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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is the only one who can gladden the hearts of gods and men, according to Folly?
(a) Wine.
(b) Bacchus.
(c) Silenus.
(d) Folly.

2. Whom does Folly consider more foolish than men?
(a) Women.
(b) Nymphs.
(c) Animals.
(d) Gods.

3. Whom did Erasmus make the narrator of his book?
(a) Virgil.
(b) The pope.
(c) More.
(d) Folly.

4. What is the best name for those who are complete fools, but try to pass as wise men?
(a) Hypocrites.
(b) Wisacres.
(c) Frauds.
(d) Foolish-wise.

5. Erasmus believes he is not writing sarcasm, but what instead?
(a) Criticism and dissent.
(b) Warning and advice.
(c) Innocent jokes.
(d) Allegorical interpretation.

6. Who segregated passions from the wise man?
(a) The Sophists.
(b) The Stoics.
(c) The Epicureans.
(d) Socrates.

7. Erasmus says there is merit in being attacked by whom?
(a) Erasmus.
(b) Folly.
(c) The king.
(d) Ignorance.

8. What does Folly say that the stoics degrade in public?
(a) Wisdom.
(b) Sophistry.
(c) Friendship.
(d) Pleasure.

9. Which nymph among Folly's aids claps her hands, with laughter in her eyes?
(a) Delight.
(b) Drunkenness.
(c) Mirth.
(d) Flattery.

10. What does Erasmus request the recipient of his book to be?
(a) A dedicated follower of Folly.
(b) An editor of his book.
(c) A stout champion to Folly.
(d) A persecutor of Folly.

11. What does Zeus have to put aside in order to make a child?
(a) His cloak and dagger.
(b) His thunderbolt and grimness.
(c) His previous wife.
(d) His divinity and anger.

12. What is the least deceptive mirror of the mind?
(a) Actions.
(b) Eyes.
(c) Looks.
(d) Speech.

13. Erasmus follows the well-known popular proverb that states that a man should do what?
(a) Defame himself.
(b) Speak with false humility.
(c) Praise others before himself.
(d) Praise himself, if no one else will.

14. What does Folly say that babies have that rewards those who look after them?
(a) Innocence.
(b) The wisdom of folly.
(c) The charm of folly.
(d) The beauty of Helen.

15. What first put the idea of The Praise of Folly into Erasmus's head?
(a) His friend's family name.
(b) A book he was reading.
(c) A humorous event on his trip.
(d) His dream.

Short Answer Questions

1. Erasmus complains that many people find jokes against popes and princes more offensive than what?

2. Which poet wrote, "For ignorance provides the happiest life"?

3. According to the Prefatory Letter, Erasmus wrote The Praise of Folly on what?

4. Erasmus remembers that someone wrote the last will and testament of the piglet Grunnius Corocotta, as mentioned by whom?

5. According to Folly, what is the seed and source of all deeds which win praise?

(see the answer keys)

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