Caerus Latin

Practice Papers

Original CE-style practice passages for all three levels. Complete each paper under timed conditions before checking the mark scheme.

Level 1 — 45 minutes Level 2 — 60 minutes Level 3 — 75 minutes
Practice Paper A — Level 1 45 minutes · No dictionary

Story: Romulus and Remus

Question 1 — Comprehension (15 marks)

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions below in English. Complete sentences are not required.

Romulus et Remus in Italia habitant. pueri in silva saepe ludunt. olim Romulus ad silvam ambulat. ibi lupos videt et timet. Romulus clamat: “Reme! lupi adsunt! fuge!” Remus quoque timet. pueri ad villam suam currunt. mater pueros spectat. pueri fessi sunt et aquam petunt. “nolite timere,” inquit mater. “tuti estis.” Romulus autem iratus est. “lupi meos agnos necaverunt,” inquit. “cras lupos superabimus!”
Vocabulary
  • ludo, ludere — play
  • lupus, -i (m) — wolf
  • adsum, adesse — be present, be here
  • fuge! — run away!
  • quoque — also, too
  • peto, petere — ask for, seek
  • inquit — he/she says, said
  • nolite timere — do not be afraid
  • autem — however, but
  • agnus, -i (m) — lamb
  • cras — tomorrow
  • supero, -are — overcome, defeat
  1. Where do Romulus and Remus live? (1)
  2. What do the boys often do in the wood? (1)
  3. What does Romulus see in the wood that frightens him? (1)
  4. What does Romulus shout to Remus? Give two details. (2)
  5. Where do the boys run? (1)
  6. How does their mother know the boys are tired? (1)
  7. What does their mother say to reassure them? (2)
  8. Why is Romulus angry? (2)
  9. What does Romulus plan to do the next day? (1)
  10. From the passage, give the Latin for: (a) “they are safe” (b) “they are tired”. (2)
  11. Give one detail from the passage that shows Romulus is brave as well as frightened. (1)
Total: 15 marks
Question 2 — Translation (30 marks)

Translate the following passage into English.

postridie Romulus Remumque ad silvam duxit. gladios portabant. in silva lupi erant. Romulus validus erat et non timebat. Remus autem lupos vidit et fugere volebat. “sta!” clamavit Romulus. “lupi nostros agnos necaverunt.” Romulus lupum magnum hasta percussit. lupus terram petivit. Remus quoque fortiter pugnavit et alium lupum necavit. tandem lupi fugerunt. fratres laeti erant et domum reverterunt. mater “filii mei,” inquit, “fortes estis!”
Vocabulary
  • postridie — the next day
  • -que — and (attached to word)
  • volo, velle — want, wish
  • sta! — stop! stand!
  • percutio, percutere — strike, hit
  • alius, alia, aliud — another, other
  • frater, fratris (m) — brother
  • domum — homeward, home
  • revertor, reverti — return
  • fortis, forte — brave, strong
Total: 30 marks
Question 1 — Comprehension
  1. In Italy / in Italia. (1)
  2. They play / they often play. (1)
  3. Wolves. (1)
  4. Any two from: the wolves are here / there are wolves / run away. (2)
  5. To their villa / home. (1)
  6. She watches / looks at them (she sees them arrive). (1)
  7. Do not be afraid / you are safe. Award 1 mark per detail. (2)
  8. The wolves killed his lambs. Award 1 mark per detail (wolves / killed lambs). (2)
  9. He will defeat/overcome the wolves. (1)
  10. (a) tuti estis — (b) fessi sunt. Award 1 each. (2)
  11. He plans to go back and fight / defeat the wolves (despite being frightened). Accept any reasonable inference from the text. (1)
Question 2 — Translation

Award marks for sense-units. Accept any natural English that captures the Latin. Do not penalise for word order. Key points below.

  1. postridie Romulus Remumque ad silvam duxit — The next day Romulus led Remus to the wood. (3)
  2. gladios portabant — They were carrying swords. (2)
  3. in silva lupi erant — In the wood there were wolves. (2)
  4. Romulus validus erat et non timebat — Romulus was strong and was not afraid. (3)
  5. Remus autem lupos vidit et fugere volebat — But Remus saw the wolves and wanted to flee. (4)
  6. “sta!” clamavit Romulus. “lupi nostros agnos necaverunt.” — “Stop!” shouted Romulus. “The wolves have killed our lambs.” (4)
  7. Romulus lupum magnum hasta percussit — Romulus struck the large wolf with a spear. (3)
  8. lupus terram petivit — The wolf fell to the ground / sought the ground. (2)
  9. Remus quoque fortiter pugnavit et alium lupum necavit — Remus also fought bravely and killed another wolf. (4)
  10. tandem lupi fugerunt. fratres laeti erant et domum reverterunt — Finally the wolves fled. The brothers were happy and returned home. (3)
Total for Q2: 30 marks. Markers have discretion over part-marks for near-correct translations. Accept alternative correct renderings throughout.
Practice Paper A — Level 2 60 minutes · No dictionary

Story: Caesar in Britain

Question 1 — Comprehension (15 marks)

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions below in English. Complete sentences are not required.

