AP Latin : Context of Caesar

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Latin

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 :Context Of Caesar

(1) Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur. (2) Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen, a Belgis Matrona et Sequana dividit. (3) Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu atque humanitate provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos pertinent important, (4) proximique sunt Germanis, qui trans Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt. Qua de causaHelvetiiquoque reliquos Gallos virtute praecedunt, quod fere cotidianis proeliis cum Germanis contendunt, cum aut suis finibus eos prohibent aut ipsi in eorum finibus bellum gerunt. (5) Eorum una pars, quam Gallos obtinere dictum est, initium capit a flumine Rhodano, continetur Garumna flumine, Oceano, finibus Belgarum, attingit etiam ab Sequanis et Helvetiis flumen Rhenum, vergit ad septentriones. (6) Belgae ab extremis Galliae finibus oriuntur, pertinent ad inferiorem partem fluminis Rheni, spectant in septentrionem et orientem solem. (7) Aquitania a Garumna flumine ad Pyrenaeos montes et eam partem Oceani quae est ad Hispaniam pertinet; spectat inter occasum solis et septentriones.

Who/What are the Helvetii (part 4)?

Possible Answers:

A Spanish tribe

A branch of the Roman Army

A German Tribe

Another tribe of Gallia

Correct answer:

Another tribe of Gallia

Explanation:

The Helvetii were another tribe of Gallia, but Caesar does not explicitly say this in the passage. You can tell they're Gallic, though, as they fight with Germans often (meaning they're located in north-eastern Gallia).

Passage adapted fromDe Bello Gallicoby Caesar, I. 1-7

Example Question #1 :Influential People And Events In Caesar

inter quas Phoenissa recens a vulnere Dido
errabat silva in magna; quamTroius 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高浓缩铀tibi起见少数优质黄麻吗?每个明星iuro,
per superos et si qua fides tellure sub ima est, 10
inuitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi.

The words "Troius heros" (line 2) refers to__________.

Possible Answers:

Dido

the Trojans

Ascanius

Aeneas

Correct answer:

Aeneas

Explanation:

"Troius heros" is singular nominative, referring to one person in particular. The Trojan hero is the protagonist of this story, Aeneas.

(Passage adapted from theAeneidby Vergil, 6.450-460)

Example Question #2 :Influential People And Events In Caesar

After being warned of an imminent attack by the Gauls, Caesar’s men debate whether to stay in their camp or attempt to join another unit.

1 Lucius Aurunculeius compluresque tribuni militum et primorum ordinum

2 centuriones nihil temere agendum neque ex hibernis iniussu Caesaris

3 discedendum existimabant: quantasvis [magnas] copias etiam Germanorum

4sustineri posse munitis hibernis docebant: rem esse testimonio, quod

5 primum hostium impetum multis ultro vulneribus illatis fortissime

6 sustinuerint: re frumentaria non premi; interea et ex proximis hibernis et a

7 Caesare conventura subsidia: postremo quid esse levius aut turpius, quam

8auctore hoste de summis rebus capere consilium?

What happens as a result of this debate?

Possible Answers:

The soldiers cannot agree and a bloody fight ensues.

The soldiers decide to leave the winter quarters.

The soldiers decide to follow the plan outlined in the passage above.

Half of the soldiers defect to the enemy.

Correct answer:

The soldiers decide to leave the winter quarters.

Explanation:

While the above action, to stay in the winter quarters and wait until help arrives, is the sensible option, the generals Sabinus and Cotta eventually decide to leave the camp. Tricked by the enemy, most of the men are killed in an ambush.

(Passage adapted fromGallicWars,5:28)

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