AP Latin : AP Latin Language
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
All AP Latin Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #301 : Ap Latin Language
quae, quamquam comitum turba est stipata suarum,
in latus obliquum tamen adstitit oraque retro
flexit et, ut vellet promptas habuisse sagittas,
quas habuit sic hausit aquas vultumque virilem
perfudit spargensque comas ultricibus undis 5
addidit haec cladis praenuntia verba futurae:
'nunc tibi me posito visam velamine narres,
si poteris narrare, licet!' nec plura minata
dat sparso capiti vivacis cornua cervi,
dat spatium collo summasque cacuminat aures 10
cum pedibusque manus, cum longis bracchia mutat
cruribus et velat maculoso vellere corpus;
additus et pavor est: fugit Autonoeius heros
et se tam celerem cursu miratur in ipso.
The phrase "oraque[...]flexit" in lines 2-3 means __________.
the girl is frowning
the girl is having an argument with her friends
the girl is bending something
the girl is smiling
the girl is frowning
This phrase can be taken to mean that the girl in this passage is frowning. Since the mouth does not usually form a frown (or at least would not be expected to), a frown can be interpreted as the reverse ("retro") direction. Additionally, the words accompanying this phrase do not indicate any sort of happiness. The preceding phrases indicate that the girl is accompanied by her friends, a situation that would expectedly bring joy, but the word "quamquam" (although) is used, meaning that the opposite reaction to what is expected is occurring here. That action here is frowning.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)
Example Question #301 : Ap Latin Language
quae, quamquam comitum turba est stipata suarum,
in latus obliquum tamen adstitit oraque retro
flexit et, ut vellet promptas habuisse sagittas,
quas habuit sic hausit aquas vultumque virilem
perfudit spargensque comas ultricibus undis 5
addidit haec cladis praenuntia verba futurae:
'nunc tibi me posito visam velamine narres,
si poteris narrare, licet!' nec plura minata
dat sparso capiti vivacis cornua cervi,
dat spatium collo summasque cacuminat aures 10
cum pedibusque manus, cum longis bracchia mutat
cruribus et velat maculoso vellere corpus;
additus et pavor est: fugit Autonoeius heros
et se tam celerem cursu miratur in ipso.
The word "ut" in line 3 should be translated as __________.
as
when
so that
that
that
The word "ut" in this phrase translates as that because it is in a result clause. As a result of the previous occurrence (in the preceding phrases, which caused her to frown) she wants ready arrows.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)
Example Question #302 : Ap Latin Language
Inde per inmensum croceo velatus amictu
aethera digreditur Ciconumque Hymenaeus ad oras
tendit et Orphea nequiquam voce vocatur.
adfuit ille quidem, sed nec sollemnia verba
nec laetos vultus nec felix attulit omen. 5
fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrimoso stridula fumo
usque fuit nullosque invenit motibus ignes.
exitus auspicio gravior: nam nupta per herbas
dum nova naiadum turba comitata vagatur,
occidit in talum serpentis dente recepto. 10
How should the word "quam" in line 6 should be translated as ____________.
indeed
how
which
than
which
The word "quam" is acting as a relative pronoun in this clause. Its antecedent is "fax" in the preceeding clause.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.1-10)
Example Question #303 : Ap Latin Language
Dignane, cui grates ageret, cui turis honorem
ferret, Adoni, fui? nec grates inmemor egit,
nec mihi tura dedit. subitam convertor in iram,
contemptuque dolens, ne sim spernenda futuris,
exemplo caveo meque ipsa exhortor in ambos: 5
templa, deum Matri quae quondam clarus Echion
fecerat ex voto, nemorosis abdita silvis,
transibant, et iter longum requiescere suasit;
illic concubitus intempestiva cupido
occupat Hippomenen a numine concita nostro. 10
luminis exigui fuerat prope templa recessus,
speluncae similis, nativo pumice tectus,
religione sacer prisca, quo multa sacerdos
lignea contulerat veterum simulacra deorum;
hunc init et vetito temerat sacraria probro. 15
How should "in" (line 3) be translated?
In
Into
Against
Among
Into
"In" is being used with "iram" in the accusative case to mean into. The phrase translates as: I am turned around into a sudden anger. When paired with the accusative case, "in" can be translated as among, into, or against. The exact meaning depends on context.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.681-696)
Example Question #305 : Ap Latin Language
Forsitan audieris aliquam certamine cursus
veloces superasse viros: non fabula rumor
ille fuit; superabat enim. nec dicere posses,
laude pedum formaene bono praestantior esset.
scitanti deus huic de coniuge 'coniuge' dixit 5
'nil opus est, Atalanta, tibi: fuge coniugis usum.
nec tamen effugies teque ipsa viva carebis.'
territa sorte dei per opacas innuba silvas
vivit et instantem turbam violenta procorum
condicione fugat, 'ne' c 'sum potiunda, nisi' inquit 10
'victa prius cursu. pedibus contendite mecum:
praemia veloci coniunx thalamique dabuntur,
mors pretium tardis: ea lex certaminis esto.'
illa quidem inmitis, sed (tanta potentia formae est)
venit ad hanc legem temeraria turba procorum. 15
sederat Hippomenes cursus spectator iniqui
et 'petitur cuiquam per tanta pericula coniunx?'
dixerat ac nimios iuvenum damnarat amores;
The word "usum" in line 6 can be translated as __________.
win
force
joy
used
joy
The word "usum" comes from "utor, uti, usus sum," which normally translates as to use. Given the right context, however, it can also be used to mean joy or to enjoy, which is what is happening here. The best translation for "usum" in this sentence is enjoyment/joy or friendship.
Example Question #154 : Content Of Poetry
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 "corona" (line 1) is referring to __________.
"Aiax" (line 2)
the "duces" (line 1)
a crown
the king of a country
the "duces" (line 1)
The word "corona" comes from "corona, coronae," which normally translates as a crown or ring, but here the word is being used with the word "vulgi" (line 1) to describe the ring of men sitting around and discussing matters in the passage.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #304 : Ap Latin Language
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!
How should the word "stante" in line 1 be translated?
Standing
Remained
Remaining
Stood
Remaining
The word "stante" should be translated as remaining here. Just a few words previously, the men were described as sitting, it would not make sense to describe them standing three words later. The word "sto, stare" is often used to indicated remaining in a certain position (the same way we say in English to stand your ground). Furthermore, "stante" is the present active participle form of "sto, stare: stans, stantis," which should always be translated as __________ing.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Example Question #305 : Ap Latin Language
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?
How should "forti" in line 3 be translated?
For luck's sake
For the strong
With strength
By chance
By chance
The word "forti" comes from "fors, fortis," which means chance/luck. The form "forti" is actually in the ablative singular form. It is not unusual to see an "-i" ending used for some third declension words instead of the usual -e. In general, the "e" in the third declension endings are sometimes substituted for "i."
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.21-34)
Example Question #306 : Ap Latin Language
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 "dubitavit" in line 1 should be translated _____________.
he pondered
he decided
he hesitated
he doubted
he hesitated
The word "dubitavit" comes from "dubito, dubitare," which usually translates as to doubt; however, due to the context of this sentence, a better translation is: he hesitated.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Example Question #307 : Ap Latin Language
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 "hac" (line 2) translates as ____________.
from here
in this
with this
here
from here
The word "hac" comes from "hic, haec, hoc," which typically translates as this, but it is also often used to denote here. Since "hac" is the ablative form, it translates as from here.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All AP Latin Resources
