AP Latin : Content of Poetry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Content Of Poetry

Vallis erat piceis et acuta densa cupressu,               
nomine Gargaphie succinctae sacra Dianae,
cuius in extremo est antrum nemorale recessu
arte laboratum nulla: simulaverat artem
ingenio natura suo; nam pumice vivo                          5
et levibus tofis nativum duxerat arcum;               
fons sonat a dextra tenui perlucidus unda,
margine gramineo patulos incinctus hiatus.
hic dea silvarum venatu fessa solebat
virgineos artus liquido perfundere rore.                        10
quo postquam subiit, nympharum tradidit uni               
armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcusque retentos,
altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,
vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illis
Ismenis Crocale sparsos per colla capillos                     15
colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutis.               

The word "antrum" (line 3) means ____________.

Possible Answers:

forrest

cave

bow

deer

Correct answer:

cave

Explanation:

The word "antrum" comes from "antrum, antri," which means, in this case, a cave.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.155-171)

Example Question #192 : Ap Latin Language

Vallis erat piceis et acuta densa cupressu,               
nomine Gargaphie succinctae sacra Dianae,
cuius in extremo est antrum nemorale recessu
arte laboratum nulla: simulaverat artem
ingenio natura suo; nam pumice vivo                          5
et levibus tofis nativum duxerat arcum;               
fons sonat a dextra tenui perlucidus unda,
margine gramineo patulos incinctus hiatus.
hic dea silvarum venatu fessa solebat
virgineos artus liquido perfundere rore.                        10
quo postquam subiit, nympharum tradidit uni               
armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcusque retentos,
altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,
vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illis
Ismenis Crocale sparsos per colla capillos                     15
colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutis.               

The word "arcum" in line 6 should be translated __________.

Possible Answers:

citadel

art

arch

bow

Correct answer:

bow

Explanation:

The word "arcum" comes from "arcus, arcus," the word for a bow (as in a bow and arrow). This word could possibly be translated as arch as well, but that does not make much sense due to the context (woods/forest) and the association with the word "duxerat," a word often used to describe the action of drawing the string of a bow.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.155-171)

Example Question #52 : Content Of Poetry

Vallis erat piceis et acuta densa cupressu,               
nomine Gargaphie succinctae sacra Dianae,
cuius in extremo est antrum nemorale recessu
arte laboratum nulla: simulaverat artem
ingenio natura suo; nam pumice vivo                          5
et levibus tofis nativum duxerat arcum;               
fons sonat a dextra tenui perlucidus unda,
margine gramineo patulos incinctus hiatus.
hic dea silvarum venatu fessa solebat
virgineos artus liquido perfundere rore.                        10
quo postquam subiit, nympharum tradidit uni               
armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcusque retentos,
altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,
vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illis
Ismenis Crocale sparsos per colla capillos                     15
colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutis.               

The word "artem" in line 4 translates as _____________.

Possible Answers:

skill

deer

arch

tower

Correct answer:

skill

Explanation:

The word "artem" comes from "ars, artis," which is the word for a skill or art.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.155-171)

Example Question #53 : Content Of Poetry

Vallis erat piceis et acuta densa cupressu,               
nomine Gargaphie succinctae sacra Dianae,
cuius in extremo est antrum nemorale recessu
arte laboratum nulla: simulaverat artem
ingenio natura suo; nam pumice vivo                          5
et levibus tofis nativum duxerat arcum;               
fons sonat a dextra tenui perlucidus unda,
margine gramineo patulos incinctus hiatus.
hic dea silvarum venatu fessa solebat
virgineos artus liquido perfundere rore.                        10
quo postquam subiit, nympharum tradidit uni               
armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcusque retentos,
altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,
vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illis
Ismenis Crocale sparsos per colla capillos                     15
colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutis.               

What is the meaning of the word "fons" in line 7?

Possible Answers:

River

Foliage

Deer

Fountain

Correct answer:

Fountain

Explanation:

The word "fons" comes from the word "fons, fontis" and is the word for a fountain.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.155-171)

Example Question #54 : Content Of Poetry

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 "comitum" (line 1) comes from the word meaning ____________.

Possible Answers:

hair

comb

moon

Associate

Correct answer:

Associate

Explanation:

The word comitum comes from the word comes, comitis, which is the word for a companion or associate.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)

Example Question #55 : Sight Reading

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 "latus" in line 2 means ____________.

Possible Answers:

side

wood

wildlife

shore

Correct answer:

side

Explanation:

The word "latus" comes from "latus, lateris" and means the side/flank of something.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)

Example Question #56 : Sight Reading

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 "spatium" in line 10 means __________.

Possible Answers:

space

sight

hope

spatula

Correct answer:

space

Explanation:

The word "spatium," which comes from "spatium, spatii," means space (as in an area or extent of time).

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)

Example Question #57 : Sight Reading

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 "comas" in line 5 means __________.

Possible Answers:

pauses

waves

hairs

companion

Correct answer:

hairs

Explanation:

The word "comas" comes from "coma, comae," which means hair.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)

Example Question #58 : Sight Reading

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 "velamine" (line 7) comes from the word meaning __________.

Possible Answers:

hide

arrow

veil

see

Correct answer:

veil

Explanation:

The word "velamine" comes from "velamen, velaminis," which means a veil or covering.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 3.186-200)

Example Question #55 : Content Of Poetry

     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

The word "oras" in line 2 translates as ___________.

Possible Answers:

mouths

shores

works

borders

Correct answer:

shores

Explanation:

The word "oras" comes from "ora, orae," which means the shore. Do not confuse this word with the word for mouth, which is "os, oris."

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 10.1-10)

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