AP Latin : Sight Reading

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.                         5
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,                       10
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita?                         15
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

"Cui" (line 16) is an example of a __________.

Possible Answers:

noun

relative pronoun

participle

passive infinitive

Correct answer:

relative pronoun

Explanation:

"Cui" is a form of the relative pronoun "qui, quae, quod."

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 8," ln.1-19)

Example Question #2 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.                         5
ibi illa multa cum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,                       10
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae te, quae tibi manet vita?                         15
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.

"Impotens" (line 9) is an example of __________.

Possible Answers:

present active participle

gerund

plural noun

verb

Correct answer:

present active participle

Explanation:

"Impotens" comes from "impotens, impotentis." It is a present active participle. All present active participles end in "-ns, -ntis."

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 8," ln.1-19)

Example Question #11 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta,               5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

"Disertissime" (line 1) is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Perfect infinitive

Pluperfect subjunctive

Superlative adverb

Superlative adjective

Correct answer:

Superlative adjective

Explanation:

"Disertissime" is a superlative adjective. Even though it seems like it would be an adverb because of the "-e" ending, it is not being used to describe any verbs. In fact, "disertissime" is in the vocative case because it is referring directly to the subject of the poem.

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)

Example Question #12 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta,               5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

What use of the genetive is "nepotum" (line 1)?

Possible Answers:

Possessive genitive

Partitive genitive

Genitive of value

Genitive of description

Correct answer:

Partitive genitive

Explanation:

The word "nepotum" is being used to indicate that the subject is part of the group grandchildren. This use is the partitive genitive.

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)

Example Question #13 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Disertissime Romuli nepotum,
quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli,
quotque post aliis erunt in annis,
gratias tibi maximas Catullus
agit pessimus omnium poeta,               5
tanto pessimus omnium poeta,
quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

The use of "quot" in lines 2-3 is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Hendiadys

Oxymoron

Hyperbole

Tricolon crescens

Correct answer:

Tricolon crescens

Explanation:

The word "quot" is used exactly three times in succession in order to emphasize the amount of people there have been throughout the years. The use of a word or phrasing three times to show emphasis is an example of tricolon crescens.

(Passage adapted from "Catullus 49," ln.1-7)

Example Question #14 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare appetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti                       5
carum nescio quid lubet iocari
et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor:
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas!                    10

What sort of clause is present in the underlined portion?

Possible Answers:

Temporal Clause

Purpose Clause

Indirect Statment

Result Clause

Correct answer:

Purpose Clause

Explanation:

The phrase "ut...ardor" translates as: so that then the serious passion may acquiesce. It is an extension of the preceding phrase and is there to show the purpose of having the bird.

(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)

Example Question #15 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
     haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
     sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res,           5
     irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.

What is the case of "mala" in line 1?

Possible Answers:

Accusative

Vocative

Ablative

Nominative

Correct answer:

Accusative

Explanation:

The word "mala" is an adjective describing the word "plurima" in this sentence. Identifying the case of this word is a bit tricky, since "plurima" is a substantive (an adjective acting as a noun), therefore, the case is a bit dubious. It is common, however, for Latin authors to use the neuter form of an adjective when using it as a substantive. This is the case here, which means that "plurima" has to be accusative plural, since the subject is in the singular.

Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus

Example Question #16 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
     haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
     sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res,           5
     irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.

What is the case of "mule" (line 3)?

Possible Answers:

Nominative

Vocative

Ablative

Dative

Correct answer:

Vocative

Explanation:

The word "mule" comes from "mulus," "muli," the word for a mule (the animal). This is the vocative singular form of that word.

Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus

Example Question #17 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
     haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
     sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res,           5
     irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.

What is the use of "multo" in line 5?

Possible Answers:

Describing separation

Making a comparison

Describing degree of difference

Describing manner

Correct answer:

Describing degree of difference

Explanation:

The word "multo" is being used in line 5 in order to describe the degree of difference ("multo acrior" translates as more bitter by much, since there is nothing to which Lesbia or her feelings are being compared) of Lesbia's anger; that is - the more she talks, the more passionate about the relationship she is

Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus

Example Question #18 : Grammatical And Syntactic Terminology In Poetry Passages

Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
     haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
     sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res,           5
     irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.

What is the use of "praesente" in line 1?

Possible Answers:

Describing manner

Describing means

Describing an accompaniment

Describing an instrument

Correct answer:

Describing manner

Explanation:

The word "praesente" is being used to describe the manner in which the subject of "dicit" is speaking; that is - presently.

Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus

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