Question

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Answer 1

[6] (1) When I saw that all these ordinary objects of desire would be obstacles in the way of a search for something different and new- nay, that they were so opposed thereto, that either they or it would have to be abandoned, I was forced to inquire which would prove the most useful to me: for, as I say, I seemed to be willingly losing hold on a sure good for the sake of something uncertain. (6:2) However, after I had reflected on the matter, I came in the first place to the conclusion that by abandoning the ordinary objects of pursuit, and betaking myself to a new quest, I should be leaving a good, uncertain by reason of its own nature, as may be gathered from what has been said, for the sake of a good not uncertain in its nature (for I sought for a fixed good), but only in the possibility of its attainment.

[7] (1) Further reflection convinced me that if I could really get to the root of the matter I should be leaving certain evils for a certain good. (2) I thus perceived that I was in a state of great peril, and I compelled myself to seek with all my strength for a remedy, however uncertain it might be; as a sick man struggling with a deadly disease, when he sees that death will surely be upon him unless a remedy be found, is compelled to seek a remedy with all his strength, inasmuch as his whole hope lies therein. (7:3) All the objects pursued by the multitude not only bring no remedy that tends to preserve our being, but even act as hindrances, causing the death not seldom of those who possess them, [b] and always of those who are possessed by them.

Benedict de Spinoza, On the Improvement of the Understanding, translated by R. H. M. Elwes


1. The last sentence in the passage is:
A. a summary of a main idea in the passage.
B. an example that illustrates a hypothesis.
C. a transition into a new subject.
D. a description of a state of mind.
E. the closing event in a narrative.


2. The author uses the indefinite pronoun something in the first sentence because:
A. he wants to "hook" the reader with the ambiguity.
B. he's imprecise in his thinking.
C. his style is academic and purposefully obscure.
D. he doesn't know yet what the "something" is.
E. he wants to argue that the "something" he speaks of can't be defined.


3. The main oppositions in the passage are between:
A. faith vs. doubt, and good vs. evil.
B. the beneficial vs. the harmful, and faith vs. doubt.
C. love vs. hate, and the certain vs. the uncertain.
D. reflection vs. certainty, and religion vs. secularism.
E. the certain vs. the uncertain, and the beneficial vs. the harmful.


4. This passage is probably taken from:
A. the body of a philosophical argument.
B. the introduction to a philosophical argument.
C. the conclusion of a philosophical argument.
D. a syllogism in a philosophical argument.
E. a digression in a philosophical argument.


5. Sentence 7:2 stands apart from the other sentences because it uses:
I. alliteration.
II. simile.
III. vivid imagery.
IV. appeal to the emotion of fear.
V. syllogism.

A. I, II, III, IV, and V
B. I, II, and IV
C. I, IV, and V
D. I, II, III, and IV
E. I, II, and III


6. The passage as a whole contains all of the following except:
A. evidence to prove a hypothesis.
B. an objective tone.
C. a logical progression of ideas.
D. the first person.
E. an argument about an abstract topic.


7. The main topic of this passage is:
A. the author's religious disillusionment.
B. the author's quest to find the most beneficial way to live.
C. an argument about the nature of truth.
D. an argument about the nature of good.
E. a didactic treatise about wisdom.

Answer 2

I got A,E,E,B,D,A,B