- Answer all questions in all three sections.
- Write your answers in the spaces provided (or on separate paper in exam conditions).
- Show answers section by section using the reveal buttons below each section.
- The number of marks is given in brackets after each question.
Section A — Comprehension and Translation
Exam Tip
Read both passages carefully before attempting the questions. Use the vocabulary help provided below each passage.
Passage A1 — A day at a Roman school (about 85 words)
1Rōmae discipulī ad lūdum māne veniēbant. magister sevērus in sellā sedēbat et
2puerōs legere et scrībere docēbat. Mārcus, discipulus dīligēns, versūs Vergiliī
3memoriae mandābat. Gaius autem, quī saepe torpēbat, ā magistrō verberābātur.
4"discere dēbēs," inquit magister īrātus, "nam sine doctōrīnā vita miser est."
5Mārcus autem rogāvit num Cicerō in iuventūte quoque dīligenter studuisset.
6magister rīsit et respondit Cicerōnem omnibus puerīs exemplum optimum esse.
7tandem discipulī domum festīnāvērunt ut cibum caperent et quiēscerent.
lūdus, -ī m. — school •
sevērus, -a, -um — strict •
dīligēns, dīligentis — diligent, hard-working •
versūs, -ūs m. — verse, line of poetry •
memoriae mandāre — to commit to memory •
torpēbat — was lazy, was sluggish •
verberābātur — was being beaten •
doctōrīna, -ae f. — learning, education •
iuventūs, -tūtis f. — youth
Question 1 [10 marks]
Answer the following questions on Passage A1.
(a) When did pupils come to school? [1]
(b) What two things did the teacher teach the boys? [2]
(c) What was Marcus doing (lines 2–3)? [2]
(d) Why was Gaius being beaten (line 3)? [1]
(e) What did the teacher say about life without education (line 4)? [2]
(f) What did the teacher say about Cicero (line 6)? [2]
Question 2 [6 marks]
Identify the grammatical feature in each of the following, taken from Passage A1. Give the Latin word(s) and explain the construction.
(a) festīnāvērunt ut cibum caperent (line 7) — identify the type of clause introduced by ut. [2]
(b) quī saepe torpēbat (line 3) — what type of clause is this? [2]
(c) rogāvit num Cicerō studuisset (line 5) — identify the construction and explain why the subjunctive is used. [2]
Question 3 [20 marks]
Translate the following passage into English. Write your translation below.
Translate lines 1–5 of Passage A1 (Rōmae discipulī … dīligenter studuisset).
Translation Tip
Work through each clause. Watch for the indirect question in lines 5–6 (rogāvit num…) and ensure you render it accurately.
Passage A2 — A farmer tends his land (about 40 words)
8agricola in agrīs labōrābat et terram arābat. fīliī eius, ē vīllā ēgressī,
9patrem adiuvābant. ubi sol occidēbat, frūctūs collectī in horreum portātī sunt.
10agricola, fessus sed laetus, dīxit sē vītam optimam agere.
arābat — was ploughing •
ēgressī — having gone out (perf. part. of ēgredior) •
sol occidēbat — the sun was setting •
frūctūs, -ūs m. — produce, fruit •
horreum, -ī n. — barn, storehouse •
fessus, -a, -um — tired
Question 4 [10 marks]
Answer the following questions on Passage A2.
(a) What was the farmer doing in the fields? Give two details. [2]
(b) Where had the farmer’s sons come from, and what did they do? [2]
(c) frūctūs collectī (line 9) — parse collectī: state its form and explain its agreement. [3]
(d) What did the farmer say at the end (line 10)? [3]
Question 5 [4 marks]
Translate the phrase agricola, fessus sed laetus, dīxit sē vītam optimam agere (line 10) into English.
Section A — Mark Scheme
Q1 (a)
In the morning (māne) [1]
Q1 (b)
To read [1] and to write [1]
Q1 (c)
He was committing verses of Virgil to memory [2] (1 mark for ‘learning / memorising’ + 1 mark for ‘Virgil’s verses’)
Q1 (d)
Because he was often lazy / sluggish [1]
Q1 (e)
Life without education is miserable [2] (1 mark for the idea of misery, 1 mark for ‘without learning/education’)
Q1 (f)
That Cicero was the best example for all boys [2]
Q2 (a)
Purpose clause [1] — ut + subjunctive expresses the reason/aim of hurrying home [1]
Q2 (b)
Relative clause [1] — quī introduces a subordinate clause describing Gaius [1]
Q2 (c)
Indirect question [1] — subjunctive (studuisset) used in indirect question introduced by num after verb of asking [1]
Q3 — Translation (lines 1–5)
At Rome, pupils were coming to school in the morning. The strict teacher was sitting in his chair and was teaching the boys to read and write. Marcus, a diligent pupil, was committing verses of Virgil to memory. Gaius, however, who was often lazy, was being beaten by the teacher. “You must learn,” said the angry teacher, “for without education life is miserable.” Marcus, however, asked whether Cicero too had studied diligently in his youth.
