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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 were they, and what were the nationalities of Alexander's parents, according to Plutarch?
(a) Philip of Macedon, and Olympia of Greece.
(b) Eumens of Sparta, and Cleopatra of Persia.
(c) Philip of Greece, and Potidaea of Rome.
(d) Attalus of Macedon and Olympia of Greece.

2. Why does Plutarch claim Philip believed that Alexander was a demi-god?
(a) Because Philip had a dream about serpents sleeping with Olympia that were signs of Jupiter's presence.
(b) Because Philip once saw a serpent sleeping with his wife and he was advised by a pagan priest that the serpent was Ammon (Zeus, Jupiter) who had taken that form.
(c) Because there were three omens that prophets interpreted that Alexander's birth was exalted.
(d) Because Alexander showed unnatural skill and intelligence from an early age.

3. What does Plutarch claim Aristotle provided that he considered, "...a perfect portable treasure of all military virtue and knowledge...."?
(a) Aristotle's maps of important sites in Persia.
(b) Aristotle's writings regarding the proper training and preparation of soldiers.
(c) Aristotle's personally corrected copy of Homer's Illiads.
(d) Aristotle's collection of military histories.

4. Plutarch compares Sertorius to Philip, Antigonus, and Hannibal for his aggression, strategy, and what one other commonality?
(a) They each lost a hand in battle.
(b) They each had one eye.
(c) They each had a short leg.
(d) They each came from common families.

5. Who did Plutarch claim Agis had imprisoned and hanged?
(a) Agesilaus.
(b) Lysander.
(c) Leonidas.
(d) Leotychides.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Plutarch claim Caesar said when he heard of Cato's suicide?

2. What did Plutarch report to be Agesilaus' physical deformity?

3. Who does Plutarch report took in Cato and his siblings after they were orphaned, and for what was this person known?

4. How old was Alexander when Plutarch claims he took the Macedonian throne after Philip's death?

5. Where does Plutarch report Alexander died?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Plutarch claim Caesar left Rome while he was a young man?

2. On what occasion does Plutarch report Cato asked why his preceptor would not give him a sword to kill Sylla while he was being trained in Sylla's palace?

3. How does Plutarch describe Alexander impressing his father by taming a horse?

4. According to Plutarch, why did Cato fall into disfavor with Caesar?

5. What are the similarities that Plutarch found between Sertorius and Eumenes?

6. Why did Ptolemy's son, according to Plutarch, place Cleomenes under house arrest while he was in exile in Egypt?

7. How did Plutarch detail Caesar's plan to become Consul of Rome by helping Pompey?

8. What does Plutarch note about the difference between Phocion's public disagreements in the Athenian assembly and how he spoke in general conversation?

9. How long does Plutarch claim that Cato the Younger possessed an inflexible temperament?

10. What was the primary objective of Agis as King of the Spartans according to Plutarch?

(see the answer keys)

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