Greek Myth Practice Test Answers

1. Who is Demeter? A) A goddess B) Persephone’s mother C) Both a and b D) None of the above

True or False Apollo gives permission for Persephone to go to the underworld.

True or False 3. Persephone is overjoyed to be the queen of Hades.

True or False 4. Demophoon is a newborn baby.

True or False 5. Demophoon is never made immortal.

True or False 6. Demophoon is Demeter’s grandson.

Sequencing Write a 1,2,3, next to the event. 7. Persephone eats the pomegranate seeds. 8. Demeter leaves Mount Olympus. 9. Hermes brings Persephone out of the underworld. 7. 2 8. 1 9. 3

10. The seasons are created … A) because of Orpheus’ love B) because of Persephone’s betrayal to Hades C) Demophoon does not become immortal. D) None of the above.

11. All of the following are reasons for myths except… A) To give ancient practices story form B) To explain the creation C) To explain natural history D) To record actual history E) To express ones deepest hopes and fears.

12. All of the following are genres of literature except… A) Biography B) Autobiography C) Biology D) Fiction E) None

13. In the opening of King Midas he is described as… A) insulted B) evil C) lazy D) greedy E) none

14. Who is resting in Midas’s garden? A) Eurydice B) Demophoon C) Centaur D) Prometheus E) none

15. Silenus is a A) Goat B) Man C) ½ Donkey ½ Man D) Centaur E) None of the above

16. What does Dionysus offer Midas? A) Golden Ram B) a gift C) Golden Fleece D) Satyr E) None

17. Why does Midas want everything he touches to turn to gold? A) He is trying to learn the secrets of the universe. B) He wants to become the most powerful king in the world. C) He would like to give his wife and daughter everything they want. D) He hopes to become immortal, like a god.

18. To save his daughter, Midas must … A) wash himself in the river Pactolus. B) return to his palace. C) ask his daughter to forgive him. D) agree never to ask a god for anything again.

19. At the end of the myth, Midas feels … A) happy B) resentful but relieved. C) hungry D) tired E) none of the above

20. Which of the following words best describes Dionysus in this myth? A) Jealous B) Ambitious C) Self-centered D) Forgiving

21. In the beginning of the myth, what inspires Orpheus to sing so beautifully? A) His love of nature. B) His passion for Eurydice. C) His desire to be admired. D) His sense of loneliness.

22. Eurydice dies because she … A) is chosen to be Hades’ bride. B) does not want to marry Orpheus. C) is bitten by a snake on her wedding day. D) falls into the river Styx. E) none of the above

23. When Hades hears Orpheus’ music, he … A) weeps at its beauty. B) asks Orpheus to describe his troubles. C) is angry that Orpheus has entered the Underworld. D) fears Orpheus’ power.

24. Orpheus loses Eurydice a second time when he … A) looks back to see if she is following him. B) takes a wrong path out of the Underworld. C) angers the creatures in the Underworld. D) climbs too slowly to the upper world. E) none of the above

25. What happens when Orpheus tries to return to the Underworld? A) He is unable to persuade the ferryman to take him there. B) Hades refuses to talk to him. C) He is frightened away by the monsters. D) He is unable to see in the grayness and the smoke. E) None of the above

26. The monster that guards the gates of the Underworld is … A) Cerberus. B) Charon. C) Tantalus. D) Sisyphus.

27. Which of the following events occurs first in the myth? A) Daedalus designs wings for himself and Icarus. B) Thesus escapes from King Minos’ labyrinth. C) Daedalus and Icarus watch how birds fly. D) Daedalus names the land Icaria.

