AP Latin : Syllabus Passages
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
All AP Latin Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Syllabus Passages
Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma, 5
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces
The word "currus" (line 6) means __________.
ran
horse
track
chariot
chariot
"Currus" is the word for a chariot. It comes from the word "currus, currus."
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)
Example Question #22 : Syllabus Passages
Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma, 5
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces
"Fovet" (line 7) translates as __________.
act
ferment
cherish
give birth
cherish
The word "fovet" comes from "foveo, fovere, fovi, fotus," and means to cherish or favor.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)
Example Question #23 : Syllabus Passages
Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma, 5
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces
"Sanguine" (line 8) means __________.
class
blood
sacred
ear
blood
The word "sanguine" comes from "sanguis, sanguinis," and means blood.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)
Example Question #24 : Syllabus Passages
Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma, 5
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces
"Arces" (line 9) means __________.
cities
fates
arches
citadels
citadels
The word "arces" comes from "arx, arcis," and is the word for a citadel (a tower used for defense).
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)
Example Question #1 : Passage Comprehension In Vergil
Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt; 5
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas, pars cetera pontum
pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
Fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni 10
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
Diffugimus visu exsangues. Illi agmine certo
Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus. 15
Who is Laocoon?
The passage does not say
A priest of Neptune
Neptune in disguise
A Greek warrior
A priest of Neptune
In line 1 of the passage, Laocoon is identified as a priest of Neptune: "Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos" (Laocoon, a priest led by lot to Neptune).
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 2.201-215)
Example Question #2 : Passage Comprehension In Vergil
Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt; 5
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas, pars cetera pontum
pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
Fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni 10
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
Diffugimus visu exsangues. Illi agmine certo
Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus. 15
In lines 1-2, we learn that Laocoon is __________.
building something
making a ritual sacrifice
eating
speaking with Neptune
making a ritual sacrifice
Line 2 translates as he was sacrificing a huge bull as a ritual offering at the altars. Laocoon is making a sacrifice to Neptune.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 2.201-215)
Example Question #3 : Passage Comprehension In Vergil
Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt; 5
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas, pars cetera pontum
pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
Fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni 10
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
Diffugimus visu exsangues. Illi agmine certo
Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus. 15
In lines 3-5, we learn that __________.
Huge serpents have appeared from the sea
People are screaming in terror
The shores are being swallowed by the sea
The twin demigods, Castor and Pollux, have appeared
Huge serpents have appeared from the sea
The phrase "Ecce autem gemini . . . angues" translates as, "Behold! Twin serpents . . ." These lines are talking about the appearance of two huge serpents from the sea.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 2.201-215)
Example Question #4 : Passage Comprehension In Vergil
Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos,
sollemnis taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras.
Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta
(horresco referens) immensis orbibus angues
incumbunt pelago pariterque ad litora tendunt; 5
pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undas, pars cetera pontum
pone legit sinuatque immensa volumine terga.
Fit sonitus spumante salo; iamque arva tenebant
ardentisque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni 10
sibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.
Diffugimus visu exsangues. Illi agmine certo
Laocoonta petunt; et primum parva duorum
corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque
implicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus. 15
In lines 12-15 ("illi...artus"), we learn that __________.
Laocoon has summoned the serpents to fight the Greeks
The serpents devour Laocoon
The serpents are very small
The serpents are messengers of Neptune
The serpents devour Laocoon
In these lines of the passage, the author is describing the serpents tearing Laocoon limb from limb. The lines loosely translate as:
They seek Laocoon in a certain crowd and, at once, each serpent of the two (entwined around the small body parts) wrap around the miserable limbs and he (Laocoon) is devoured with a bite.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 2.201-215)
Example Question #5 : Passage Comprehension In Vergil
Defessi Aeneadae, quae proxima litora, cursu
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras.
Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum
efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto
frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos.
The subject of "vertuntur" in line 2 is __________.
oras
litora
Libyae
Aeneadae
Aeneadae
In the context of this passage, both "litora" and "oras" are in the accusative plural case. That narrows the choices down to "Libyae" and "Aeneadae"; however, "Libya," "Libyae" is the name in Latin for the North African region, which means it makes little sense for it to be plural here. In fact, it is in the genitive singular, describing the word "oras." Additionally, the word "vertuntur" translates as they are turned, which makes no sense for a country. Due to the context of the passage, it makes most sense for "vertuntur" to apply to the "Aeneadae," who are described as doing various actions as they sail for the Libyan shores.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.157-161)
Example Question #6 : Passage Comprehension In Vergil
Haec dum Dardanio Aeneae miranda videntur,
dum stupet, obtutuque haeret defixus in uno,
regina ad templum, forma pulcherrima Dido,
incessit magna iuvenum stipante caterva.
In these lines, we learn that __________.
Dido is praying
Dido is attacking someone
A crowd is staring at Dido
Dido is greeting a crowd
A crowd is staring at Dido
In this passage, a crowd is staring at Dido. We can tell this because of the many words used describing this action:
"Aeneae miranda videntur": it seems she must be admired (gazed at) by Aeneas
"stupet": he is astounded
"obtutuque": and with a gaze
and so on.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.494-497)
Certified Tutor
Certified Tutor
All AP Latin Resources
