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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. Who finances the celebration that is held at the time Letter XVII is written?
(a) A traveling carnival.
(b) Local businesses.
(c) Seneca.
(d) The state.

2. Who is praised for his virtue and dedication to studies in Letter II?
(a) Plato.
(b) Seneca.
(c) Zeno.
(d) Lucilius.

3. In a large group of people, how might their vices seem, according to Seneca?
(a) Attractive.
(b) Deadly.
(c) Comical.
(d) Unappealing.

4. According to Seneca, who will spend his time either alone or in the company of those he knows are capable of improving him?
(a) A religious person.
(b) A man with asthma or illness.
(c) A truly virtue-minded person.
(d) Someone who is disgusted by blood and gore.

5. How did Seneca's ancestors treat their slaves?
(a) Emotionless.
(b) With physical abuse.
(c) With mental torture.
(d) With respect.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Seneca, what does an inordinate attachment to wealth or public opinion make a man?

2. Who does Seneca praise in Letter XI?

3. Who says that hope is the cause of fear?

4. What does Seneca recount taking a ride on in Letter LV?

5. How does one perfect his own soul, according to Seneca?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why didn't the Stoics write a lot of quotable quotes for students to memorize? What is his opinion about quotable quotes?

2. What is Seneca's opinion of Vatia? How does it differ from public opinion?

3. Why does Lucilius call Seneca a hypocrite in Letter VIII?

4. According to Seneca, how much concern should a wise man have regarding his or others' physical beauty?

5. What is Seneca's thoughts on the phrase "cheerful poverty?"

6. What is a "quibbler" and what advice does Seneca offer to Lucilius about quibblers?

7. How does noise affect Seneca's studies and how does his explanation become a metaphor for the Stoic soul?

8. Lucilius writes Seneca that his melancholy mood remained unchanged no matter how far he traveled from home. How does Seneca explain Lucilius' complaint?

9. What happened when Seneca went out on the town in search of "witty entertainment" and how was he affected by the situation?

10. How does Seneca explain how he partakes of the festivities of Saturnalia?

(see the answer keys)

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