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Classical Literacy

Subject : literacy
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage & a Phoenician city in Northern Africa & for control of the Mediterranean (264-146 BC)






2. 'Thus always & to tyrants.' Allegedly said by Brutus during the assassination of Caesar. John Wilkes Booth also shouted it after shooting President Lincoln. It is now the motto of Virginia.






3. 'That is' used for further explanation: 'in other words...'






4. 'unknown land'






5. Female monsters who had snakes for hair and whose horrifying gaze could turn a man to stone if he looked at them (Medusa was one of the Gorgons)






6. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






7. 'To the point of sickness' - doing/saying something over and over until everyone is sick and tired of it






8. 'I refuse &' used by the president of the US to stop any bill he sees unfit from passing






9. 50






10. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






11. 'under penalty' a written order for a person to come testify in court






12. Challenged Athena to a weaving contest and was turned into a spider for her excessive pride






13. Goddess of the hunt






14. 'This for that &' a fair trade






15. A long poem that narrates the deeds of a hero or the history of a nation & e.g. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey






16. 'in the whole &' 'as a whole &' 'totally'; ex: The suggestions were adopted in toto.






17. Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the responsibilities of a parent






18. 'by mouth' - used on prescription medicines that have to be taken orally






19. Refers to an action or condition necessary for something to happen






20. The plebs were the free but non-aristocratic citizens of Rome; today & plebeian means 'of a low class'






21. Site of the Apollo's oracle at Delphi; home of the Muses






22. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






23. Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the responsibilities of a parent






24. King punished in Tartarus by having to roll a stone up a hill continuously for eternity; when he reached the top & the stone rolled to the bottom again






25. Large island off the southeast coast of Italy; home of Mt. Etna & a huge volcano; where the Cyclopes lived in the Odyssey






26. First emperor of the Roman Empire; adopted son of Julius Caesar; member of the 2nd Triumvirate; also known as Octavian






27. Half-man & half-goat creatures; companions of Pan and Dionysus






28. The highest political office in the Roman Republic; 2 were elected every year






29. God of wine and revelry; son of Zeus and Semele






30. 'A rare bird' - something unique/rare






31. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






32. The three goddesses who determine a person's life: when he will be born & how long he will live & and when he will die; one sister spins the thread of life & the second measures out a certain length & and the third cuts it at the end of the person's






33. 'great work'






34. Eurydice died on their wedding day. Orpheus went down to the Underworld to bring her back. Hades agreed & on the condition that Eurydice would follow behind Orpheus on their way up to the mortal world and he couldn't check to make sure She was behind






35. A mural painted directly onto wet plaster (fresco means 'fresh' in Italian)






36. Gladiator who led an uprising of slaves against the Romans in the 1st c. BC






37. The norms or values of a society






38. Titan who had to hold up the heavens on his shoulders as punishment for rebelling against Zeus






39. 'from the office &' 'by right of office' - used to refer to someone Who is a member of a group (a board & committee & council & etc.) because they hold another office/position






40. 10






41. The golden wool of a ram sought by Jason and the Argonauts






42. Characterized by sitting & inactive (from sedet- to sit)






43. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






44. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






45. 'seize the day'






46. Sweet-sounding (literally 'flowing like honey')






47. City-state in ancient Greece known for its powerful army; fought against Athens in the Peloponnesian Wars






48. 'under penalty' a written order for a person to come testify in court






49. 'I'






50. Kingdom in Asia Minor which fought against Greece in Homer's Iliad