- 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 — Pliny and the eruption of Vesuvius (about 85 words)
1Plīnius maior, classī praefectus, nūntiō acceptō statim nāvem conscendit.
2frātrī suō scrīpsit sē ad montis Vesuviī ruīnās profectūrum esse. mīlitēs
3nāvigāre nōlēbant quod caelum igne plēnum erat et pulvis dēnsissimus
4undique cadēbat. Plīnius tamen, dum alīī fugiēbant, quam prōximus
5montī esse volēbat ut cīvēs servāret. gubernātor nāvem convertere
6iussus est sed undae tam magnae erant ut nāvigāre nōn posset.
7Plīnius in lītore mortuus inventus est, corpore suō intactō.
classis, classis f. — fleet •
praefectus, -ī m. — commander •
conscendit — boarded (from cōnscendō) •
profectūrum esse — was going to set out (future infinitive in indirect statement) •
pulvis, pulveris m. — ash, dust •
dēnsissimus — very thick, very dense •
gubernātor, -ōris m. — helmsman, steersman •
intactus, -a, -um — untouched, unharmed
Question 1 [10 marks]
Answer the following questions on Passage A1.
(a) What was Pliny’s role, and what did he do immediately after receiving the message (line 1)? [2]
(b) What did Pliny write to his nephew (lines 1–2)? [2]
(c) Why did the soldiers not want to sail? Give two reasons (lines 3–4). [2]
(d) What did Pliny want, and why (lines 4–5)? [2]
(e) What happened to Pliny at the end (line 7)? Give two details. [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) nūntiō acceptō (line 1) — identify the construction. [2]
(b) sē ad montis Vesuviī ruīnās profectūrum esse (line 2) — identify the construction and explain the form profectūrum esse. [2]
(c) tam magnae erant ut nāvigāre nōn posset (lines 6) — identify the type of clause. [2]
Question 3 [20 marks]
Translate the following passage into English. Write your translation below.
Translate lines 1–5 of Passage A1 (Plīnius maior … cīvēs servāret).
Translation Tip
Note the indirect statement after scrīpsit (sē…profectūrum esse) and the purpose clause at line 5 (ut cīvēs servāret). Both constructions must be rendered clearly.
Passage A2 — A Roman religious ritual (about 40 words)
8pontifex, togā candidā indūtus, ad āram prōcessit. victima ā sacerdōtibus
9adducta est ut deīs sacrificārētur. cīvēs in templō silentiō stābant.
10pontifex precātus est nē deī urbem vāstārent. tum sacrificium rite factum est.
pontifex, pontificis m. — high priest •
candidus, -a, -um — white •
indūtus — having put on, dressed in (perf. part. of induō) •
victima, -ae f. — sacrificial animal •
sacrificārētur — might be sacrificed •
precātus est — prayed (deponent: precor) •
vāstārent — might lay waste •
rite — duly, according to ritual
Question 4 [10 marks]
Answer the following questions on Passage A2.
(a) How is the priest described as he approached the altar? [2]
(b) Why was the sacrificial animal brought (line 8–9)? What construction introduces this reason? [2]
(c) precātus est (line 10) — identify the verb form and explain why its form is unusual. [3]
(d) What did the priest pray for? [3]
Question 5 [4 marks]
Translate the sentence pontifex precātus est nē deī urbem vāstārent (line 10) into English.
Section A — Mark Scheme
Q1 (a)
He was commander of the fleet [1]; he immediately boarded a ship [1]
Q1 (b)
That he was going to set out to the ruins of Mount Vesuvius [2] (indirect statement with future infinitive; 1 mark: ‘going to / would set out’; 1 mark: ‘to the ruins of Vesuvius’)
Q1 (c)
The sky was full of fire [1] and very thick ash/dust was falling everywhere [1]
Q1 (d)
He wanted to get as close as possible to the mountain [1] in order to save the citizens [1]
Q1 (e)
He was found dead on the shore [1] with his body untouched / unharmed [1]
Q2 (a)
Ablative absolute [1] — nūntiō acceptō = ‘the message having been received’; ablative noun + ablative perfect passive participle [1]
Q2 (b)
Indirect statement after scrīpsit [1] — profectūrum esse is the future active infinitive of proficīscor, expressing an action future relative to the main verb (‘was going to set out’) [1]
Q2 (c)
Result clause [1] — tam…ut + subjunctive expresses the result of the waves being so large that sailing was impossible [1]
Q3 — Translation (lines 1–5)
Pliny the Elder, the commander of the fleet, immediately boarded a ship after receiving the message. He wrote to his nephew that he was going to set out to the ruins of Mount Vesuvius. The soldiers did not want to sail because the sky was full of fire and very thick dust was falling everywhere. Pliny, however, while the others were fleeing, wanted to be as close as possible to the mountain in order to save the citizens.
