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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What BEST describes the writing styles of Richard Steele and Joseph Addison?
(a) Addison is spontaneous, while Steele is polished.
(b) Both men are spontaneous.
(c) Both men are polished.
(d) Addison is polished, while Steele is spontaneous.

2. Ou-Yank Hsiu is considered one of eight what?
(a) Masters of classical prose.
(b) Master playwrights.
(c) Famous outlaws.
(d) Foreign diplomats.

3. Who is the subject of Chapter 2 in the book?
(a) Michel de Montaigne.
(b) Mark Twain.
(c) Seneca.
(d) Kenko.

4. What kind of social company does Sei Shonagon express hatred for in "Hateful Things?"
(a) Company that will not leave.
(b) Company that eats all of one's food.
(c) Company that does not talk.
(d) Company that asks prying questions.

5. In Montaigne's "On Some Verses..." essay, what opinion does he express about the sexes?
(a) Men are far superior to women in all intellectual areas.
(b) Men are made for war, and women are made for love.
(c) Men and women are essentially the same.
(d) Men do not possess emotional excess, which is the chief flaw of women.

6. Who wrote "Nicolini and the Lions?"
(a) Charles Lamb.
(b) Joseph Addison.
(c) Seneca.
(d) Michel de Montaigne.

7. Who raised Charles Lamb?
(a) His grandmother.
(b) His older sister.
(c) The state.
(d) His uncle.

8. What political party did Abraham Cowley support?
(a) Whigs.
(b) Tories.
(c) Liberals.
(d) Royalists.

9. In "Slaves," what accounts for the bad behavior of slaves?
(a) Their diet.
(b) The bad treatment they receive.
(c) Their innate barbarity.
(d) Their confined quarters.

10. How was Montaigne's first book received?
(a) It was self-published, and only three people got to see it at the time.
(b) It enjoyed a great deal of success.
(c) It was scorned, and vilified in the newspapers.
(d) It was largely ignored by the public.

11. In "Hateful Things," Sei Shonagon hates when a mosquito appears at what time?
(a) When one is having sex.
(b) When one is falling asleep.
(c) When one is getting ready to take a bath.
(d) When one is getting ready to eat.

12. What does Montaigne conclude in "Of a Monstrous Child?"
(a) Towns should pursue an "eye for eye" system of justice.
(b) Deformed babies should be killed at birth.
(c) Nothing is contrary to nature; everything is natural.
(d) Doctors are nothing but charlatans and quacks.

13. What does Montaigne admit in "Of Books?"
(a) There are a lot of people with more educated views than himself.
(b) He admits to cheating on his wife.
(c) He has not learned to read Latin, but intends to someday.
(d) No one has more educated views than himself.

14. How did Charles Lamb sign many of his essays?
(a) Chuck Lamb (both of those words referring to a type of meat).
(b) Charles S. Lamb.
(c) He published most of his work anonymously.
(d) Lamb used a variety of pen names.

15. What is Richard Steele's message in his essay "Twenty-four Hours in London"?
(a) Everything that should be seen in London can be seen in the span of twenty-four hours.
(b) One's attitude toward the world should be one of simple enjoyment, rather than desire for material gain.
(c) Hedonism, in the form of drinking and carousing, is the greatest good.
(d) Londoners are cruel, petty people.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why prompted Montaigne to retire from his career to pursue writing?

2. When was Charles Lamb born?

3. How did Montaigne's father treat Montaigne?

4. Which of the following labels BEST describe the writings of Montaigne?

5. What colorful phrase does Seneca provide as another way to describe asthma?

(see the answer keys)

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