- In the passage, lenire means
Answer: to soothe
The correct answer is 'to soothe.' Lenire is the present active infinitive of lenio, -ire, which means 'to soften, soothe, calm.' Aeneas wants to soothe the grieving person (dolentem). 'To read' (A) is legere. 'To leave' (C) is linquere or relinquere. 'To be slow' (D) would be lentum esse, related to the adjective lentus, not lenis (gentle).
- In the passage, the phrase quanto opere means
Answer: how greatly
The correct answer is 'how greatly.' The phrase quanto opere (often written as one word, quantopere) is an idiom meaning 'how greatly' or 'how much.' It introduces an indirect question here. 'With what work' (A) is a literal translation that misses the idiomatic sense. 'How many works' (C) would use quot opera. 'Because of the work' (D) would be propter opus.
- In the sentence, what does erectis mean?
Answer: Roused
The correct answer is 'Roused.' The phrase animis...erectis is an ablative absolute. While erigo can mean 'to build' or 'raise up' physically, in the context of animis (spirits, minds), it has the figurative meaning of 'to stir up' or 'rouse.' 'Built' (A) is too literal. 'Corrected' (B) would be correctis (from corrigo). 'Chosen' (C) would be electis (from eligo), which is a common confusion.
- In the line, the best meaning of certans is
Answer: striving
The correct answer is 'striving.' Certans is the present active participle of certo, certare, which means 'to contend, strive, compete.' 'Deciding' (A) would be cernens. 'Being certain' (B) is a common error based on the adjective certus, -a, -um (certain). 'Surrounding' (C) would be cingens.
- In this context, parce is best translated as
Answer: be sparing of
The correct answer is 'be sparing of.' Parce is the imperative of parco, parcere, which takes a dative object. While it can mean 'to forgive,' its primary meaning is 'to spare, be sparing of, use sparingly.' In the context of the futuro (the future), it advises not to squander or rely on it, making 'be sparing of' the most accurate translation. 'Forgive' (B) is a possible meaning but less likely in this philosophical context. 'Prepare for' (A) is para. 'Appear to' (D) is pare.
- In this context, culti is best translated as
Answer: refined
The correct answer is 'refined.' The adjective cultus, -a, -um (from colo, colere) has a range of meanings. When applied to land, it means 'cultivated,' but when applied to a person or, as here, a literary style (ingenii), it means 'polished, refined, elegant.' Pliny is saying the talent is too refined. 'Worshipped' (A) is another meaning of colo, but it does not fit the context. 'Overgrown' (B) is an incorrect interpretation of 'cultivated'. 'Hidden' (C) would be occulti.
- The best meaning for the adverb Extemplo is
Answer: immediately
The correct answer is 'immediately.' Extemplo is a common epic adverb meaning 'immediately, at once, forthwith.' 'As an example' (A) would be exemplo. 'From the temple' (B) is a false etymological translation based on ex + templo; while this is the origin of the word, it does not represent its meaning. 'For a long time' (D) is the opposite, and would be diu.
- In this context, the best translation for impetu is
Answer: by an attack
The correct answer is 'by an attack.' Impetu is the ablative singular of impetus, -us, m., meaning 'attack, charge, force.' The phrase impetu facto is an ablative absolute meaning 'with an attack having been made.' 'With a request' (A) is a confusion with the verb impetro (to obtain by request). 'On foot' (B) would be pede. 'Without piety' (D) would be sine pietate.
- In the sentence, vitia means
Answer: faults
The correct answer is 'faults.' Vitium, -i, n. means 'fault, vice, crime.' The verb sanare (to heal) confirms that vitia refers to negative qualities that need correcting. 'Lives' (A) is vitae, which appears earlier in the sentence, making this a potent distractor based on similarity. 'Vines' (B) is vites. 'Men' (D) is viros.
- In the sentence, what does adeo mean?
Answer: to such a degree
The correct answer is 'to such a degree.' The adverb adeo means 'so, so much, to such a degree.' It often introduces a result clause, as it does here (ut non...possit). 'To this place' (A) is a common error, confusing the adverb with the verb adire (to go to). 'In addition' (B) would be praeterea or ad hoc. 'Therefore' (C) would be itaque or ideo.
- In this line, fatus erat means
Answer: he had spoken
The correct answer is 'he had spoken.' Fatus erat is the pluperfect indicative of the deponent verb for, fari, fatus sum, which means 'to speak.' Deponent verbs have passive forms but active meanings. 'He had been made' (A) is the pluperfect passive of facio (factus erat) and a common confusion. 'Fate had been' (B) incorrectly connects the verb to the noun fatum. 'He was tired' (D) would be fessus erat.
- In the sentence, the meaning of fovere is
Answer: to keep warm
The correct answer is 'to keep warm.' Foveo, fovere means 'to keep warm, cherish, support.' In the context of a small fire (igniculum), 'to keep warm' is the most appropriate translation. 'To avoid' (A) would be vitare or fugere. 'To dig' (B) would be fodere. 'To fear' (C) would be timere or metuere.
- In the sentence, the word utrum means
Answer: whether
This question tests your knowledge of indirect questions in Latin, specifically the conjunction utrum that introduces alternative indirect questions.
When you see utrum followed by an (whether...or), you're looking at a classic Latin construction for expressing doubt or uncertainty about alternatives. In this sentence, the citizens affected by fear didn't know whether they should stay or flee. The verb nesciebant (they didn't know) signals an indirect question, and utrum...an presents the two possibilities they were uncertain about.
Answer A (whether) is correct because utrum introduces the first part of an indirect double question, creating the meaning "whether...or." This fits perfectly with the context of citizens uncertain about their course of action.