Mark by sense-groups. Ablative absolute (nūntiō acceptō) and indirect statement (sē…profectūrum esse) must be correctly rendered. Purpose clause (ut cīvēs servāret) requires ‘in order to’ or equivalent.
Q4 (a)
He was dressed in a white toga [2] (1 mark: ‘white’; 1 mark: ‘toga’ / ‘dressed in’)
Q4 (b)
So that it might be sacrificed to the gods [1]; introduced by a purpose clause (ut + subjunctive) [1]
Q4 (c)
precātus est: perfect active meaning [1] — it is a deponent verb [1] — passive in form but active in meaning; from precor, ‘to pray’ [1]
Q4 (d)
That the gods would not lay waste / devastate the city [3] (negative fearing clause: 1 mark for ‘that…not’; 1 mark for ‘the gods’; 1 mark for ‘lay waste / devastate the city’)
Q5 — Translation
The high priest prayed that the gods would not lay waste to the city. [4]
1 mark: pontifex precātus est (the priest prayed — deponent correctly rendered as active); 1 mark: nē (that…not); 1 mark: deī (the gods); 1 mark: urbem vāstārent (would lay waste to / devastate the city)
Section B — Directed Writing and Grammar
Passage B1 — Roman politics (about 50 words)
11senātōrēs in cūriā congregātī de bellō Gallicō dīsputābant. Caesarem,
12exercitū victōrī reductō, imperium novum petere cōnstābat. senātūs
13prīncipēs timēbant nē potestās Caesaris tanta fieret ut rem pūblicam
14gubernāre nōn possent. itaque lēgātōs mīsērunt quī Caesarem monērent.
cūria, -ae f. — senate house •
congregātī — having assembled (perf. part.) •
cōnstābat — it was evident, it was agreed •
potestās, -tātis f. — power, authority •
tam…ut — so great…that (result clause) •
rem pūblicam gubernāre — to govern the republic •
lēgātī, -ōrum m. pl. — envoys, ambassadors
Passage B2 — A Roman family (about 50 words)
15pater familias, domum ingressus, fīliōs suōs convocāvit. "vōs," inquit,
16"nōbilī gente natī estis; oportet igitur vōs virōs fortēs esse." fīlius
17māior, patre laudātō, gaudēbat. fīlius minor rogāvit quid patrem maximum
18in vītā dēlectāret. pater respondit sē fīliōs bonōs habēre maximē gaudēre.
domum ingressus — having entered the house (perf. part. of ingredior) •
nōbilī gente natī estis — you have been born from a noble family •
oportet — it is fitting, it is necessary •
patre laudātō — his father having been praised (abl. abs.) •
dēlectāret — delighted, pleased (subjunctive) •
maximē gaudēre — to rejoice most greatly
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) exercitū victōrī reductō (line 12) [2]
(b) lēgātōs mīsērunt quī Caesarem monērent (line 14) [2]
(c) patre laudātō (line 17) [2]
(d) rogāvit quid patrem maximum in vītā dēlectāret (lines 17–18) [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) congregātī (line 11) [2]
(b) mīsērunt (line 14) [2]
(c) convocāvit (line 15) [2]
(d) ingressus (line 15) [2]
Question 8 [10 marks]
Translate Passage B2 (lines 15–18) into English.
Question 9 [4 marks]
Explain the construction domum ingressus (line 15). State: (i) the name and form of ingressus; (ii) why ingressus is passive in form but active in meaning; (iii) the case of domum and why this case is used; (iv) how you would translate the phrase into English.
Section B — Mark Scheme
Q6 (a)
Ablative absolute [1] — exercitū reductō with victōrī modifying exercitū; ‘the victorious army having been led back’; ablative noun + ablative perfect passive participle [1]
Q6 (b)
Relative clause of purpose [1] — quī + subjunctive (monērent) after a verb of sending expresses the purpose (‘envoys to warn Caesar’ / ‘who were to warn Caesar’) [1]
Q6 (c)
Ablative absolute [1] — patre laudātō = ‘his father having been praised’; ablative noun + ablative perfect passive participle [1]
Q6 (d)
Indirect question [1] — introduced by quid after rogāvit; subjunctive (dēlectāret) used in the subordinate clause of an indirect question [1]
Q7 (a)
congregātī: perfect passive participle [1] — masculine nominative plural [½], from congregō; agreeing with senātōrēs [½] [2 total]
Q7 (b)
mīsērunt: verb [½] — 3rd person plural [½], perfect tense [½], active voice [½]; from mittō, ‘to send’ [2 total]
Q7 (c)
convocāvit: verb [½] — 3rd person singular [½], perfect tense [½], active voice [½]; from convocō, ‘to summon’ [2 total]
Q7 (d)
ingressus: perfect passive participle in form [½], but from a deponent verb (ingredior) so active in meaning [½]; masculine nominative singular [½], agreeing with pater [½] [2 total]
Q8 — Translation (lines 15–18)
The head of the household, having entered the house, summoned his sons. “You,” he said, “have been born from a noble family; it is therefore fitting/necessary for you to be brave men.” The elder son rejoiced, his father having been praised. The younger son asked what pleased his father most in life. The father replied that he was most glad to have good sons.
