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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are three reasons that Machiavelli gives for cities becoming unhappy?
(a) When cities are compelled to reorganize laws by themselves, when the laws diverge from their established institutions, and when the laws lead cities from the right path.
(b) When leaders drain resources to fight wars, when laws become tools for Princes to become more wealthy, when there is taxation without representation.
(c) When cities face armed challenges from outside institutions, the courts do not act justly, and when leaders abuse their power.
(d) When taxes drain Plebes of their wages, when resources are not allocated equitably, and when Princes seek to expand their influence with wars.

2. What does "Crescit interea Roma Albae ruinis" mean?
(a) The Roman interrogations ruined Albanian Fertile Crescent.
(b) Rome and Alba ruined Crete's industry.
(c) Rome grew on the ruins of Alba .
(d) Creative Romans will bring ruins to Alba.

3. What does Machiavelli suggest causes corruption?
(a) An insufficiency of or inability to enforce laws that deal effectively with corruption.
(b) Rebellious citizens who defy ruling authorities.
(c) Princes who are not cruel enough with punishment.
(d) Princes who are preoccupied with seeking pleasure rather than power.

4. Of what should Princes be most ashamed in Machiavelli's view?
(a) Lacking their own soldiers for defense and offense.
(b) Missing opportunities to conquer other cities.
(c) Being discovered to be self-absorbed and not devoted to building the strength of their cities.
(d) Consuming his wealth in debauchery.

5. What does Machiavelli consider to be the means of someone rising from the bottom to gain a great fortune?
(a) Force and fraud.
(b) Deceit and self preservation.
(c) Hard work and creativity.
(d) Diligence and humility.

6. Why does Machiavelli suggest that those who have received great rewards should not be spared punishments for acting badly?
(a) Because doing so helps the Republic remain free for a long time.
(b) Because doing so helps to find the most ardent supporters of the Prince.
(c) Because doing so gives the Prince the opportunity to prove his harshness.
(d) Because doing so keeps the most famous citizens obedient to the Prince.

7. What are two reasons Machiavelli gives for foreign forces building a city?
(a) To exercise power over enemies and expand the power of an established system.
(b) To relieve existing towns of excessive inhabitants and for the defense of the country from which the forces come.
(c) To spread the culture of the homeland and use resources for financial development.
(d) To offer people in other lands the benefits of the existing system and to make their abilities and resources for universally beneficial.

8. Who were the Decemvirs?
(a) Courtiers who gathered around the Caesars to protect them during times of festivals.
(b) Ten citizens created by the Roman people to make the laws in Rome.
(c) Officials who took their power in the last month of the year.
(d) The 12 Nobles who the Caesars appointed to help him manage the Empire.

9. What should the reader consider as evil when Machiavelli is advising Princes to "recognize evils".
(a) Evil is anything with which a Prince does not agree.
(b) Evil should be considered to be any influence which challenges the power of the Prince.
(c) Evil is those human inclinations that cause them to act selfishly.
(d) Evil is those public reactions that oppose the Prince.

10. What does Machiavelli claim will make a City great?
(a) Many industries.
(b) Many soldiers.
(c) Many administrators.
(d) Many inhabitants.

11. What are the three ways a Republic can expand that Machiavelli recognized?
(a) By conquering distant provinces, by supporting other provinces to conquer enemies, and to make allies with strong Republics.
(b) By making trade alliances with wealthy provinces, by joining in war with weak Republics, and by making alliances with powerful tyrannies.
(c) By joining in league with other Republics, make other Republics associates, and to make other Republics subjects immediately.
(d) By sending Nobles out to establish colonies, by sending armies out to conquer foreign provinces, and making other provinces associates.

12. What does Machiavelli suggest as the intention to make war?
(a) To acquire and maintain the acquisition, so as to enrich themselves and not to impoverish the [conquered] country the home country.
(b) To keep Citizens attached to the power of the Prince.
(c) To prove the power of the Prince to the Citizens.
(d) To keep Citizens focused on refining their virtue.

13. According to Machiavelli, what caused so much hard work for Rome as it expanded its Empire to distant provinces?
(a) The damage to families who sent their working sons to war.
(b) The love of people of other lands for liberty.
(c) The demands on farmers to provide the food for soldiers on long trips.
(d) The cost of sending the military to distant provinces.

14. Why does Machiavelli claim these forms of government developed?
(a) To provide defense for people who gathered together.
(b) To prevent people with the ability to use force from destroying each other.
(c) So those with influence could hold it without violence.
(d) So those with wealth could protect themselves from those who had none.

15. What does Machiavelli consider prudence in a Prince or a King?
(a) Keeping friends close and enemies closer.
(b) Knowing that the enemy of his enemy is his friend.
(c) In times of peace not neglecting the arrangements of war.
(d) Picking battles that are important enough to fight and small enough to win.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Machiavelli suggest that Princes and other leaders deal with acts that offend their citizens?

2. What is another method that Machiavelli reports leaders use to offend their citizens?

3. Why does Machiavelli recommend that those who want to reform a city should retain the appearance of the institutions they want to reform?

4. When Machiavelli writes, "For sometimes of necessity our judgment is the truth, as human affairs are always in motion, either ascending or descending," what is he writing about what he believes about truth?

5. What were the "demonstrations made to the benefit" of Plebes that Machiavelli reported were taken by Roman Nobility in Book 1, Section 52?

(see the answer keys)

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