AP Latin : Content of Poetry
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Content Of Poetry
Dicebas quondam solum te nosse Catullum,
Lesbia, nec prae me velle tenere Iovem.
dilexi tum te non tantum ut vulgus amicam,
sed pater ut gnatos diligit et generos.
nunc te cognovi: quare etsi impensius uror, 5
multo mi tamen es vilior et levior.
qui potis est, inquis? quod amantem iniuria talis
cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus.
The word "uror" (line 5) translates as ____________.
I urge
I am burned
I am urged
I burn
I am burned
The word "uror" comes from "uro," "urere," which means to burn. The "-r" on the end of this form tells us that the verb is in the passive voice, so the best translation is I am burned.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 72" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #22 : Content Of Poetry
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
What is the translation of the word "fas" (line 2)?
Seen
Right
Is
Torch
Right
The word "fas" is a special word that does not decline. It translates as morally right, just, or allowed. It often appears in this exact phrasing: "si fas est" - if it is right.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #23 : Content Of Poetry
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
The word "torpet" in line 8 means ______________.
stops
thrashes around
is numb
disfigures
is numb
The word "torpet" comes from "torpeo, torpere," which means to be numb.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #24 : Content Of Poetry
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos,
qui sedens adversus identidem te
spectat et audit
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis 5
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, aspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures gemina, teguntur 10
lumina nocte.
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis:
otium et reges prius et beatas
perdidit urbes. 15
The word "otium" (line 12) means ____________.
hate
love
leisure
time
leisure
The word "otium" comes from "otium," "otii," and means leisure (the Romans did not value leisure very much, partly why the author claims it is annoying here). Do not confuse with "odium," "odii" which means to hate.
Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Example Question #25 : Content Of Poetry
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
The word "sponte" (line 2) means ___________.
Hope
Intelligence
Free will
Bridge
Free will
The word "sponte" comes from the word "spons," "spontis," which means free will.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #26 : Content Of Poetry
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
The word "supplex" in line 4 means __________.
commotion
supply
suppliant
food
suppliant
The word "supplex" comes from "supplex," "supplicis." This word can be either used as an adjective or a noun to mean someone who is suppliant.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #27 : Content Of Poetry
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
The word "peregrinum" in line 6 means __________.
foreign
whole
tawny
blue
foreign
The word "peregrinum" comes from "peregrinus," "a," "um," which means something foreign.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #28 : Content Of Poetry
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
The word "oppida" (line 9) translates as __________.
towns
town
work
needs
towns
The word "oppida" comes from "oppidum," "oppidi," the word for a town. "Oppida" as used here is the accusative plural form of the word. The best translation is towns.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #29 : Content Of Poetry
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
What is the meaning of the word "aetas" (line 1)?
Beautiful
Age
Golden
Summer
Age
The word "aetas" comes from "aetas," "aetatis," which means age (as in a generation or period of time).
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Example Question #30 : Content Of Poetry
Postquam Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso
sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,
auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.
Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris
perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos 5
et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.
tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus
canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit;
tum primum subiere domos; domus antra fuerunt
et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae. 10
semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis
obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.
What is the meaning of "tenebrosa" in line 1?
Tense
Fickle
Deep
Gloomy
Gloomy
The word "tenebrosa" comes from "tenebrosus," "a," "um," which means shadowy, dark, or gloomy.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)
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