Mark by sense-groups (3+3+2+2). Ablative absolute (patre laudātō), indirect question (rogāvit quid…dēlectāret), and indirect statement (sē…gaudēre) must be correctly rendered. Deponent ingressus must be translated as active.
Q9
(i) ingressus: perfect participle of the deponent verb ingredior [1]
(ii) Deponent verbs are passive in form but active in meaning throughout — ingressus looks passive (perfect passive participle) but means ‘having entered’ [1]
(iii) domum is accusative — used here as an accusative of motion towards (‘into/to the house’) [1]
(iv) ‘Having entered the house’ or ‘when/after he had entered the house’ [1]
(ii) Deponent verbs are passive in form but active in meaning throughout — ingressus looks passive (perfect passive participle) but means ‘having entered’ [1]
(iii) domum is accusative — used here as an accusative of motion towards (‘into/to the house’) [1]
(iv) ‘Having entered the house’ or ‘when/after he had entered the house’ [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) Indirect statement with future infinitive [4]
The messenger announced that the enemy would attack the city.
(b) Purpose clause with quī + subjunctive [4]
The consul sent soldiers to guard the gates.
(c) Ablative of agent with passive verb [4]
The letters were being read by the senator.
(d) Past unfulfilled conditional [4]
If the soldiers had not been brave, the enemy would have captured the city.
(e) Relative clause of characteristic [4]
There is no man who does not want to live well.
Section C — Mark Scheme
Q10 (a) — Indirect statement with future infinitive
nūntius dēnūntiāvit hostēs urbem oppugnātūrōs esse.
1 mark: nūntius dēnūntiāvit (the messenger announced — perfect active)
1 mark: hostēs (accusative subject of indirect statement)
1 mark: oppugnātūrōs (future active participle agreeing with hostēs — masculine accusative plural)
1 mark: esse (infinitive completing the future active infinitive construction)
1 mark: hostēs (accusative subject of indirect statement)
1 mark: oppugnātūrōs (future active participle agreeing with hostēs — masculine accusative plural)
1 mark: esse (infinitive completing the future active infinitive construction)
Q10 (b) — Purpose clause with quī + subjunctive
cōnsul mīlitēs mīsit quī portās custōdīrent.
1 mark: cōnsul mīsit (the consul sent — perfect active)
1 mark: mīlitēs (accusative plural direct object)
1 mark: quī (relative pronoun introducing relative clause of purpose)
1 mark: portās custōdīrent (imperfect subjunctive — sequence after perfect main verb)
1 mark: mīlitēs (accusative plural direct object)
1 mark: quī (relative pronoun introducing relative clause of purpose)
1 mark: portās custōdīrent (imperfect subjunctive — sequence after perfect main verb)
Q10 (c) — Ablative of agent with passive
epistulae ā senātōre legēbantur.
1 mark: epistulae (nominative plural subject — letters)
1 mark: legēbantur (imperfect passive, 3rd plural — were being read)
1 mark: ā (preposition required for ablative of agent with passive verb)
1 mark: senātōre (ablative singular — by the senator)
1 mark: legēbantur (imperfect passive, 3rd plural — were being read)
1 mark: ā (preposition required for ablative of agent with passive verb)
1 mark: senātōre (ablative singular — by the senator)
Q10 (d) — Past unfulfilled conditional
sī mīlitēs fortēs nōn fuissent, hostēs urbem cēpissent.
1 mark: sī + pluperfect subjunctive in the si-clause
1 mark: fuissent (pluperfect subjunctive of esse)
1 mark: hostēs urbem (correct nouns in correct cases)
1 mark: cēpissent (pluperfect subjunctive in main clause for past unfulfilled condition)
1 mark: fuissent (pluperfect subjunctive of esse)
1 mark: hostēs urbem (correct nouns in correct cases)
1 mark: cēpissent (pluperfect subjunctive in main clause for past unfulfilled condition)
Q10 (e) — Relative clause of characteristic
nēmō est quī bene vīvere nōlit.
1 mark: nēmō est (there is no man — nēmō as subject)
1 mark: quī (relative pronoun introducing the characteristic clause)
1 mark: nōlit (present subjunctive — characteristic/generic clause uses subjunctive; nōlō = do not want)
1 mark: bene vīvere (to live well — infinitive as object of nōlit)
1 mark: quī (relative pronoun introducing the characteristic clause)
1 mark: nōlit (present subjunctive — characteristic/generic clause uses subjunctive; nōlō = do not want)
1 mark: bene vīvere (to live well — infinitive as object of nōlit)
End of Mock Paper 4