WorksheetsThe Greeks Reading Assessment
Total questions: 13
Worksheet time: 7mins
Prometheus approached Zeus because:
he wanted to steal fire for humans.
he sought permission to create mankind.
he wished to overthrow Zeus.
he wanted to marry a goddess.
How does Zeus justify keeping man in ignorance and darkness?
By claiming it is for their own protection
By stating it is a punishment for past sins
By arguing it maintains order
By saying it is the will of the gods
Why Prometheus uses personification when describing fire?
To make it easier for man to understand fire by comparing fire's qualities to a person's.
To explain that fire is literally a person who is unpredictable and needs to be managed well.
To show how fire represents the strong feelings man will experience after he loses his ignorance.
To show that he wants man to understand fire's relationship to the sun.
Zeus warns Prometheus about giving fire to humans because:
he wants to protect humans from its dangers
he fears humans will become too powerful
he believes fire is sacred and should not be shared
he is concerned about the environmental impact
What does Prometheus’s belief that man should have fire? Choose TWO answers.
a. “He crouches in caves. He is at the mercy of beast and weather. He eats his meat raw.” (4)
b. “If you mean something by this, enlighten me with your wisdom.” (4)
c. “On the other hand, he does not know disease, warfare, old age, or that inward pest called worry.” (5)
d. “He has another quality…the capacity for worship.” (7)
e. “Would not fire, and the graces he can put on with fire, make him more interesting?” (8)
How would Zeus describe man’s life without knowledge of fire?
Man is happier without knowledge of fire.
Man is limited without knowledge of fire.
Man is like a wild animal without knowledge of fire.
Man has more pride without knowledge of fire.
Which choice BEST describes the theme of the myth?
It shows Prometheus’s belief that man deserves knowledge of fire.
It shows Zeus’s belief that knowledge comes with a price.
It indicates that knowing about fire does not have many benefits.
It indicates that no one can change their fate—even the gods.
What is the danger Zeus sees in man becoming too proud?
For there is this in man too: a vaunting pride that needs little sustenance to make it swell to giant size.
Enough, Prometheus!
Improve his lot, and he will forget that which makes him pleasing—his sense of worship, his humility.
More interesting, perhaps, but infinitely more dangerous.
He will grow big and poisoned with pride and fancy himself a god, and before we know it, we shall see him storming Olympus.
Which statement BEST explains why Prometheus uses personification when describing fire?
When Prometheus uses personification, he makes it easier for man to understand fire by comparing fire’s qualities to a person’s.
When Prometheus uses personification, he explains that fire is literally a person who is unpredictable and needs to be managed well.
When Prometheus uses personification, he shows how fire represents the strong feelings man will experience after he loses his ignorance.
When Prometheus uses personification, he shows that he wants man to understand fire’s relationship to the sun.
How is the plot developed in the Prometheus story?
It describes how Prometheus challenged Zeus’s authority.
It tells how Zeus will punish Prometheus.
It reveals that knowledge of fire does come with a price.
It shows how people changed after Prometheus gave them knowledge of fire.
Imagine that this myth will be given a new title. Which choice BEST describes a theme of the story?
Zeus and Prometheus Disagree About Man
Without Fire, Man Would Be a Beast-like Creature
Fire Should Belong to the Gods Alone
The Gift of Knowledge Comes With a Price
In paragraph 15, Zeus considers destroying the humans with fire, but decides instead to “Let them destroy themselves with their new skills.” Based on the events leading up to this statement, the reader can infer that Zeus thinks that
humans will not be able to control fire and they will burn.
humans will forget to worship the gods, who will take vengeance.
humans will use their new tools to go to war.
humans will fight over who can control the fire.
How does Zeus describe man's life without knowledge of fire?
"Man does not have fire, nor the crafts which fire teaches".
"This is the way the fates weave destiny--by which gods also must abide."
"On the other hand, he does not know disease, warfare, old age, or that inward pest called worry."
"An aptitude for admiring our power, being puzzled by our riddles and amazed by our caprice. That is why he was made."
