AP Latin : AP Latin Language

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Ap Latin Language

Aeneas miratus enim motusque tumultu
'dic,' ait, 'o virgo, quid vult concursus ad amnem?
quidve petunt animae? vel quo discrimine ripas
hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?'              
olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos:                      5
'Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,
di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.
haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est . . .

"Proles" (line 6) translates as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Spears

Offspring

Diety

Poles

Correct answer:

Offspring

Explanation:

The word "proles" translates as offspring and is a word that frequently comes up in Vergil's Aenied in order to refer to different races, the descendents of people, and so on.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)

Example Question #7 : Syllabus Passages

Aeneas miratus enim motusque tumultu
'dic,' ait, 'o virgo, quid vult concursus ad amnem?
quidve petunt animae? vel quo discrimine ripas
hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?'              
olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos:                      5
'Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,
di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.
haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est . . .

What is the translation of "hae" (line 4)?

Possible Answers:

These

The sands

From there

To him

Correct answer:

These

Explanation:

"Hae" is the feminine plural form of "hic, haec, hoc." It translates as these.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)

Example Question #11 : Syllabus Passages

Aeneas miratus enim motusque tumultu
'dic,' ait, 'o virgo, quid vult concursus ad amnem?
quidve petunt animae? vel quo discrimine ripas
hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?'              
olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos:                      5
'Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,
di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.
haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est . . .

What is the best translation of "sacerdos" (line 5)?

Possible Answers:

Priestesses

Cursed

Priest

Sacred

Correct answer:

Priest

Explanation:

The word sacerdos comes from "sacerdos, sacerdotis" and is a noun meaning a priest or priestess. This form, however, is singular, so priestesses would not be correct.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)

Example Question #12 : Syllabus Passages

Aeneas miratus enim motusque tumultu
'dic,' ait, 'o virgo, quid vult concursus ad amnem?
quidve petunt animae? vel quo discrimine ripas
hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?'              
olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos:                      5
'Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,
di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.
haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est . . .

The word "numen" in line 8 translates as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Divine will 

Name

Numitor

River

Correct answer:

Divine will 

Explanation:

The word "numen" appears often in the Aeneid and can be used to refer to a god or divine will. Here, it is claimed that the gods fear to swear and deceive divine will (fate). In other words, the gods would rather not get in the way of fate.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)

Example Question #13 : Syllabus Passages

inter quas Phoenissa recens a vulnere Dido               
errabat silva in magna; quam Troius heros
ut primum iuxta stetit agnovitque per umbras
obscuram, qualem primo qui surgere mense
aut videt aut vidisse putat per nubila lunam,                   5
demisit lacrimas dulcique adfatus amore est:               
'infelix Dido, verus mihi nuntius ergo
venerat exstinctam ferroque extrema secutam?
funeris heu tibi causa fui? per sidera iuro,
per superos et si qua fides tellure sub ima est,               10
inuitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi.  

The word "heu" in line 9 translates as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Those

Alas

They

These

Correct answer:

Alas

Explanation:

The word "heu" is a shortened form of "eheu," which translates as alas.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.450-460)

Example Question #11 : Syllabus Passages

inter quas Phoenissa recens a vulnere Dido               
errabat silva in magna; quam Troius heros
ut primum iuxta stetit agnovitque per umbras
obscuram, qualem primo qui surgere mense
aut videt aut vidisse putat per nubila lunam,                   5
demisit lacrimas dulcique adfatus amore est:               
'infelix Dido, verus mihi nuntius ergo
venerat exstinctam ferroque extrema secutam?
funeris heu tibi causa fui? per sidera iuro,
per superos et si qua fides tellure sub ima est,               10
inuitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi.  

The word "tellure" (line 10) translates as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Under the Earth

At Tellus

With the Telluran ____.

From the land

Correct answer:

Under the Earth

Explanation:

The word "tellure" comes from "tellus, telluris," meaning Earth. It is one of the many words that are used to refer to the Earth in Vergil's Aeneid. It is paired with the word "sub" here, so the best translation is under the Earth.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.450-460)

Example Question #22 : Ap Latin Language

Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem,               5
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.

Which word is a synonym for "litora"?

Possible Answers:

Oras

Terras

Libros

Litteras

Correct answer:

Oras

Explanation:

The word "litora" means shores. The only other word that matches this definition is "oras." "Litteras" refers to the letters of the alphabet, "libros" means books, and "terras" means lands.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)

Example Question #23 : Ap Latin Language

Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem,               5
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.

The word "genus" (line 6) means which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Shield

Knee

Race

Latin

Correct answer:

Race

Explanation:

The word "genus" comes from "genus, generis" and means a race of people. Do not confuse this with "genu, genus," knee.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)

Example Question #24 : Ap Latin Language

Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem,               5
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.

The word "moenia" (line 7) means which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Walls

Camps

Armor

Treasures

Correct answer:

Walls

Explanation:

The word "moenia" appears often in Vergil's Aeneid and means walls, as in the walls of a city.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)

Example Question #15 : Syllabus Passages

Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam               
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma,            5
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces

The word "ostia" (line 3) means __________.

Possible Answers:

city

country

river

entrance

Correct answer:

entrance

Explanation:

The word "ostia" means an entrance. It can be used to refer to a port, like Rome's port city, Ostia.

(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)

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