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. 'To infinity &' to continue forever & without limit






2. 'This for that &' a fair trade






3. 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






4. 'per year'






5. Prince of Troy Who was killed by Achilles in the Iliad; Achilles tied Hector's dead body to the back of his chariot and dragged it around the city walls three times






6. Writing after the body of a letter






7. 'seize the day'






8. Speaker's platform in the forum & which was decorated with the prows of ships the Romans captured in war (rostrum means 'beak & prow of a ship')






9. '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






10. The city in Northern Africa that the Romans fought and destroyed during the Punic Wars (264-146 BC.)






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






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






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






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. 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






16. The messenger god; god of thieves and travelers; son of Zeus; invented the lyre; escorted people to the Underworld when they died






17. 10






18. 1






19. 'note well' i.e. take note






20. 'from the library of' used as an inscription on a bookplate to show the name of the book's owner: ex libris Mark Twain.






21. 'With highest honors' graduating from college in the highest grade scale






22. A town on the western coast of Italy destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuius in AD 79






23. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






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






25. 'A slip of the tongue'






26. 'great-souled & high-minded'






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






28. Daughter of Demeter; kidnapped by Hades to make her his queen






29. 'Always prepared'






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






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






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






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






34. 'The end'






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






36. 'The other way around'






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






38. '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






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






40. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






41. A state of disorganized matter from which the gods and the world were created






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






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






44. A serpent-like monster with many heads and poisonous breath; when one head got cut off & it grew two more; killed by Hercules as his second labor






45. A modern day race of 26.2 miles; from Marathon in Greece & the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) with the news.






46. Speaker's platform in the forum & which was decorated with the prows of ships the Romans captured in war (rostrum means 'beak & prow of a ship')






47. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






48. 'firm ground/solid earth'






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






50. A picture made from small bits of glass or pottery