OF STUDIES
MCQs
1. According to Bacon, studies serve for:
a) Delight, ornament, and profit
b) Delight, ornament, and ability
c) Wealth, fame, and knowledge
d) Wisdom, entertainment, and skill
Answer: b) Delight, ornament, and ability
2. Bacon suggests that some books are to be:
a) Memorized, quoted, and discarded
b) Read, shared, and written about
c) Tasted, swallowed, and chewed
d) Burned, ignored, and forgotten
Answer: c) Tasted, swallowed, and chewed
3. Bacon claims that reading makes a person:
a) Intelligent
b) Wise
c) Full
d) Successful
Answer: c) Full
4. What does Bacon say about people who study too much?
a) They become lazy.
b) They lack practical experience.
c) They are admired by society.
d) They become overconfident.
Answer: b) They lack practical experience.
5. According to Bacon, writing makes a person:
a) Exact
b) Knowledgeable
c) Confident
d) Articulate
Answer: a) Exact
6. What is Bacon’s advice regarding books that are to be “chewed and digested”?
a) Skim them quickly.
b) Read them carefully and repeatedly.
c) Ignore them as unnecessary.
d) Read only a summary.
Answer: b) Read them carefully and repeatedly.
7. How does Bacon describe studies that are “too much for ornament”?
a) They make a person lazy.
b) They are impractical.
c) They make a person appear pretentious.
d) They lead to great wisdom.
Answer: c) They make a person appear pretentious.
8. Bacon suggests that natural abilities are like:
a) Precious metals refined by fire.
b) Plants that need pruning.
c) Streams that overflow with knowledge.
d) Books that require editing.
Answer: b) Plants that need pruning.
9. What is the primary remedy Bacon offers for mental deficiencies?
a) Study particular types of books.
b) Engage in physical exercise.
c) Focus on practical experience.
d) Spend time in discussion and debate.
Answer: a) Study particular types of books.
10. What does Bacon mean when he says, “Crafty men condemn studies”?
a) They think studies are a waste of time.
b) They believe studies reveal their own ignorance.
c) They see no benefit in theoretical knowledge.
d) They value action over contemplation.
Answer: c) They see no benefit in theoretical knowledge.
11. Which era is Bacon associated with?
a) Medieval
b) Renaissance
c) Enlightenment
d) Romantic
Answer: b) Renaissance
12. Bacon’s approach to studies reflects his belief in:
a) The importance of leisure and art.
b) Practical application and empirical learning.
c) The superiority of natural talent.
d) The dominance of philosophy over science.
Answer: b) Practical application and empirical learning.
13. How does Bacon suggest balancing studies and practical experience?
a) Avoid studies and focus on real-world learning.
b) Combine the two to enhance judgment and action.
c) Devote equal time to both without overlap.
d) Prioritize studies, as they are more valuable.
Answer: b) Combine the two to enhance judgment and action.
