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. The Underworld; in early mythology & everyone went to Tartarus after they died; in later mythology & only bad people went to Tartarus after they died






2. 'An unwelcome person' - used in diplomacy to indicate a person Who is barred from entering a certain country






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






4. 'in the year of the Lord &' designating the time period after Christ's birth






5. 'The state in which'






6. 'note well' i.e. take note






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






8. Twin brothers & raised by a wolf; Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome






9. Literally 'the greatest bridge' -- the chief priest of Roman religion (later & the emperor took on this role); now used to refer to the Pope & the head of the Catholic Church






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






11. River that runs through the city of Rome






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






13. 'Word for word'






14. Literally 'the greatest bridge' -- the chief priest of Roman religion (later & the emperor took on this role); now used to refer to the Pope & the head of the Catholic Church






15. One of the seven hills of Rome & south of the forum; the site of the imperial palace






16. 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






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






18. God of metallurgy (metal working); married to Aphrodite






19. 'in the year of the Lord &' designating the time period after Christ's birth






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






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






22. 'The end'






23. 'The one who says farewell' -- the student with the highest grade point average & Who is chosen to give a speech at the end of graduation






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






25. 'After death'






26. Lived in the Labyrinth; fed off of Athenian youths; killed by Theseus






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






28. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






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






30. Carthaginian general who attacked Italy by crossing the Italian Alps in the 2nd Punic War; He was eventually defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama






31. 'I came & I saw & I conquered &' famous words of Julius Caesar






32. 'my fault' ; tua culpa -'your fault'






33. A member of one of the original aristocratic families of Rome; 'aristocratic'






34. 1






35. The daughter of king Minos of Crete & who helped Theseus escape from the labyrinth after he killed the minotaur






36. A teacher Who is like a parent; comes from the Mentor & Odysseus' old friend & whom he left in charge of his son Telemachus when he went off to the Trojan War






37. Literally & the apple that Eris (goddess of strife) threw in front of Hera & Aphrodite & and Athena to cause a dispute over Who was the fairest; figuratively & anything which causes a dispute






38. Through & by way of (from via- road & way)






39. 'seize the day'






40. 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






41. 'Word for word'






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






43. 'great-souled & high-minded'






44. Winged horse which flew from the neck of Medusa the Gorgon after Perseus cut off her head






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






46. 'The one who says farewell' -- the student with the highest grade point average & Who is chosen to give a speech at the end of graduation






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






48. The three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the Underworld






49. Son of Zeus; had to complete 12 labors to regain favor with the gods after killing his family; when he died & he became a god






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






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



Let me suggest you:

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests



Major Subjects

Tests & Exams


AP
CLEP
DSST
GRE
SAT
GMAT

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests