AP Latin : Context-Based Meaning of Words and Phrases in Vergil
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin
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Example Questions
Example Question #34 : 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?
Sky
Sea
Mountains
High places
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 #35 : 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."
To hold
They hold
They are held
They held
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 seize
They seized
They were 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
Mouths
Expressions
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
here
there
he
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)
Example Question #1 : 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 centaur
the horse
the knight
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 #41 : 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!
The word "lumina" (line 9) is best translated as __________.
eyes
lights
reflections
shining
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 #42 : 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)?
Those
The bones
So
For that one
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 #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 . . .
"Di" (line 8) translates as which of the following?
Give
For her
He gave
The gods
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 #44 : 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?
That
Why
So 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)
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