AP Latin : Content of Poetry
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Example Questions
Example Question #161 : Poetry
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 decided
he doubted
he pondered
he hesitated
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 #27 : Context Based Meaning Of Words And Phrases 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 "hac" (line 2) translates as ____________.
in this
with this
from here
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)
Example Question #28 : Context Based Meaning Of Words And Phrases 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.
How should the word "quam" in line 4 be translated?
Than
What
Which
How
Than
The word "quam" should be translated as than. It is a part of the comparative phrase on line 3, started by the word "tutius." The whole phrase ("tutius...manu") translates: it is more prudent, therefore, to argue with false (empty) words than to fight by hand.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Example Question #29 : Context Based Meaning Of Words And Phrases 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 "cum" in line 6 should be translated as __________.
because
since
with
why
with
The word "cum" should be translated as with or by means of in this sentence. Even though a subjunctive mood verb is present, it is clear that the word "cum" is modifying quo, which is in the ablative case. The full phrase translates: by means of which he engaged in battle.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 82-95)
Example Question #162 : Content Of Poetry
Quo tamen haec Ithaco, qui clam, qui semper inermis
rem gerit et furtis incautum decipit hostem?
ipse nitor galeae claro radiantis ab auro
insidias prodet manifestabitque latentem;
sed neque Dulichius sub Achillis casside vertex 5
pondera tanta feret, nec non onerosa gravisque
Pelias hasta potest inbellibus esse lacertis,
nec clipeus vasti caelatus imagine mundi
conveniet timidae nataeque ad furta sinistrae:
debilitaturum quid te petis, inprobe, munus, 10
quod tibi si populi donaverit error Achivi,
cur spolieris, erit, non, cur metuaris ab hoste,
et fuga, qua sola cunctos, timidissime, vincis,
tarda futura tibi est gestamina tanta trahenti?
The word "gerit" in line 2 should be translated as ___________.
he wages
he separates
he manages
he wears
he manages
The word "gerit" comes from the verb "gero, gerere, gessi, gestus," which typically means to wear (clothing). It has many other meanings, however, based on context. When paired with "bellum" it means to wage war; it can also mean to carry; here, with no articles of clothing or mention of war, to manage is the most appropriate translation of this word.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 103-117)
Example Question #166 : Sight Reading
Quo tamen haec Ithaco, qui clam, qui semper inermis
rem gerit et furtis incautum decipit hostem?
ipse nitor galeae claro radiantis ab auro
insidias prodet manifestabitque latentem;
sed neque Dulichius sub Achillis casside vertex 5
pondera tanta feret, nec non onerosa gravisque
Pelias hasta potest inbellibus esse lacertis,
nec clipeus vasti caelatus imagine mundi
conveniet timidae nataeque ad furta sinistrae:
debilitaturum quid te petis, inprobe, munus, 10
quod tibi si populi donaverit error Achivi,
cur spolieris, erit, non, cur metuaris ab hoste,
et fuga, qua sola cunctos, timidissime, vincis,
tarda futura tibi est gestamina tanta trahenti?
The word "nitor" (line 3) translates __________.
a fire
I shine
brightness
I am shined
brightness
The word "nitor" in this sentence comes from the noun "nitor, nitoris" and not the verb "nitor, niti, nisus sum." You can tell that "nitor" is not a verb because it would not make any sense in this sentence. "Nitor" is the accusative singular form of this noun, since it is neuter, and it is acting as the object of the verb "prodet" in line 4.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8. 103-117)
Example Question #162 : Poetry
vix etiam Phoebo iam lyra tuta sua est?
cum bene surrexit versu nova pagina primo,
attenuat nervos proximus ille meos;
nec mihi materia est numeris levioribus apta,
aut puer aut longas compta puella comas.' 5
Questus eram, pharetra cum protinus ille soluta
legit in exitium spicula facta meum,
lunavitque genu sinuosum fortiter arcum,
'quod' que 'canas, vates, accipe' dixit 'opus!'
Me miserum! certas habuit puer ille sagittas. 10
uror, et in vacuo pectore regnat Amor.
Sex mihi surgat opus numeris, in quinque residat:
ferrea cum vestris bella valete modis!
cingere litorea flaventia tempora myrto,
Musa, per undenos emodulanda pedes! 15
How should cum in line 2 be translated?
Although
When
With
Since
When
The word cum should be translated "when" in this sentence. A word in the ablative case does not follow cum, so it can't be "with." Furthermore, the translations "since" and "although" must have a subjunctive verb. The correct choice is "when."
Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I. 1-15
Example Question #163 : Poetry
vix etiam Phoebo iam lyra tuta sua est?
cum bene surrexit versu nova pagina primo,
attenuat nervos proximus ille meos;
nec mihi materia est numeris levioribus apta,
aut puer aut longas compta puella comas.' 5
Questus eram, pharetra cum protinus ille soluta
legit in exitium spicula facta meum,
lunavitque genu sinuosum fortiter arcum,
'quod' que 'canas, vates, accipe' dixit 'opus!'
Me miserum! certas habuit puer ille sagittas. 10
uror, et in vacuo pectore regnat Amor.
Sex mihi surgat opus numeris, in quinque residat:
ferrea cum vestris bella valete modis!
cingere litorea flaventia tempora myrto,
Musa, per undenos emodulanda pedes! 15
How should cum (line 6) be translated?
Because
Although
While
With
With
The word cum should be translated as "with" because it is accompanied by the ablative phrase pharetra soluta. The phrase translates as "the one with the loosened quiver."
Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I. 16-30
Example Question #164 : Poetry
vix etiam Phoebo iam lyra tuta sua est?
cum bene surrexit versu nova pagina primo,
attenuat nervos proximus ille meos;
nec mihi materia est numeris levioribus apta,
aut puer aut longas compta puella comas.' 5
Questus eram, pharetra cum protinus ille soluta
legit in exitium spicula facta meum,
lunavitque genu sinuosum fortiter arcum,
'quod' que 'canas, vates, accipe' dixit 'opus!'
Me miserum! certas habuit puer ille sagittas. 10
uror, et in vacuo pectore regnat Amor.
Sex mihi surgat opus numeris, in quinque residat:
ferrea cum vestris bella valete modis!
cingere litorea flaventia tempora myrto,
Musa, per undenos emodulanda pedes! 15
How should the word legit (line 7) be translated?
Read
Chose
Weighed
Collected
Chose
All the answers given are possible translations of the word legit (from lego, legere). The only choice that makes sense in the context of this sentence, though, is "chose." The phrase ille...meum translates: "He chose my ruin with regard to the arrow that was made."
Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I. 16-30
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