28. Daedalus warns his son that if he flies too low, … A) he will crash into the ground. B) the spray from the sea will clog his wings. C) their enemies will see him. D) he will be attacked by gulls. E) none of the above

29. Icarus flies higher and higher because he … A) is angry with his father. B) cannot see where he is going. C) enjoys the sense of freedom. D) is frightened by the wild sea. E) all of the above

30. What warning sign indicates that Icarus is in danger? A) Small feathers fall of his wings. B) His father flies toward earth. C) A cool wind blows on his face. D) He begins to feel faint. E) All of the above

31. Icarus’ wings finally fall apart because … A) he flutters them too much. B) the heat of the sun melts the wax. C) the gods and goddesses want to punish him. D) they are too small for him. E) none of the above

32. At the end of the myth, Daedalus views flying with … A) appreciation. B) curiosity. C) wonder. D) bitterness. E) all of the above

33. Which of the following generalizations can be made about Icarus’ personality? A) He is fearful and careful. B) He is innocent and foolish. C) He is respectful and patient. D) He is intelligent and experienced. E) All of the above

34. Which words best describe Daedalus’ attitude toward Icarus? A) Loving and concerned. B) Critical and controlling. C) Unfeeling and neglectful. D) boastful and encouraging. E) none of the above

35. Hades kidnaps Persephone because he … A) is an enemy of her mother. B) wants to marry her. C) longs to be immortal. D) seeks revenge against Zeus E) none of the above.

36. Which response best explains why Demeter neglects her duties as goddess of the harvest? A) She is grief-stricken over her the loss of her daughter. B) She wants to teach Hades a lesson. C) She needs Persephone’s help to make crops grow. D) She doesn’t think the other gods and goddesses respect her. E) all of the above

37. Demeter places Demophoon in the fire in order to … A) make him immortal. B) keep him warm. C) hide him from Hades. D) frighten his mother. E) none of the above

38. As a result of Metaneira’s interference, Demeter … A) kills Demophoon. B) becomes a waitress C) reveals her identity as a goddess. D) wants Zeus to punish Metaneira. E) none of the above

39. As a result of eating the pomegranate seeds, Persephone … A) forgets her previous life on Earth. B) must return to the Underworld for seven months of each year. C) is transformed into a beautiful tree. D) will never age and die. E) none of the above

40. In the myths, who is the most powerful of the immortals? A) Zeus B) Hades C) Iris D) the Fates

41. The story of Demeter and Persephone is an origin myth because it … A) was first told long ago in ancient Greece. B) explains the reason for the changing seasons. C) examines the problems that can be caused by love. D) describes a power struggle between gods and goddesses. E) all of the above

42. Persephone is characterized as being … A) beautiful and innocent. B) strong and stubborn. C) thoughtful and cautious. D) calm and patient. E) cold hearted

43. When the author refers to Hades’ “heart of stone,” she is using figurative language to convey that the god is … A) huge. B) immortal. C) brave. D) unfeeling. E) all of the above

44. When the author states in the last line of the story, “Everywhere the heavens … weep sudden showers of gladness upon the springing earth,” she is using A) rhyme scheme B) figurative language C) Pig Latin D) none of the above

45. Who is the first Titan leader? A) Rhea B) Prometheus C) Epimetheus D) Cronus E) None of the above

46. Which immortal grows up in a cave in Crete? A) Demeter B) Zeus C) Poseidon D) Hades E) None of the above

47. What does Zeus change himself into? A) Dog B) Wine C) Servant D) Mother Earth E) None of the above

48. Who gives the gods weapons? A) Titans B) Monsters C) Cyclops D) Pandora E) None of the above

49. Who was with Pandora when the box was opened? A) Epimetheus B) Zeus C) Demeter D) Demophoon E) None

50. Which of the following was released from Pandora’s Box? A) Sunshine B) The seasons C) Hope D) Fortune Telling E) None of the above

51. In the Creation, Mother Earth and Father Sky have A) Six Cyclops B) Twelve Titans C) 6 Giants D) All of the above

52. What does Pandora’s Box teach about curiosity A) It can be bad B) It killed the cat C) It is always good D) None of the above

54. What does Echo do that annoys Hera? A) Stutters B) Talks with her hands C) Talks too much D) Sleeps late E) None of the Above

53. What is Echo’s punishment? A) She has to clean Hera’s room. B) She is grounded from the school dance. C) She is banished D) None of the above

54. Which of the following is a titan? A) Atlas B) Cronus C) Epimetheus D) Prometheus E) All of the above

55. Who won the war? A) Giants B) Cyclops C) Immortals D) All of the above E) None of the above