Award marks by sense-groups; penalise mistranslation of tenses where meaningful. Passive rendering of verberābātur required for full marks. Indirect question: ‘whether Cicero had studied’ required.
Q4 (a)
He was working in the fields [1] and ploughing the land [1]
Q4 (b)
From the farmhouse / villa [1]; they helped their father [1]
Q4 (c)
collectī: perfect passive participle [1], masculine nominative plural [1], agreeing with frūctūs (nominative plural subject) [1]
Q4 (d)
He said that he was living the best life [3] (indirect statement: sē…agere — accept ‘he was leading an excellent life’)
Q5 — Translation
The farmer, tired but happy, said that he was living the best life. [4]
1 mark: agricola fessus sed laetus (farmer, tired but happy); 1 mark: dīxit sē…agere (said that he…); 2 marks: vītam optimam agere (was living/leading the best life). Deduct 1 for missing indirect statement marker (‘that he’).
Section B — Directed Writing and Grammar
Passage B1 — Roman justice (about 50 words)
11iūdex in forō sedēbat dum reus ante eum stābat. ōrātor clārissimus, ab amīcīs
12reī rogātus, causam dīcere cōnstituit. diū loquēbātur ut iūdicem movēret.
13tandem iūdex, rē cognitā, reum innocentem esse dēclārāvit. ita iūs Rōmānum
14omnibus cīvibus praesidium praebēbat.
iūdex, iūdicis m. — judge •
reus, -ī m. — the accused, defendant •
ōrātor, ōrātōris m. — orator, advocate •
causam dīcere — to plead a case •
rē cognitā — the matter having been examined (abl. abs.) •
praesidium, -ī n. — protection
Passage B2 — Orpheus and Eurydice (about 50 words)
15Orpheus, uxōre āmissā, ad īnferōs dēscendit. cantū suō Plūtōnem adeō
16movit ut ille Eurydīcen remittere constitueret. Plūtō tamen praecēpit nē
17Orpheus, dum ascendēbat, uxōrem aspiceret. Orpheus autem timōre victus
18respēxit — Eurydīcēque in umbrās iterum rapta est.
āmissā — having been lost (abl. abs. with uxōre) •
īnferī, -ōrum m. pl. — the underworld •
cantus, -ūs m. — song, singing •
adeō — so much, to such a degree •
praecēpit nē — commanded that…not (indirect command) •
aspiceret — should look at •
respēxit — he looked back •
umbrae, -ārum f. pl. — shadows, shades (of the dead)
Question 6 [8 marks]
Identify the grammatical construction in each of the following, taken from passages B1 and B2. Give the Latin words and explain the construction.
(a) rē cognitā (line 13) [2]
(b) rogātus (line 11–12) — what type of participle is this and what does the phrase mean? [2]
(c) praecēpit nē Orpheus aspiceret (lines 16–17) [2]
(d) cantū suō Plūtōnem adeō movit ut ille remittere constitueret (lines 15–16) [2]
Question 7 [8 marks]
Parse the following Latin words. For each, state: part of speech, person/number/gender/case/tense/voice/mood as appropriate.
(a) sedēbat (line 11) [2]
(b) clārissimus (line 11) [2]
(c) dēclārāvit (line 13) [2]
(d) rapta est (line 18) [2]
Question 8 [10 marks]
Translate Passage B2 (lines 15–18) into English.
Question 9 [4 marks]
Explain the construction uxōre āmissā (line 15). State: (i) the name of this construction; (ii) the case used; (iii) the form of āmissā; (iv) what the phrase contributes to the meaning of the sentence.
Section B — Mark Scheme
Q6 (a)
Ablative absolute [1] — rē cognitā = ‘the matter having been examined/investigated’; ablative noun + ablative perfect passive participle [1]
Q6 (b)
Perfect passive participle [1] — ‘having been asked by his friends’; rogātus agrees with ōrātor [1]
Q6 (c)
Indirect command [1] — praecēpit nē + subjunctive; nē + subjunctive after a verb of commanding expresses a negative command (‘commanded that…not’) [1]
Q6 (d)
Result clause [1] — adeō…ut + subjunctive; the adverb adeō signals that the result was so great that Pluto decided to release Eurydice [1]
Q7 (a)
sedēbat: verb [½] — 3rd person singular [½], imperfect tense [½], active voice [½], indicative mood; from sedeō ‘to sit’ [2 total]
Q7 (b)
clārissimus: adjective [½] — superlative degree [1] — masculine nominative singular [½]; ‘very famous / most famous’ [2 total]
Q7 (c)
dēclārāvit: verb [½] — 3rd person singular [½], perfect tense [1], active voice [½]; ‘he declared / announced’ [2 total]
Q7 (d)
rapta est: verb [½] — 3rd person singular [½], perfect tense [½], passive voice [½], indicative mood; ‘she was seized / snatched’ [2 total]
Q8 — Translation (lines 15–18)
Orpheus, his wife having been lost, descended to the underworld. With his singing he moved Pluto so much that Pluto decided to send Eurydice back. Pluto, however, commanded that Orpheus should not look at his wife while he was ascending. But Orpheus, overcome by fear, looked back — and Eurydice was snatched into the shadows again.