One-word Questions
1. What are the three main purposes of studies mentioned by Bacon?
Answer: Delight, Ornament, Ability
2. What does Bacon suggest writing makes a person?
Answer: Exact
3. How does Bacon describe books that should be deeply analyzed?
Answer: Digested
4. Which group of people, according to Bacon, undervalue studies?
Answer: Crafty
5. What is the term Bacon uses to describe natural abilities that require refinement?
Answer: Plants
6. What does Bacon consider as the cure for sloth?
Answer: Studies
7. Which quality does Bacon associate with practical experience over study?
Answer: Wisdom
8. What does reading, according to Bacon, make a person?
Answer: Full
9. What does Bacon say is a good way to correct an overactive imagination?
Answer: Mathematics
10. What literary period does Bacon belong to?
Answer: Renaissance
11. What is Bacon’s remedy for mental deficiencies?
Answer: Studies
12. Which skill does Bacon say is developed through discussion?
Answer: Readiness
13. What does Bacon believe studies perfect?
Answer: Nature
14. What does Bacon consider the result of excessive use of studies for ornament?
Answer: Affectation
15. What type of books does Bacon suggest should only be “tasted”?
Answer: Lesser
16. What term does Bacon use for those who use studies wisely?
Answer: Wise
17. What should studies be balanced with, according to Bacon?
Answer: Experience
18. What does Bacon believe hinders action?
Answer: Sloth
19. What does Bacon say cures intellectual wandering?
Answer: Logic
20. What does Bacon compare knowledge gained from books to?
Answer: Light
True/false questions
1. Studies serve only for personal delight.
Answer: False
2. Bacon believes that reading makes a person full, conference makes a person ready, and
writing makes a person exact.
Answer: True
3. Bacon suggests that all books should be read thoroughly and deeply.
Answer: False
4. Bacon states that crafty men admire studies.
Answer: False
5. Studies can help in curing certain mental defects, according to Bacon.
Answer: True
6. Bacon emphasizes that practical experience is more important than studies.
Answer: False
7. Bacon compares natural abilities to plants that need pruning by studies.
Answer: True
8. According to Bacon, too much study can lead to laziness.
Answer: True
9. Bacon believes studies are useless without application.
Answer: True
10. Bacon claims that studies should always be pursued for personal gain.
Answer: False
11. Bacon says that reading histories helps to improve mathematical skills.
Answer: False
12. Studies, according to Bacon, are only for intellectuals.
Answer: False
13. Books meant for ornamentation should be deeply analyzed.
Answer: False
14. Bacon supports a balance between studies and practical experience.
Answer: True
15. Studies, as described by Bacon, can both perfect and improve natural abilities.
Answer: True
Short Answer Questions
1. Who is the first English essayist?
Francis Bacon is the first English essayist.
2. To which age does Bacon belong to?
Bacon belongs to the Renaissance Age.
3. What was the title given to Bacon?
The title given to Bacon was ‘Viscount St. Albans’.
4. What are the advantages of studying books?
By studying books the reader can get delight, use his/her study as an ornament, and increase
his/her ability.
5. How are studies perfected?
Studies are perfected through practical experience.
6. In how many classes is man divided in "Of Studies"
In "Of Studies" man is divided into three classes: crafty men, simple men and wise men.
7. Why should a man read books?
According to Bacon, a man should read books to “weigh and consider” i.e., to think about the
contents and judge them.
8. Who is the wise man according to Bacon?
According to Bacon, the man who uses studies properly is a wise man.
9. Whom does Bacon think lazy?
Bacon thinks the person lazy who spends too much time in studies.
10. What kind of style did Bacon introduce to English prose?
Bacon introduced aphoristic style to English prose.
11. What does Bacon suggest for a man whose mind wanders?
Bacon suggests that the man whose mind wanders should study Mathematics.
12. How many ways does study serve a man?
Study serves a man in three ways: by giving delight, by acting as an ornament and by
increasing his ability.
13. What do books serve for?
Books serve for delight, for ornament, and for abilities.
14. What do you mean by "Renaissance"?
Renaissance means the re-birth or revival of classical art, culture and literature.
15. What does the phrase 'natural abilities' mean?
The phrase ‘natural abilities’ means in born qualities.
16. What is an antithesis?
Antithesis is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence
to achieve a contrasting effect.
17. What is aphorism?
Aphorism is a short and wise saying which bears a truth.
18. What is the meaning of "Abeunt studia in mores"?
The meaning of the Latin phrase ‘Abeunt studia in mores’ is that ‘studies pass into the
character’.
19. What are the uses of shooting?
According to Bacon, shooting is good for the lungs and breast.
20. What is the message of “Of Studies”?
Bacon's essay expresses several comments in Of Studies that can be interpreted as the
following: Studying is helpful for better understanding and provides a knowledge that
develops experience, as well as a character that grows. Reading provides delight and fun,
ornament and showing off, and the ability for success.
