AP Latin : AP Latin Language

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #73 : Sight Reading

Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit                     5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!

"Torvo" in line 3 means ____________.

Possible Answers:

back

whole

fierce

small

Correct answer:

fierce

Explanation:

The word "torvo" comes from the adjective "torvus, a, um," which means savage/wild/fierce.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)

Example Question #74 : Sight Reading

Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit                     5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!

The word "litora" in line 4 means:

Possible Answers:

lands

shores

tower

little

Correct answer:

shores

Explanation:

The word "litora" comes from "litus, litoris," which means a shore.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)

Example Question #75 : Sight Reading

Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit                     5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!

The word "rates" in line 6 means __________.

Possible Answers:

forts

ships

oars

judgements

Correct answer:

ships

Explanation:

The word "rates" comes from "ratis, ratis," which means a ship, raft, or boat.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)

Example Question #76 : Sight Reading

Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic              5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille:            10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?

The word "moenia" in line 3 means __________.

Possible Answers:

walls

money

wars

warnings

Correct answer:

walls

Explanation:

The word "moenia" comes from "moene, moenis," which means the walls of a city. It is most commonly seen in this form - nominative or accusative plural.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)

Example Question #77 : Sight Reading

Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic              5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille:            10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?

The word "prolem" in line 7 means __________.

Possible Answers:

offspring

army

spring

task

Correct answer:

offspring

Explanation:

The word "prolem" comes from "proles, prolis," which means offspring/descendant.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)

Example Question #78 : Sight Reading

Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic              5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille:            10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?

What is the meaning of "saxum" in line 6?

Possible Answers:

Rock

Defenses

Shore

Instrument

Correct answer:

Rock

Explanation:

The word "saxum" comes from "saxum, saxi," which is the word for a rock or stone.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)

Example Question #79 : Sight Reading

Atque ego, si virtus in me dubitabilis esset,
nobilitate potens essem, Telamone creatus,
moenia qui forti Troiana sub Hercule cepit
litoraque intravit Pagasaea Colcha carina;
Aeacus huic pater est, qui iura silentibus illic              5
reddit, ubi Aeoliden saxum grave Sisyphon urget;
Aeacon agnoscit summus prolemque fatetur
Iuppiter esse suam: sic a Iove tertius Aiax.
nec tamen haec series in causam prosit, Achivi,
si mihi cum magno non est communis Achille:            10
frater erat, fraterna peto! quid sanguine cretus
Sisyphio furtisque et fraude simillimus illi
inseris Aeacidis alienae nomina gentis?

The word "suam" (line 8) translates ____________.

Possible Answers:

their

it

his own

him

Correct answer:

his own

Explanation:

The word "suam" comes from "suus, a, um" and is a reflexive adjective. Reflexive adjectives always refer back to the subject of the sentence, which in this case is "Iuppiter." Since it is being used to describe "prolem," the best translation is his own.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)

Example Question #80 : Sight Reading

At non Hectoreis dubitavit cedere flammis,
quas ego sustinui, quas hac a classe fugavi.
tutius est igitur fictis contendere verbis,
quam pugnare manu, sed nec mihi dicere promptum,             
nec facere est isti: quantumque ego Marte feroci                     5
inque acie valeo, tantum valet iste loquendo.
nec memoranda tamen vobis mea facta, Pelasgi,
esse reor: vidistis enim; sua narret Ulixes,
quae sine teste gerit, quorum nox conscia sola est!             
praemia magna peti fateor; sed demit honorem                       10
aemulus: Aiaci non est tenuisse superbum,
sit licet hoc ingens, quicquid speravit Ulixes;
iste tulit pretium iam nunc temptaminis huius,
quod, cum victus erit, mecum certasse feretur.             

The word "at" in line 1 translates ___________.

Possible Answers:

to

at

but

with

Correct answer:

but

Explanation:

The word "at" translates as but (conjunction).

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)

Example Question #81 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages

at non Hectoreis dubitavit cedere flammis,
quas ego sustinui, quas hac a classe fugavi.
tutius est igitur fictis contendere verbis,
quam pugnare manu, sed nec mihi dicere promptum,             
nec facere est isti: quantumque ego Marte feroci                     5
inque acie valeo, tantum valet iste loquendo.
nec memoranda tamen vobis mea facta, Pelasgi,
esse reor: vidistis enim; sua narret Ulixes,
quae sine teste gerit, quorum nox conscia sola est!             
praemia magna peti fateor; sed demit honorem                       10
aemulus: Aiaci non est tenuisse superbum,
sit licet hoc ingens, quicquid speravit Ulixes;
iste tulit pretium iam nunc temptaminis huius,
quod, cum victus erit, mecum certasse feretur.             

The word "valet" in line 6 translates as __________.

Possible Answers:

he is strong

he ships

a package

he says goodbye

Correct answer:

he is strong

Explanation:

The word "valet" comes from the verb "valeo, valere," which means to be strong. This word is only translated as goodbye in the imperative form ("vale/valete").

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)

Example Question #82 : Vocabulary In Poetry Passages

Hector adest secumque deos in proelia ducit,
quaque ruit, non tu tantum terreris, Ulixe,
sed fortes etiam: tantum trahit ille timoris.
hunc ego sanguineae successu caedis ovantem              
eminus ingenti resupinum pondere fudi,                       5
hunc ego poscentem, cum quo concurreret, unus
sustinui: sortemque meam vovistis, Achivi,
et vestrae valuere preces. si quaeritis huius
fortunam pugnae, non sum superatus ab illo.              
ecce ferunt Troes ferrumque ignesque Iovemque          10
in Danaas classes: ubi nunc facundus Ulixes?
nempe ego mille meo protexi pectore puppes,
spem vestri reditus: date pro tot navibus arma.

The word "adest" in line 1 means __________.

Possible Answers:

to walk towards

to be present

to be absent

to be spoken to

Correct answer:

to be present

Explanation:

The word "adest" comes from the verb "adsum, adesse," which means to be present.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)

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