The Art of War

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What is one advantage of deception in battle?

A) A general of a smaller force may be able to negotiate better terms.

B) It prevents enemy troops from discovering the supplies of the camp.

C) A mostly hidden force may be attacked by a smaller enemy force.

D) It allows for unexpected maneuvering and misleading information.

2. What role does psychology play in Sun Tzu’s strategy?

A) Play into your enemy’s personality weaknesses.

B) Ferret out and exploit opposing viewpoints.

C) Crush opposition to maintain subservience.

D) Know your opponent and yourself well.

3. How should an invading force sustain itself in battle?

A) Collect soldiers from opposing forces.

B) Spread propaganda to create fear.

C) Use the resources from the enemy country.

D) Steal money from opposing governments.

4. Which is the least advantageous choice when it comes to battle?

A) Direct combat

B) Thwarting enemy plans

C) Careful planning

D) Lengthy treks

5. What should be the top priority in conducting warfare?

A) Knowledge

B) Planning

C) Skill

D) Leadership

6. Which is the most important kind of spy, according to Sun Tzu?

A) Local

B) Inward

C) Converted

D) Doomed

7. What does Sun Tzu consider to be the best terrain for his own army if he is at camp?

A) High, flat areas

B) Near water

C) Low, flat areas

D) At crossroads

8. How does Sun Tzu believe war should be fought?

A) Primarily with planning and combat

B) Using negotiations and trade

C) With strategy and little combat

D) By surrounding smaller forces

9. Which of the following statements best represents Sun Tzu’s perspective on leadership and adaptability?

A) Good leadership follows commands without question.

B) A good leader is flexible and knows when to abandon plans.

C) A good leader can surprise the enemy.

D) Poor leadership is shown by those who abandon their commander’s orders.

10. When is a victory for a general guaranteed, according to Sun Tzu?

A) When the general knows himself

B) When the general knows his enemy

C) When the general is not able to win a battle every time

D)  When the general knows both himself and his enemy

11. How does Sun Tzu make the case for careful planning in warfare?

A) Direct combat should be planned only if there are no other options.

B) Warfare creates problems in supply and demand.

C) War is costly in lives, resources, and security.

D) Mediocre leaders can be compensated for by planning.

12. Which statement best summarizes Sun Tzu’s advice for overseeing lieutenants?

A) Strengthen existing positive qualities.

B) Train lieutenants to teach military forces vision.

C) Ensure they are loyal to the cause.

D) Exploit weaknesses to inspire submission.

13. What should military forces attack in their enemies?

A) Leadership

B) Weaknesses

C) Weaponry

D) Ideologies

14. Which of the following scenarios best describes an indirect form of attack?

A) The commander hides the size of his forces from the enemy’s eyes.

B) The army pours its strength against the enemy.

C) Leaders from both sides negotiate terms to avoid battle.

D) The general creates an illusion of disorder to lure the enemy into battle.

15. Which of the following is not a determining factor for a war’s outcome?

A) Converted spies

B) Weather and terrain

C) Quality of the leader

D) State of the army

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What are the qualities of a good general?

2. How do weather and terrain play an important role in warfare?