Skip to main content

Study Guide

Field 026: Latin
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

Expand All Answers | Collapse All Answers

Sample Test Directions

This test consists of two sections: 1) a section with multiple-choice questions and 2) a language translation section. The directions for each section appear before that section.

Each question in the first section of this test is a multiple-choice question with four answer choices. Read each question and answer choice carefully and choose the ONE best answer. Try to answer all questions. In general, if you have some knowledge about a question, it is better to try to answer it. You will NOT be penalized for guessing.

The second section of this test consists of two written translation assignments. You will be asked to translate two selections of Latin.

Subarea II—LANGUAGE STRUCTURES AND COMPARISONS

Objective 004—Understand the connections between Latin and English.

1. English expresses the duration of time with the preposition "for" (e.g., "I slept for eight hours."). Latin uses which of the following cases to express extent of time?

  1. ablative
  2. genitive
  3. accusative
  4. dative
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

2. Both English and Latin use which of the following types of words to begin a relative clause?

  1. conjunction
  2. adjective
  3. adverb
  4. pronoun
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

3. English can show possession with an apostrophe. With which of the following cases can Latin show possession?

  1. accusative
  2. nominative
  3. ablative
  4. dative
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

Subarea III—CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, COMPARISONS, AND CONNECTIONS

Objective 005—Understand the products and perspectives of Roman culture.

4. The hills surrounding Rome, such as the Alban hills, were used for which of the following purposes?

  1. silver mining
  2. ship building
  3. water sources
  4. grain storage
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

5. The authors of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights of the United States of America were most influenced by which of the following forms of Roman government?

  1. dictatorship
  2. empire
  3. republic
  4. monarchy
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 006—Understand the practices (e.g., political and economic practices, practices of daily life and communication) and perspectives of Roman culture.

6. Which of the following best describes the main purpose of the sacrifices that ancient Romans made every February at the Parentalia festival?

  1. to honor the dead
  2. to pay tribute to newly chosen consuls
  3. to purify the city
  4. to propitiate the city's patron deity
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

Subarea IV—LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT

Objective 007—Understand processes of language acquisition and the principles and practices of instruction and assessment in the language classroom.

7. A teacher of an advanced Latin class assigns a poem by Catullus whose interpretation is controversial. The teacher brings the issue to the students' attention and invites discussion. Which of the following discussion activities would most encourage students to think critically about the interpretation of the poem?

  1. dividing the class into groups that must each support a different position on the poem
  2. placing the poem in context with others whose themes or meanings may be helpful in interpreting the poem
  3. generating a list of points on the board that support various interpretations of the poem
  4. providing articles for students to read explaining the different interpretations of the poem
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 008—Understand the integration of standards into language curriculum and instruction and the role of the teacher as a professional.

8. A new teacher of Latin is establishing and collecting content for a professional teaching portfolio. The teacher sets a goal to frequently read and research various forms of Latin texts, textbooks, and teaching methods and to document these research activities regularly in the portfolio. This activity best demonstrates that the teacher recognizes which of the following aspects of professional development for a language teacher?

  1. the opportunity to evaluate new materials before incorporating them into classroom instruction
  2. the importance of reflecting on ways to keep informed about recent trends in teaching classical language and culture
  3. the role a teacher has in being a good model of continued language learning for students
  4. the ability to keep accurate records of what methods are being used to develop up-to-date teaching materials
Answer
Correct Response: B.

9. Which of the following best describes the role of student benchmarks in the world language classroom?

  1. Benchmarks help state and national organizations determine how closely each school system is following the national standards.
  2. Benchmarks serve as entrance exams for the next level of language study.
  3. Benchmarks identify students who should be screened for learning disorders.
  4. Benchmarks help teachers and other educational personnel get a sense of how well the curriculum is aligned with the national standards.
Answer
Correct Response: D.

MULTIPLE-SUBAREA PASSAGES

Read the passage below and answer the two questions that follow.

Diffugere nives, redeunt iam gramina campis
arboribusque comae;

mutat terra vices, et decrescentia ripas
flumina praetereunt;

Gratia cum Nymphis geminisque sororibus audet
ducere nuda choros.

Immortalia ne speres, monet annus et almum
quae rapit hora diem.

(Horace, c. 4.7.1–8)

Objective 001—Apply literal comprehension skills to Latin prose and poetry.

10. Which of the following does this poem describe?

  1. heavy snow falling
  2. grass growing again
  3. rivers flooding
  4. leaves falling from trees
Answer
Correct Response: B.
Objective 002—Apply skills of inference and interpretation to Latin prose and poetry.

11. What lesson from nature does the poet offer here?

  1. Snow covers both virtue and vice.
  2. Nothing lasts forever.
  3. The gods care for mortals.
  4. Leaders are born not made.
Answer
Correct Response: B.

Read the passage below and answer the three questions that follow.

1 Quieta Gallia, Caesar, ut constituerat, in Italiam ad conventus agendos
proficiscitur. Ibi cognoscit de Clodi caede, de senatusque consulto certior
factus, ut omnes iuniores Italiae coniurarent, dilectum tota provincia habere
instituit. Eae res in Galliam Transalpinam celeriter perferuntur. Addunt
5 ipsi et adfingunt rumoribus Galli quod res poscere videbatur, retineri urbano
motu Caesarem neque in tantis dissensionibus ad exercitum venire posse.
Hac impulsi occasione qui iam ante se populi Romani imperio subiectos
dolerent liberius atque audacius de bello consilia inire incipiunt.

