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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. 'Always faithful' - motto of the US Marines






2. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






3. 'for the time being' - temporary






4. Sorceress & wife of Jason; killed their children to get revenge on Jason for leaving her






5. Was chosen by Zeus to settle the argument of Who was the fairest of the goddesses; he chose Aphrodite because she promised him the most beautiful woman in the world if he chose her






6. 'per head' 'per person'






7. 'one out of many' - found on most US minted coins and the back of the dollar bill






8. 'Thus passes the glory of the world.' i.e. 'Worldly things are fleeting.'






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. 'one out of many' - found on most US minted coins and the back of the dollar bill






11. 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.






12. 'After death'






13. '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






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






15. Usually referring to Julius Caesar & the Roman dictator Who was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15th) 44 BCE






16. Literally refers to the heel of Achilles (a character from the Iliad who killed Hector)


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






18. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






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






21. 'beware of the dog'






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






23. God of war






24. King of Troy during the Trojan War; father of Hector and Paris; begged Achilles to give his son Hector's body back to be properly buried (Achilles had been dragging it around the city)






25. Usually referring to Julius Caesar & the Roman dictator Who was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15th) 44 BCE






26. '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






27. 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






28. Sorceress & wife of Jason; killed their children to get revenge on Jason for leaving her






29. Goddess of grain & the harvest & and the seasons; mother of Persephone/Proserpina






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






31. 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






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






33. 'The end'






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






35. 'firm ground/solid earth'






36. 10






37. 'Word for word'






38. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






40. The god of the sky; created the Titans with Gaia & Mother Earth






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






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






43. 'And the rest' usually seen at the end of a list of things & instead of listing everything






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






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






46. 'To err is human' - in other words & it's normal to mess up






47. 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






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






49. 'The state in which'






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