Caesar, dux Romanorum clarissimus, copias suas trans mare duxit. Britanni in litore stabant et Romanos spectabant. rex Britannorum, nomine Cassivelaunus, milites suos ad pugnam paraverat. Caesar e navibus descendit et milites hortatus est: “Romani, fortiter pugnandum est. Britanni feroces sunt, sed nos fortiores sumus.” milites Romani clamorem magnum fecerunt et in terram cucurrerunt. equites Britanni primum impetum fecerunt, sed Romani eos pepulerunt. Cassivelaunus, ubi suos victos vidit, in silvas fugiebat.
Vocabulary
  • copiae, -arum (f pl) — forces, troops
  • mare, maris (n) — sea
  • litus, litoris (n) — shore, beach
  • nomine — by name, named
  • descendo, descendere — come down, disembark
  • hortor, hortari — encourage, urge
  • pugnandum est — we must fight
  • ferox, ferocis — fierce, ferocious
  • clamor, clamoris (m) — shout, battle-cry
  • eques, equitis (m) — horseman, cavalryman
  • impetus, -us (m) — attack, charge
  • pello, pellere, pepuli — drive back, repel
  • victus, -a, -um — defeated
  1. What does the title clarissimus tell us about Caesar? (1)
  2. Where had Caesar led his troops? (1)
  3. Who was waiting on the shore? What were they doing? Give two details. (2)
  4. What was the name of the British king and what had he already done before Caesar arrived? (2)
  5. What does Caesar say to encourage his soldiers? Give two details. (2)
  6. What did the Roman soldiers do before charging into battle? (1)
  7. What happened when the British cavalry made their first charge? (2)
  8. What did Cassivelaunus do when he saw what was happening to his men? (2)
  9. Find one Latin word in the passage that means the same as dux. (1)
  10. From the passage, give the Latin and case of the noun used to describe the shore where the Britons stood. (1)
Total: 15 marks
Question 2 — Translation (30 marks)

Translate the following passage into English.

postridie Caesar milites ad flumen duxit. ibi pontem aedificaverunt. Britanni in ripa stantes Romanos timebant. Cassivelaunus tamen milites suos hortatus est: “nolite fugere! Romani hostes nostri sunt.” Britanni igitur fortiter pugnaverunt. Caesar ipse vulneratus est, sed milites eius eum non deseruerunt. tandem Britanni victi sunt. Cassivelaunus ad Caesarem venit et pacem petivit. Caesar, quamquam iratus erat, pacem dedit: “obsides dabitis,” inquit, “et Romani vos numquam oppugnabunt.”
Vocabulary
  • flumen, fluminis (n) — river
  • pons, pontis (m) — bridge
  • ripa, -ae (f) — bank (of a river)
  • stantes — standing
  • hostis, hostis (m) — enemy
  • ipse — himself
  • vulnero, -are — wound
  • desero, deserere — abandon, desert
  • pax, pacis (f) — peace
  • obses, obsidis (m/f) — hostage
  • oppugno, -are — attack
Total: 30 marks
Question 3 — Grammar (15 marks)
  1. From the comprehension passage (Question 1), give the case and number of the following nouns and explain why each case is used.
    1. Romanorum (line 1) (2)
    2. milites (line 3) — milites hortatus est (2)
    3. pugnam (line 3) (2)
  2. Parse the following verbs from the translation passage (Question 2) — give person, number, tense, and the first person singular of the same tense.
    1. aedificaverunt (2)
    2. timebant (2)
    3. oppugnabunt (2)
  3. Translate the following sentence, then rewrite it in the plural.

    miles Romanus ad flumen cucurrit. (3)

Total: 15 marks
Question 4 — English into Latin (15 marks)

Translate the following sentences into Latin. The vocabulary you need is given in brackets.

