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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Seneca name as never too great for a man to endure, thanks to nature's way of minimizing them?
(a) Choices.
(b) Loves.
(c) Heartbreaks.
(d) Pains.

2. Who ran away in Letter CVII that made Lucilius grieve?
(a) Some of his slaves.
(b) His wife and kids.
(c) His oldest daughter.
(d) His dog.

3. In Letter LXXXIII, whose logic does Seneca question?
(a) Plato's.
(b) Aristotle's.
(c) Sappho's.
(d) Zeno's.

4. Who does Seneca point out (in Letter CIV) had a wife and children who constantly nagged him?
(a) Socrates.
(b) Himself.
(c) Plato.
(d) Sophocles.

5. What is duty that Seneca states all men are bound to eventually carry out?
(a) Death.
(b) Civic responsiblity.
(c) Public service.
(d) Taxes.

6. Who was Posidinius?
(a) A historian.
(b) A sea god.
(c) God of an ancient river.
(d) A sailor.

7. According to Seneca, what destroyed man's harmonic relationship with nature?
(a) The Iliad.
(b) Love.
(c) War.
(d) Greed.

8. How much duty does Seneca say one must must fulfill before his life ends?
(a) 25 years worth.
(b) No set amount.
(c) At least one good deed per day.
(d) Whatever the tax collector chooses to bill him.

9. What does Seneca admit that he cares less about as he ages?
(a) His hair.
(b) His financial affairs.
(c) His appearance.
(d) His friends.

10. Why does Seneca say he decided not to commit suicide?
(a) For his father's sake.
(b) He fell in love with a woman.
(c) He was too afraid.
(d) He snapped out of his depression.

11. What creates certain habits of study and thought which are actually useful?
(a) Business studies.
(b) Liberal arts.
(c) Sciences.
(d) Fine arts.

12. According to Stoic thought, what is the formless substance with "unlimited potential?"
(a) Reason.
(b) Cause.
(c) Matter.
(d) Mass.

13. To whom will a person who is well-acquainted with poetry or history often be impressive?
(a) To the entire public.
(b) To the small-minded masses.
(c) To himself only.
(d) To the royalty.

14. Who is Scipio?
(a) His student.
(b) Seneca's arch enemy.
(c) Another Roman philosopher.
(d) A renowned Roman general.

15. What do the friends Seneca talks about in Letter LXV compare to concepts by Aristotle and Plato?
(a) The Stoic concept of causation.
(b) Seneca's thoughts about death.
(c) Zeno's concept of relationships.
(d) Arelius' thoughts about life.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Seneca give advice about coping with in Letter LXXVIII?

2. What does Seneca say the gods give man the capacity for?

3. Why does Seneca move to the country?

4. What is a syllogism?

5. What is the unusual transgression about, ending Letter LXXXVI?

(see the answer keys)

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