Question 7 Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)
(04.01 MC)
Read the excerpt from Plato's Apology. Then answer the question that follows.
How you have felt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that their persuasive words almost made me forget who I was-such was
the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth. But many as their falsehoods were, there was one of them which quite amazed me;-I mean when they told
you to be upon your guard, and not to let yourselves be deceived by the force of my eloquence. They ought to have been ashamed of saying this, because they were sure to be
detected as soon as I opened my lips and displayed my deficiency; they certainly did appear to be most shameless in saying this, unless by the force of eloquence they mean the
force of truth; for then I do indeed admit that I am eloquent. But in how different a way from theirs! Well, as I was saying, they have hardly uttered a word, or not more than a word,
of truth; but you shall hear from me the whole truth: not, however, delivered after their manner, in a set oration duly ornamented with words and phrases. No indeed! but I shall use
the words and arguments which occur to me at the moment; for I am certain that this is right, and that at my time of life I ought not to be appearing before you, O men of Athens,
in the character of a juvenile orator-let no one expect this of me. And I must beg of you to grant me one favor, which is this-If you hear me using the same words in my defence
which I have been in the habit of using, and which most of you may have heard in the agora, and at the tables of the money-changers, or anywhere else, I would ask you not to be
surprised at this, and not to interrupt me. For I am more than seventy years of age, and this is the first time that I have ever appeared in a court of law, and I am quite a stranger to
the ways of the place; and therefore I would have you regard me as if I were really a stranger, whom you would excuse if he spoke in his native tongue, and after the fashion of his
country-that I think is not an unfair request. Never mind the manner, which may or may not be good; but think only of the justice of my cause, and give heed to that: let the
judge decide justly and the speaker speak truly.
Which statement best reflects Plato's purpose for writing?
To inform the reader how a jury and trial operate in ancient Greece
To entertain the reader by telling them a story about a trial that is about to begin
To persuade the members of the jury to listen to him carefully so he can have a fair trial
To evaluate the procedure the trial will follow based on a set of strict criteria he provides