AP Latin : AP Latin Language

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages

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 __________.

Possible Answers:

little

charming

stony

long

Correct answer:

charming

Explanation:

The word "lepidum" comes from "lepidus, lepidi," the word for charming.

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)

Example Question #2 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages

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?

Possible Answers:

You read

You were accustomed to

You liked

You shone

Correct answer:

You were accustomed to

Explanation:

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 #2 : 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?

Possible Answers:

Why

How

When

Indeed

Correct answer:

Why

Explanation:

The word "quare" translates as why.

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 1," ln.1-10)

Example Question #3 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages

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?

Possible Answers:

What?

How?

How many?

In what way?

Correct answer:

How many?

Explanation:

The word "quot" translates as how many.

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)

Example Question #152 : Ap Latin Language

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?

Possible Answers:

Sparrow

Past

Sweet

Boyfriend

Correct answer:

Sparrow

Explanation:

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 : 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

The word "lubet" (line 6) translates as ___________.

Possible Answers:

she grasps

it pleases

she smiles

it chirps

Correct answer:

it pleases

Explanation:

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 #5 : 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 __________.

Possible Answers:

boredom

grief

anger

happiness

Correct answer:

grief

Explanation:

The word "doloris" comes from "dolor," "doloris," which means grief.

(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)

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

"Sicut" (line 9) translates as __________.

Possible Answers:

and

with

without

just as

Correct answer:

just as

Explanation:

The word "sicut" translates as just as.

(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)

Example Question #151 : Ap Latin Language

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 ____________.

Possible Answers:

flame

grave

holy

stars

Correct answer:

grave

Explanation:

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 #152 : Ap Latin Language

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 ___________.

Possible Answers:

sands

mountains

arena

shores

Correct answer:

sands

Explanation:

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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