Test your basic knowledge |

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. 'Always faithful' - motto of the US Marines






2. The 9 goddesses who looked after the arts and inspired men in those arts






3. 'doctor/teacher of philosophy' - an advanced academic degree






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






5. 'Word for word'






6. God of the sea






7. River that runs through the city of Rome






8. Temple devoted to Athena; located on the Acropolis of Athens






9. 50






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






11. Greek island in the Ionian Sea; the home of Odysseus






12. A king Who was tortured in the Underworld by having water and grapes within his reach & but the water and grapes pulled away whenever he went to take drink or a bite






13. Titan best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans; He was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by a bird everyday






14. Maze under the palace of Palace of Minos at Crete & where the Minotaur (half man & half bull) was thought to have been imprisoned






15. 100






16. 'for the time being' - temporary






17. Icarus was the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun with the wings his father made him from wax and feathers & and fell to his death






18. 'boyish &' 'childlike' (from puer- boy)






19. 'per head' 'per person'






20. Roman officials who were charged with protecting the people (the plebeians) from oppression; they were sacrosanct & meaning no one could harm them






21. 'I'






22. 'Higher!' -- the state motto of New York






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






24. Greek island in the Ionian Sea; the home of Odysseus






25. A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant & used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on






26. Home of the Greek gods






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






28. Out of her curiosity & she opened a box containing all the bad things in the world; she put the lid on just in time & so that hope did not escape from the box & too






29. 'This for that &' a fair trade






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






31. 'for the time being' - temporary






32. The arena for gladiatorial games in Rome (also known as the Flavian Amphitheater)






33. The arena for gladiatorial games in Rome (also known as the Flavian Amphitheater)






34. A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage & a Phoenician city in Northern Africa & for control of the Mediterranean (264-146 BC)






35. The king of the gods; god of thunder and lightning






36. The garment which signified a Roman man's citizenship






37. After midday/noon






38. 'great work'






39. 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






40. Doctor of medicine






41. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






42. The norms or values of a society






43. Goddess of the hearth






44. 'Work conquers all'






45. Festival of Saturn held on December 17th & during which social roles were temporarily reversed (slaves enjoyed relaxed discipline & etc)






46. 'horn of plenty' a symbol of food and abundance






47. 'firm ground/solid earth'






48. Writing after the body of a letter






49. 'A slip of the tongue'






50. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome