AP Latin : Syllabus Passages
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #3 : Context Based Meaning Of Words And Phrases In Vergil
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!
The word "eques" (line 5) translates as __________.
the horses
the knight
the centaur
the horse
the knight
The word "eques" comes form "eques, equitis" and is the word for a knight or equestrian. This word can be used to both refer to cavalry or the Roman business class. The use of this word here is to probably denote one of the original founders of Rome (of the upper class).
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
Example Question #4 : Context Based Meaning Of Words And Phrases In Vergil
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!
The word "lumina" (line 9) is best translated as __________.
shining
eyes
lights
reflections
eyes
"Lumina" is often used to refer to eyes, in addition to actual lights. We know that eyes is the best translation here because the author is talking about a facial expression: the eyes on the downturned face.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
Example Question #43 : 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 . . .
What is the translation of "olli" (line 5)?
For that one
The bones
Those
So
For that one
"Olli" is an old form of "ille, illa, illud." He is using Old Latin like a modern writer using a word like "hence" or "thy." "Olli" declines in the same fashion as "ille, illa, illud." "Olli" here is most likely in the dative case since it does not make sense for it to be nominative (the verb is not plural). So, it is making a statement that refers to a particular person.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)
Example Question #44 : 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 . . .
"Di" (line 8) translates as which of the following?
The gods
For her
He gave
Give
The gods
The word "di" is a shortened form of "dei," from the word "deus, dei." This form is always the nominative or vocative plural and translates as gods.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.317-325)
Example Question #45 : 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.
"Ut" (line 3) translates as which of the following?
So that
Why
That
As
As
"Ut" in this line is not accompanied by a subjunctive verb. Therefore, that rules out that and so that as translations. The most appropriate translation is as because the word is being used to indicate a sequence of events. "Ut" does not translate as why.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.450-460)
Example Question #41 : 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.
The word "de" (line 11) is best translated as which of the following?
Down from
From
According to
About
From
All of the above answer choices are possible translations of "de," but the use of the word "cessi" (I ran) makes from the most appropriate choice due to context: I ran from you and the shore.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.450-460)
Example Question #42 : Syllabus Passages
Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem, 5
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.
What is the best translation of "conderet" (line 5)?
He defended
He attacked
He watched
He founded
He founded
The word "conderet" comes from "condo, condere, condidi, conditus," which means to found, especially when in reference to a city, country, etc.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)
Example Question #43 : 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
How does "hic" in line 6 translate?
This
He
Then
Here
Here
The word "hic" is often translated as here if it is being used to show direction. It is possible that "hic" is modifying "currus," but it is used in the same way in the phrase "hic illius arma," in which "hic" definitely cannot modify "arma."
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 1.1-7)
Example Question #1 : Authors And Literary Conventions 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
"Laocoonta" in line 13 is an example of __________.
Greek accusative
ablative case
vocative case
Greek genitive
Greek accusative
"Laocoonta" is an example of the Greek accusative. Latin authors tend to sprinkle some Greek into their works here and there. Usually, it is just in the nominative or accusative form, used to refer to Greek things or people. Usually, the Greek words used end in "-a."
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 2.201-215)
Example Question #2 : Authors And Literary Conventions In Vergil
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!
What case is "omnis" (line 3)?
Ablative
Genitive
Accusative
Dative
Accusative
"Omnis" is in the accusative case. It is not unusual for authors to use "-is" instead of "-es" as the ending for third declension nouns. Context is essential in order to identify the use of the words when this occurs. In this case, "omnis" is being used as an adjective to describe "viros," an accusative plural noun.
(Passage adapted from the Aeneid by Vergil, 6.854-865)
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