AP Latin : AP Latin Language
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #101 : Content Of Poetry
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the meaning of the underlined word "arma" in line 1?
Weapons
Arms (Body Parts)
Love
Poems
Weapons
The word "arma" comes from the noun "armum," "armi," which means arms (weapons). The correct choice is "weapons."
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
Example Question #102 : Content Of Poetry
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the meaning of the underlined word "insignem" in line 11?
Dutiful
Bright
Sign
Famous
Famous
The word "insignem" comes from "insignis," "is," "e," which means famous/outstanding.
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
Example Question #103 : Content Of Poetry
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the translation of the underlined word "vates" in line 6?
Lover
Listener
Oracle
Traveler
Oracle
The word "vates" comes from "vates," "vatis," which means an oracle (a person who can see the future).
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
Example Question #104 : Content Of Poetry
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the translation of the underlined word "carmina" in line 5?
Flowers
Songs
Wool
Treasures
Songs
The word "carmina" comes from "carmen," "carminis," which means "songs" and is often used to refer to lines of poetry.
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)
Example Question #105 : Content Of Poetry
Ni te plus oculis meis amarem,
iucundissime Calve, munere isto
odissem te odio Vatiniano:
nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus,
cur me tot male perderes poetis? 5
isti di mala multa dent clienti,
qui tantum tibi misit impiorum.
quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum
munus dat tibi Sulla litterator,
non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, 10
quod non dispereunt tui labores.
di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum!
quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum
misti, continuo ut die periret,
Saturnalibus, optimo dierum! 15
non non hoc tibi, false, sic abibit.
nam si luxerit ad librariorum
curram scrinia, Caesios, Aquinos,
Suffenum, omnia colligam venena.
ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. 20
vos hinc interea valete abite
illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis,
saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.
This poem is addressed to a person named Calvus. How does the author feel about this person?
He hates Calvus
He loves Calvus
He does not care about Calvus
He is happy to speak to Calvus
He loves Calvus
The author expresses how he feels about Calvus in the line that translates as If I did not love you more than my eyes. Even though the word for hate is mentioned later, he is talking about his affection for his friend.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 14," ln.1-23)
Example Question #2 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Ni te plus oculis meis amarem,
iucundissime Calve, munere isto
odissem te odio Vatiniano:
nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus,
cur me tot male perderes poetis? 5
isti di mala multa dent clienti,
qui tantum tibi misit impiorum.
quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum
munus dat tibi Sulla litterator,
non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, 10
quod non dispereunt tui labores.
di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum!
quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum
misti, continuo ut die periret,
Saturnalibus, optimo dierum! 15
non non hoc tibi, false, sic abibit.
nam si luxerit ad librariorum
curram scrinia, Caesios, Aquinos,
Suffenum, omnia colligam venena.
ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. 20
vos hinc interea valete abite
illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis,
saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.
In lines 1-5, we learn that __________.
Calvus has sent the author many bad poems
Calvus has died
Calvus desires to become a poet
Calvus is too talkative
Calvus has sent the author many bad poems
In the first few lines, the author is addressing the gift he recieved from Calvus: a lot of bad poems. He states that if he did not love Calvus, he would hate him greatly because of how bad the poems are.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 14," ln.1-23)
Example Question #3 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Ni te plus oculis meis amarem,
iucundissime Calve, munere isto
odissem te odio Vatiniano:
nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus,
cur me tot male perderes poetis? 5
isti di mala multa dent clienti,
qui tantum tibi misit impiorum.
quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum
munus dat tibi Sulla litterator,
non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, 10
quod non dispereunt tui labores.
di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum!
quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum
misti, continuo ut die periret,
Saturnalibus, optimo dierum! 15
non non hoc tibi, false, sic abibit.
nam si luxerit ad librariorum
curram scrinia, Caesios, Aquinos,
Suffenum, omnia colligam venena.
ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. 20
vos hinc interea valete abite
illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis,
saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.
Who are Caesios, Aquinos, and Suffenus?
Poets the author admires
Other friends of the author who have also sent him bad poetry
Other bad poets
The poem does not say
Other bad poets
The author refers to all of these people as "venena" (poisons) shortly after naming them. Furthermore, he uses the word "colligam" (to collect) in tandem with these words. Since the entire poem so far has been talking about bad poetry and he uses the word for collect, we can assume these are other bad poets the author does not like.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 14," ln.1-23)
Example Question #251 : Ap Latin Language
Cenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud me
paucis, si tibi di favent, diebus,
si tecum attuleris bonam atque magnam
cenam, non sine candida puella
et vino et sale et omnibus cachinnis. 5
haec si, inquam, attuleris, venuste noster,
cenabis bene; nam tui Catulli
plenus sacculus est aranearum.
sed contra accipies meros amores
seu quid suavius elegantiusve est: 10
nam unguentum dabo, quod meae puellae
donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque,
quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis,
totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.
In lines 1-5, we learn that __________.
The author's dog is well
The author has a girlfriend
The author's dog is favored by the gods
The author wants to feast with his friend
The author wants to feast with his friend
In the first few lines of this poem, the author is urging his friend to feast with him. He goes into some detail about how great the meal will be and some of the things that he plans to have at the feast.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
Example Question #1 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla. 5
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, 10
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita? 15
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
How does the author feel?
Happy
In Love
Miserable
Angry
Miserable
The author uses many negative words to describe what it going on in the poem. Foremost, he starts off using the word "miser " (miserable), and he goes on to talk about other negative things that he needs to come to terms with.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 8," ln.1-19)
Example Question #2 : Passage Comprehension In Poetry Passages
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla. 5
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive, 10
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita? 15
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
What is the author describing in this poem?
A broken friendship
An insult
A death
A breakup
A breakup
Throughout the poem, many references to a girl, "puella," and love are made. The whole poem is about the change in relationship between Catullus and this girl.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 8," ln.1-19)
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