed Greek geometry but never worried about what?

(see the answer keys)

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