AP Latin : Syllabus Passages
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Syllabus Passages
Hinc via Tartarei quae fert Acherontis ad undas.
turbidus hic caeno vastaque voragine gurges
aestuat atque omnem Cocyto eructat harenam.
Portitor has horrendus aquas et flumina servat
terribili squalore Charon, cui plurima mento 5
canities inculta iacet, stant lumina flamma,
sordidus ex umeris nodo dependet amictus.
Ipse ratem conto subigit velisque ministrat
et ferruginea subvectat corpora cumba,
iam senior, sed cruda deo viridisque senectus. 10
Huc omnis turba ad ripas effusa ruebat,
matres atque viri defunctaque corpora vita
magnanimum heroum, pueri innuptaeque puellae,
impositique rogis iuvenes ante ora parentum . . .
In this exerpt, the author is describing __________.
Sailing across the Mediterranean
The gods
The voyage to the underworld
Olympus
The voyage to the underworld
In this passage, the author is describing the journey to the underworld. We know this because Charon, the ferryman to the underworld, is mentioned, in addition to other words that translate as the underworld, bodies, Acheron, Cocytus and so on. All of these words refer to the underworld.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.295-308)
Example Question #32 : Syllabus Passages
Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:
'aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
ingreditur victorque viros supereminet omnis.
hic rem Romanam magno turbante tumultu
sistet eques, sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem, 5
tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.'
atque hic Aeneas (una namque ire videbat
egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,
sed frons laeta parum et deiecto lumina vultu)
'quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem? 10
filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?
qui strepitus circa comitum! quantum instar in ipso!
In lines 2-6, who is speaking?
Aeneas
Quirinus
Marcellus
Anchises
Anchises
In this passage, Anchises is the first one to speak. Often, Vergil introduces a new speaker with "sic _____," instead of using words like "inquit" or "ait."
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
Example Question #33 : Syllabus Passages
Aeneas miratus enim motusque tumultu
'dic,' ait, 'o virgo, quid vult concursus ad amnem?
quidve petunt animae? vel quo discrimine ripas
hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?'
olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos: 5
'Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,
Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,
di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.
haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est . . .
In lines 1-4 of the passage, we learn that __________.
Aeneas is speaking to a god
Aeneas is looking at the future
Something is happening at the river bank
Aeneas is consulting an oracle
Something is happening at the river bank
In lines 1-4 of the passage, we learn that something is happening by the river. The first line states that Aeneas is amazed and moved by the commotion. In lines 1-4, he is asking about what is going on and why it is happening.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)
Example Question #34 : Syllabus Passages
inter quas Phoenissa recens a vulnere Dido
errabat silva in magna; quam Troius heros
ut primum iuxta stetit agnovitque per umbras
obscuram, qualem primo qui surgere mense
aut videt aut vidisse putat per nubila lunam, 5
demisit lacrimas dulcique adfatus amore est:
'infelix Dido, verus mihi nuntius ergo
venerat exstinctam ferroque extrema secutam?
funeris heu tibi causa fui? per sidera iuro,
per superos et si qua fides tellure sub ima est, 10
inuitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi.
How does Dido feel?
Sad
Angry
Happy
Apathetic
Sad
In this passage, we can tell that Dido is very sad. Many words like "vulnere," "lacrimas," "infelix," and so on are in reference to Dido's emotions. She is crying and emotionally wounded.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.450-460)
Example Question #11 : Passage Comprehension In Vergil
1 Quod genus hoc hominum? Quaeve hunc tam barbara morem
2 permittit patria? Hospitio prohibemur harenae;
3 bella cient, primaque vetant consistere terra.
4 Si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma
5 at sperate deos memores fandi atque nefandi.
6 Rex erat Aeneas nobis, quo iustior alter,
7 nec pietate fuit, nec bello maior et armis.
In the statement "hospitio…terra" (lines 2-3), what is Ilioneus accusing Dido’s men of doing?
Attempting to kill Aeneas.
Depriving them of food.
Forbidding them from landing on shore.
Forbidding them from speaking to the queen.
Forbidding them from landing on shore.
The lines translate as, We are forbidden from the hospitality of the shore, they stir up wars, and they forbid [us] from stopping on the borders of the land. Dido’s men are keeping the survivors of Aeneas’ fleet from landing on shore and staying on their land. Ilioneus has come to beg for a safe place to stay for him and his men.
(Passage adapted from The Aeneid of Vergil 1. 539-546)
Example Question #35 : Syllabus Passages
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
How is the underlined word "alta" in line 3 translated?
Mountains
Sea
High places
Sky
Sea
The word "alta" can, confusingly enough, refer to both high and low places. Its meaning all depends on the context of the sentence it is in. Here, Neptune is mentioned. Since one of the translations for "alta" (in context) is sea, this makes sense as the translation. Additionally, the word "alta" is being modified by the word "tranquilla" (peaceful or tranquil), a word that is commonly used to describe the ocean in Latin text.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 2.201-215)
Example Question #36 : 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
Translate "tenuere."
They are held
To hold
They held
They hold
They held
The form "tenuere" is a shortened form of the word "tenuerunt." These shortened forms are recognizable by the use of the perfect stem ("teneo," "tenere," "tenui," "tentus") plus the "ere" ending. Therefore, the correct translation is they held.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.12-16)
Example Question #36 : Syllabus Passages
Corripuere viam interea, qua semita monstrat.
Iamque ascendebant collem, qui plurimus urbi
imminet, adversasque adspectat desuper arces.
"Corripuere" translates as __________.
They were seized
They seize
They seized
To seize
They seized
The form "corripuere" is a shortened form of the word "corripuerunt." These shortened forms are recognizable by the use of the perfect stem ("corripio," "corripere," "corripui," "correptus") plus the "ere" ending. Therefore, the correct translation is they seized.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.418-420)
Example Question #37 : Syllabus Passages
Hinc via Tartarei quae fert Acherontis ad undas.
turbidus hic caeno vastaque voragine gurges
aestuat atque omnem Cocyto eructat harenam.
Portitor has horrendus aquas et flumina servat
terribili squalore Charon, cui plurima mento 5
canities inculta iacet, stant lumina flamma,
sordidus ex umeris nodo dependet amictus.
Ipse ratem conto subigit velisque ministrat
et ferruginea subvectat corpora cumba,
iam senior, sed cruda deo viridisque senectus. 10
Huc omnis turba ad ripas effusa ruebat,
matres atque viri defunctaque corpora vita
magnanimum heroum, pueri innuptaeque puellae,
impositique rogis iuvenes ante ora parentum . . .
How is "ora" (line 14) translated?
Shores
Faces
Expressions
Mouths
Faces
The best translation for "ora" is faces. While "ora" comes from "os, oris," which means mouth, it is often used to refer to a person's face or expression. In context here, however, faces makes the most sense.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.295-308)
Example Question #38 : Syllabus Passages
Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:
'aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis
ingreditur victorque viros supereminet omnis.
hic rem Romanam magno turbante tumultu
sistet eques, sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem, 5
tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.'
atque hic Aeneas (una namque ire videbat
egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,
sed frons laeta parum et deiecto lumina vultu)
'quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem? 10
filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?
qui strepitus circa comitum! quantum instar in ipso!
"Hic" (line 4) translates as __________.
this
he
here
there
here
"Hic" can also be used to indicate direction when not referring to any particular person. Vergil is using "hic" here to indicate a sequence of events.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
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