Answer B (each) confuses utrum with uterque, which means "each of two" or "both." While both words relate to pairs, utrum is a conjunction, not a pronoun meaning "each."
Answer C (that) mistakes utrum for ut or quod, which introduce other types of subordinate clauses. The word that doesn't capture the alternative nature of what the citizens were considering.
Answer D (which of two) confuses utrum with uter, the interrogative pronoun meaning "which of two." Though related etymologically, utrum functions as a conjunction in indirect questions, not as a pronoun.
Remember: utrum + an = "whether...or" in indirect questions. This construction appears frequently in Latin prose, so recognizing it will serve you well throughout the exam.
- The word aemularis is best understood as
Answer: you imitate
This question tests your ability to recognize Latin deponent verbs and their active meanings despite their passive forms.
The key to understanding aemularis lies in recognizing that aemulor, aemulari is a deponent verb. Deponent verbs have passive forms but active meanings. Here, aemularis is the second person singular present indicative of aemulor, meaning "to imitate" or "to emulate." The context supports this: the speaker mentions having an uncle of remarkable industry "whom you truly imitate" - a logical statement praising someone for following a good example.
Looking at the incorrect options: B) "you are loved" would come from a verb like amor or diligior, not aemulor. C) "you are eager" might come from studeo or similar verbs expressing desire, but aemulor specifically means to copy or rival someone's behavior. D) "you are imitated" treats aemularis as a true passive form, but deponent verbs don't work this way - they maintain active meaning even in passive form.
The correct answer is A) "you imitate" because aemularis is the active-meaning deponent form expressing the action of imitating the worthy uncle.
When you encounter unfamiliar verb forms on the AP Latin exam, always consider whether you're dealing with a deponent verb. These verbs are common in Latin literature and frequently tested. Remember: deponent = passive form, active meaning. Learning the most common deponents (sequor, loquor, morior, nascor, aemulor) will serve you well.
- In the line, ore is best translated as
Answer: mouth
This question tests your ability to recognize Latin noun forms and their meanings in context. When you encounter vocabulary questions on the AP Latin exam, always consider both the grammatical form and the semantic context to determine the best translation.
The word ore is the ablative singular form of os, oris (n.), meaning "mouth" or "face." In this passage, the phrase "cantat in ore sinus" creates a poetic image where Rome is said to sing "our heart in [her] mouth" - essentially meaning that Rome speaks from the heart about the poet's works. The ablative case here indicates location ("in the mouth"), which is a standard use of the ablative of place where.
Looking at the wrong answers: (B) "bone" would be from os, ossis (n.), a completely different noun that happens to have the same nominative singular form but different declension patterns. (C) "gold" (aurum) and (D) "shore" (litus or ripa) have no morphological connection to ore and don't fit the context of the passage, which focuses on speaking, singing, and praising.
The key contextual clue is the verb cantat ("sings"), which naturally pairs with mouth-related imagery. The parallelism between the first and second lines also supports this interpretation, as both describe Rome's vocal appreciation of the poet's work.
Remember that Latin often has homonyms with different declensions (os/oris vs. os/ossis). Always check the context and consider which meaning creates coherent sense with the surrounding words and grammatical structures.
- In the passage, deliciae means
Answer: darling
The correct answer is 'darling.' Deliciae, -arum, f. pl. means 'delight, pleasure, darling, pet.' Here, it refers to the sparrow, the girl's beloved pet. 'Choices' (A) would be dilectus or a similar word. 'Sorrows' (B) would be dolores. 'Tricks' (C) would be doli.
- In the passage, Cicero appeals to listeners: "*Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?*" (How long will you abuse our patience?); what is the meaning of patientia?
Answer: endurance and forbearance
This question tests AP Latin comprehension and translation, specifically understanding the meaning of 'patientia' in context. Latin words often have multiple meanings that depend on context; understanding requires recognizing nuances and contextual clues. In this passage, Cicero's famous opening 'Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?' uses 'patientia' in the context of political forbearance being tested. Choice A is correct because it accurately reflects the contextual meaning of 'patientia' in this passage, where it refers to endurance and forbearance. Choice B is incorrect because it interprets 'patientia' as medical patience, which is a common error when students apply specialized modern meanings. To help students: Encourage careful analysis of rhetorical questions and their emotional impact. Practice translating famous speeches where political vocabulary carries specific connotations.
- The word clades means
Answer: a disaster
The correct answer is 'a disaster.' Clades, cladis, f. means 'destruction, disaster, defeat.' The context of pavor (panic) and the adjectives subita et gravis (sudden and serious) supports this meaning. 'A shout' (A) is clamor. 'A class' (B) is classis. 'A key' (C) is clavis. These distractors are based on similar-sounding Latin words.
- In this line, subit is best translated as
Answer: approaches
The correct answer is 'approaches.' The verb subeo, subire is a compound of sub (under) and eo (go). While its literal meaning is 'to go under,' it idiomatically means 'to come up, approach, undergo, or occur to someone.' Here, it means that a rumor (fama) approaches or arises. 'Is under' (A) reflects a misunderstanding of how the prefix functions in the compound verb. 'Perishes' (B) would be perit. 'Is thrown' (D) would be iacitur.
- In the sentence, what does veniam mean?
Answer: pardon
The correct answer is 'pardon.' Veniam is the accusative singular of venia, -ae, f., which means 'pardon, favor, forgiveness.' The envoy was sent to seek a pardon for a friend. 'Arrival' (A) would be adventum or ventum (from venio). 'Poison' (C) is venenum. 'A hunt' (D) is venatio. The distractors are based on similar-looking Latin words.
