Who beat Caesar in a swimming contest (supposedly)?

• A. Cassius
• B. Brutus
• C. Casca
• D. Portia

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how a character’s actions and rumors reveal their nature and motives. The tale that Cassius beat Caesar in a swimming contest, even if only a rumor, is used to illustrate Cassius’s boldness, physical confidence, and willingness to challenge Caesar. This fits Cassius’s later role as the driving force behind the conspiracy: he’s a clever, audacious manipulator who uses dramatic anecdotes to persuade others and plant seeds of doubt about Caesar’s power. In contrast, the other figures are not associated with this boast—Brutus is the principled moralist who weighs his choices, Casca is the more impulsive observer, and Portia is Brutus’s wife, not connected to this tale. Since the swimming contest anecdote aligns with Cassius’s character and the way he tries to sway others, he is the best answer.