AP Latin : Sight Reading

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #211 : Sight Reading

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 word governs "superare" (line 2)?

Possible Answers:

"videtur" (line 1)

"si" (line 2)

"ille" (line 2)

"esse" (line 1)

Correct answer:

"videtur" (line 1)

Explanation:

The word "superare" is acting as the object of the verb "videtur." Together, these words are translated as: he seems to surpass...

Passage adapted from "Poem 51" by Gaius Valerius Catullus

Example Question #212 : Sight Reading

 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 word(s) is/are the subject of "aberant" (line 3)?

Possible Answers:

"poena" and "verba"

"poena"

"poena" and "metusque"

"metus"

Correct answer:

"poena" and "metusque"

Explanation:

We know that "aberant" must have a plural subject because the "-nt" ending is for the 3rd person plural form of verbs. Additionally, the subject of a verb usually comes before the verb. Since "poena" and "metus" are both singular and both nominative, they must both be the subject of this verb.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)

Example Question #213 : Sight Reading

 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 "-que" in line 2 joins which two words?

Possible Answers:

"rectum" and "colebat"

"fidem" and "lege"

"rectum" and "lege"

"rectum" and "fidem"

Correct answer:

"rectum" and "fidem"

Explanation:

The enclitic "-que" joins the word it is attached to the word before it. Therefore, it is joining "rectum" and "fidem" in this sentence.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)

Example Question #214 : Sight Reading

 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 "norant" (line 8) translates as ____________.

Possible Answers:

they knew

they walked

they know

they walk

Correct answer:

they knew

Explanation:

The word "norant" comes from "nosco," "noscere," "novi," "notus," which means to know. "Norant" is actually a syncopated form of "noverant," so the best translation is they knew. It is common in some syncopated forms for the "vi/ve-" of the perfect tense form of a word to drop off. Additionally, if you look at the rest of this passage, you will notice that the rest of the verbs are mainly in the imperfect and perfect tenses. It would be an unusual tense shift to move from past tense to present, just to return to past tense one line later.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)

Example Question #31 : Poetic Syntax

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.
  

How are the words "Saturno misso" (line 1) translated?

Possible Answers:

With Saturn thrown down

For the throwing of Saturn

For the lost Saturn

With Saturn throwing

Correct answer:

With Saturn thrown down

Explanation:

The words "Saturno misso" is an example of an ablative absolute. The best translation is with Saturn thrown down, since "misso" is passive, which means the action must be being done to Saturn.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)

Example Question #32 : Poetic Syntax

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 word should be inserted between "deterior" and "fulvo" of line 3?

Possible Answers:

sine

nam

et

sed

Correct answer:

sed

Explanation:

The word "sed" should be supplied between the words "deterior" and "fulvo," since we have two phrases comparing opposites of one another (worse, in contrast to better, and gold, in contrast to bronze). Such phrases should be joined with the word "but," but it is omitted here. The word "sed" should be inserted.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)

Example Question #33 : Poetic Syntax

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.
  

The words "auro deterior" in line 3 is an example of a(n) ___________.

Possible Answers:

ablative of means

comparative phrase

noun-adjective pair

jussive Clause

Correct answer:

comparative phrase

Explanation:

The word "deterior" is an example of a comparative adjective. It is being combined with "auro" in the ablative case to form a comparative phrase. Together, the words are translated as: worse than gold.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)

Example Question #211 : 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.
  

Why is the word "annum" in the accusative case (line 6)?

Possible Answers:

To denote a duration of time

To function as a direct object

Because it is an exclamation

To denote an extent of space

Correct answer:

To denote a duration of time

Explanation:

The word "annum" is in the accusative case in order to denote a duration of time, in this case the duration of the four seasons throughout the year.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)

Example Question #35 : Poetic Syntax

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.
  

The word "subiere" in line 9 translates as __________.

Possible Answers:

to pass under

they pass under

they are passed under

to be passed under

Correct answer:

they pass under

Explanation:

The word "subiere" is a syncopated form of the word "subierunt," which comes from the verb "subeo," "subere," "subii", "subitus." We can tell it is syncopated because the "subi-" is the perfect stem of the verb, not the present stem. The best translation is they pass under.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)

Example Question #36 : Poetic Syntax

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.
  

"Saturno misso" in line 1 is an example of ____________.

Possible Answers:

Dative Indirect Object

Indirect Statement

Ablative Absolute

Ablative of Manner

Correct answer:

Ablative Absolute

Explanation:

The phrase "Saturno misso" are an example of an ablative absolute. You have a participle ("misso") combined with a noun, both in the ablative case. From the context of the first line, it is clear that these words are being used to set the setting for the rest of the passage/sentence. This is how an ablative absolute is used.

(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.113-125)

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