AP Latin : AP Latin Language
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Content Of Poetry
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"Lepidum" in line 1 translates as __________.
long
charming
little
stony
charming
The word "lepidum" comes from "lepidus, lepidi," the word for charming.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #1 : Sight Reading
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"Solebas" (line 3) translates as which of the following?
You read
You liked
You were accustomed to
You shone
You were accustomed to
The word "solebas" comes from "soleo, solere"—to be accustomed to. You were accustomed to is therefore the best translation for this word.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #1 : Sight Reading
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arida modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi: namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas.
Iam tum, cum ausus es unus Italorum 5
omne aevum tribus explicare cartis . . .
Doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
Quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli—
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo! 10
"Quare" (line 8) translates as which of the following?
How
When
Why
Indeed
Why
The word "quare" translates as why.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)
Example Question #6 : Content Of Poetry
Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.
"Quot" (line 3) translates as which of the following?
How many?
In what way?
What?
How?
How many?
The word "quot" translates as how many.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)
Example Question #1 : Poetry
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
What does the word "passer" (line 1) mean?
Sparrow
Sweet
Past
Boyfriend
Sparrow
The word "passer" comes from the word "passer," "passeris" and is the word for a sparrow.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #1 : Sight Reading
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
The word "lubet" (line 6) translates as ___________.
she grasps
it chirps
it pleases
she smiles
it pleases
The word "lubet" comes from "lubet," "lubere," "lubuit," which means to be pleasing. It is typically used in an impersonal fashion, which is why only the 3rd person forms are given.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #1 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
"Doloris" (line 7) comes from the word meaning __________.
boredom
grief
happiness
anger
grief
The word "doloris" comes from "dolor," "doloris," which means grief.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #3 : Sight Reading
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti 5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas! 10
"Sicut" (line 9) translates as __________.
just as
with
without
and
just as
The word "sicut" translates as just as.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #11 : Sight Reading
Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi 5
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est, 10
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
The word "sepulcrum" (line 6) means ____________.
holy
stars
flame
grave
grave
The word "sepulcrum" comes from "sepulcrum," "sepulcri" and is the word for a grave.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
Example Question #12 : Sight Reading
Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi 5
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est, 10
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
The word "harenae" (line 3) means ___________.
mountains
arena
sands
shores
sands
The word "harenae" comes from "harena," "harenae" and literally means sands. Given the right context, it could mean arena, but there is no indication that the author is speaking of any sort of arena.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)
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