(Caesar, De Bello Gallico, 7.1)

Objective 001—Apply literal comprehension skills to Latin prose and poetry.

12. Which of the following happened after Caesar decided to recruit young men in transalpine Gaul?

  1. Gauls plan for war.
  2. Caesar subdued Gaul.
  3. Caesar learned about Clodius.
  4. Gauls dissent among themselves.
Answer
Correct Response: A.
Objective 002—Apply skills of inference and interpretation to Latin prose and poetry.

13. Based on this passage, which of the following outcomes is most likely?

  1. Caesar will remain in Italy for military enrollment.
  2. The Senate will hold a trial for the death of Clodius.
  3. The Gauls will begin to revolt against Roman rule.
  4. Dissension will arise among Caesar's army.
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Objective 003—Demonstrate knowledge of the grammatical and syntactic structures of Latin.

14. Which of the following uses of the subjunctive governs dolerent in line 8?

  1. purpose clause
  2. indirect command
  3. indirect question
  4. relative clause of characteristic
Answer
Correct Response: D.

Read the passage below and answer the three questions that follow.

1 At studuit Catilinae, cum iam aliquot annos esset in foro, Caelius. Et multi
hoc idem ex omni ordine atque ex omni aetate fecerunt. Habuit enim ille,
sicuti meminisse vos arbitror, permulta maximarum non expressa signa sed
adumbrata virtutum. Utebatur hominibus improbis multis ; et quidem
5 optimis se viris deditum esse simulabat. Erant apud illum inlecebrae
libidinum multae ; erant etiam industriae quidam stimuli ac laboris.
Flagrabant vitia libidinis apud illum ; vigebant etiam studia rei militaris.
Neque ego umquam fuisse tale monstrum in terris ullum puto, tam ex
contrariis diversisque atque inter se pugnantibus naturae studiis
10 cupiditatibusque conflatum.

(Cicero, Pro Caelio, 7.1)

Objective 001—Apply literal comprehension skills to Latin prose and poetry.

15. Which of the following best expresses the main idea of this passage?

  1. Catiline cannot control his strong desires.
  2. Good men should not associate with Catiline.
  3. Catiline has a complex and deceptive personality.
  4. There are hints of the greatest virtues in Catiline.
Answer
Correct Response: C.
Objective 002—Apply skills of inference and interpretation to Latin prose and poetry.

16. Which of the following is a likely purpose of this passage?

  1. to contrast the characters of Catiline and of Caelius
  2. to associate Caelius with Catiline's followers
  3. to make an excuse for Catiline's bizarre behavior
  4. to explain why men were drawn to Catiline
Answer
Correct Response: D.
Objective 003—Demonstrate knowledge of the grammatical and syntactic structures of Latin.

17. Which of the following grammatical constructions is represented by the phrase et quidem optimis se viriis deditum esse simulabat in lines 4–5?

  1. indirect statement
  2. ablative absolute
  3. gerundive of purpose
  4. temporal clause
Answer
Correct Response: A.

Read the passage below and answer the three questions that follow.

1 Ita duo duarum civitatium exercitus ad repetendum regnum belloque
persequendos Romanos secuti Tarquinium. Postquam in agrum Romanum
ventum est, obviam hosti consules eunt. Valerius quadrato agmine peditem
ducit: Brutus ad explorandum cum equitatu antecessit. Eodem modo
5 primus eques hostium agminis fuit; praeerat Arruns Tarquinius filius regis,
rex ipse cum legionibus sequebatur. Arruns ubi ex lictoribus procul
consulem esse, deinde iam propius ac certius facie quoque Brutum cognovit,
inflammatus ira 'Ille est vir' inquit 'qui nos extorres expulit patria. Ipse en
ille nostris decoratus insignibus magnifice incedit. Di regum ultores adeste.'
10

(Livy, Ab Urbe Condita, 2.6.5–7)

en (interjection): lo!, behold, see!

Objective 001—Apply literal comprehension skills to Latin prose and poetry.

18. Which of the following is the immediate result of the Romans driving Tarquin from his kingdom?

  1. Two armies converge in Roman territory.
  2. Brutus becomes consul.
  3. Arruns takes command of the army.
  4. The Tarquinians sue for peace.
Answer
Correct Response: A.
Objective 002—Apply skills of inference and interpretation to Latin prose and poetry.

19. Based on the passage, which of the following outcomes is most likely?

  1. The consuls will ask for peace.
  2. Arruns will attack Brutus.
  3. The king will help his son.
  4. The Romans will drive out Tarquin.
Answer
Correct Response: B.
Objective 003—Demonstrate knowledge of the grammatical and syntactic structures of Latin.

20. Which of the following grammatical constructions is represented by the phrase ad repetendum regnum in line 1?

  1. present participle
  2. indirect statement
  3. gerundive of purpose
  4. result clause
Answer
Correct Response: C.