Mark by sense-groups (2+3+3+2). Ablative absolute (uxōre āmissā) and result clause (adeō…ut) must be correctly rendered. Indirect command (praecēpit nē) requires subjunctive sense in English.
Q9
(i) Ablative absolute [1]
(ii) Ablative case [1]
(iii) āmissā: perfect passive participle, feminine ablative singular (from āmittō) [1]
(iv) Provides temporal or causal background — ‘because/when his wife had been lost’; separates the subordinate idea from the main clause without a conjunction [1]
(ii) Ablative case [1]
(iii) āmissā: perfect passive participle, feminine ablative singular (from āmittō) [1]
(iv) Provides temporal or causal background — ‘because/when his wife had been lost’; separates the subordinate idea from the main clause without a conjunction [1]
Section C — English into Latin
Exam Tip
Each sentence tests a specific construction. Identify the construction first, then apply it carefully. Pay attention to tense, voice, and mood.
Question 10 [20 marks]
Translate each of the following sentences into Latin. [4 marks each]
(a) Fearing clause with nē [4]
The general feared that the soldiers would flee.
(b) Indirect question with num [4]
The teacher asked whether the pupils had learned the words.
(c) Passive periphrastic (gerundive of obligation) [4]
The city had to be defended by the citizens.
(d) Participle agreement [4]
The women, having heard the news, hurried to the forum.
(e) cum + pluperfect subjunctive [4]
When the soldiers had returned to the camp, the commander gave a speech.
Section C — Mark Scheme
Q10 (a) — Fearing clause
imperātor timēbat nē mīlitēs fugerent.
1 mark: timēbat (imperfect, correct person)
1 mark: nē (negative particle for fearing clauses)
1 mark: mīlitēs (nominative plural subject)
1 mark: fugerent (imperfect subjunctive — sequence of tenses after imperfect main verb)
1 mark: nē (negative particle for fearing clauses)
1 mark: mīlitēs (nominative plural subject)
1 mark: fugerent (imperfect subjunctive — sequence of tenses after imperfect main verb)
Q10 (b) — Indirect question
magister rogāvit num discipulī verba didicissent.
1 mark: rogāvit (perfect active)
1 mark: num (indirect question particle for yes/no questions)
1 mark: discipulī (nominative plural)
1 mark: didicissent (pluperfect subjunctive — main verb is perfect)
1 mark: num (indirect question particle for yes/no questions)
1 mark: discipulī (nominative plural)
1 mark: didicissent (pluperfect subjunctive — main verb is perfect)
Q10 (c) — Passive periphrastic
urbs ā cīvibus dēfendenda erat.
1 mark: urbs (nominative singular — subject with gerundive)
1 mark: dēfendenda (gerundive agreeing with urbs, feminine nominative singular)
1 mark: ā cīvibus (ablative of agent)
1 mark: erat (imperfect of esse — ‘had to be’ requires past tense)
1 mark: dēfendenda (gerundive agreeing with urbs, feminine nominative singular)
1 mark: ā cīvibus (ablative of agent)
1 mark: erat (imperfect of esse — ‘had to be’ requires past tense)
Q10 (d) — Participle agreement
fēminae, nūntiō audītō, ad forum festīnāvērunt.
1 mark: fēminae (nominative plural subject)
1 mark: nūntiō audītō (ablative absolute with perfect passive participle) OR nūntium auditae (participle agreeing with fēminae)
1 mark: participle correctly formed and agreeing
1 mark: festīnāvērunt (perfect active, 3rd plural)
1 mark: nūntiō audītō (ablative absolute with perfect passive participle) OR nūntium auditae (participle agreeing with fēminae)
1 mark: participle correctly formed and agreeing
1 mark: festīnāvērunt (perfect active, 3rd plural)
Q10 (e) — cum + pluperfect subjunctive
cum mīlitēs ad castra revertissent, imperātor ōrātiōnem habuit.
1 mark: cum + correct construction signal
1 mark: revertissent (pluperfect subjunctive, 3rd plural)
1 mark: imperātor (nominative singular subject)
1 mark: ōrātiōnem habuit (perfect active — ‘gave a speech’)
1 mark: revertissent (pluperfect subjunctive, 3rd plural)
1 mark: imperātor (nominative singular subject)
1 mark: ōrātiōnem habuit (perfect active — ‘gave a speech’)
End of Mock Paper 3