  1. The master is calling the slave. (dominus, servo / servum, voco) (3)
  2. The girl was carrying water to the house. (puella, aquam, porto, ad villam) (3)
  3. The soldiers fought bravely but the king fled. (milites, fortiter, pugno, rex, fugio) (4)
  4. We have seen the large temple. (video, templum, magnus) (3)
  5. Do not destroy the walls, soldiers! (nolite, deleo, muri / muros, milites) (2)
Total: 15 marks
Question 1 — Comprehension
  1. He is very famous / most famous (clarissimus = superlative of clarus). (1)
  2. Across the sea / to Britain. (1)
  3. The Britons / British warriors were standing on the shore and watching the Romans. Award 1 mark per detail. (2)
  4. Cassivelaunus; he had already prepared his soldiers for battle. Award 1 mark each. (2)
  5. Any two from: they must fight bravely / the Britons are fierce / the Romans are stronger. (2)
  6. They gave/let out a great shout/battle-cry. (1)
  7. The Romans drove them back / repelled them. (2)
  8. He fled into the woods. (2)
  9. rex. (1)
  10. litore, ablative (of place where). (1)
Question 2 — Translation (key sense-units)
  1. postridie Caesar milites ad flumen duxit — The next day Caesar led his soldiers to the river. (3)
  2. ibi pontem aedificaverunt — There they built a bridge. (2)
  3. Britanni in ripa stantes Romanos timebant — The Britons standing on the bank feared the Romans. (3)
  4. Cassivelaunus tamen milites suos hortatus est — However Cassivelaunus encouraged his soldiers. (2)
  5. “nolite fugere! Romani hostes nostri sunt.” — “Do not flee! The Romans are our enemies.” (3)
  6. Caesar ipse vulneratus est, sed milites eius eum non deseruerunt — Caesar himself was wounded, but his soldiers did not abandon him. (4)
  7. tandem Britanni victi sunt — Finally the Britons were defeated. (2)
  8. Cassivelaunus ad Caesarem venit et pacem petivit — Cassivelaunus came to Caesar and asked for peace. (3)
  9. Caesar, quamquam iratus erat, pacem dedit — Caesar, although he was angry, gave (them) peace. (3)
  10. “obsides dabitis,” inquit, “et Romani vos numquam oppugnabunt.” — “You will give hostages,” he said, “and the Romans will never attack you.” (3)
Question 3 — Grammar
    1. Romanorum — genitive plural; possession (of the Romans). (2)
    2. milites — accusative plural; direct object (Caesar encouraged his soldiers). (2)
    3. pugnam — accusative singular; after preposition ad (motion towards). (2)
    1. aedificaverunt — 3rd person plural, perfect; 1st person: aedificavi. (2)
    2. timebant — 3rd person plural, imperfect; 1st person: timebam. (2)
    3. oppugnabunt — 3rd person plural, future; 1st person: oppugnabo. (2)
  3. Translation: The Roman soldier ran to the river. (1)
    Plural: milites Romani ad flumen cucurrerunt. Award 1 mark per correct change: noun milites, adjective Romani, verb cucurrerunt. (3)
Question 4 — English into Latin
  1. dominus servum vocat. Award: subject nom. (1), object acc. (1), verb correct tense/person (1). (3)
  2. puella aquam ad villam portabat. Award: subject nom. (1), object acc. (1), verb imperfect (1). (3)
  3. milites fortiter pugnaverunt sed rex fugit. Award: noun/verb agreement (1), adverb (1), conjunction (1), second clause (1). (4)
  4. templum magnum vidimus. Award: noun+adj. acc. agreement (2), perfect 1st pl. (1). (3)
  5. nolite muros delere, milites! Award: nolite + infinitive (1), correct acc. pl. for walls (1). (2)
Markers should award marks for correct Latin even if not in the expected word order. Penalise wrong case endings once per construction, not per word. Accept alternative correct forms throughout.
Practice Paper A — Level 3 (Scholarship) 75 minutes · No dictionary

Story: The Wanderings of Odysseus — the Land of the Cyclops

Question 1 — Comprehension (15 marks)

Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions below in English. Complete sentences are not required.

Ulixes, postquam urbem Troiam cepit, domum navigabat. multos annos per maria errabat quod di iram suam in eum posuerant. tandem ad insulam Cyclopum pervenit. Ulixes cum duodecim sociis in speluncam intravit, ubi multa dona deorum invenerunt. mox tamen Polyphemus, Cyclops ingens, in speluncam rediit et saxum maximum ante ostium posuit. Ulixes timebat sed socios non deseruit. Cyclops cum Ulixem vidit, iratissimus erat: “quis es tu?” rugit. “cur in spelunca mea es?” Ulixes callide respondit: “nomen mihi est Nemo. hospes tuus sum.”
Vocabulary
  • Ulixes, Ulixis (m) — Odysseus (Ulysses)
  • postquam — after
  • erro, errare — wander, roam
  • pono, ponere, posui — place, put
  • Cyclops, Cyclopis (m) — Cyclops (one-eyed giant)
  • pervenio, pervenire — arrive, reach
  • socius, -i (m) — companion
  • spelunca, -ae (f) — cave
  • donum, -i (n) — gift
  • Polyphemus, -i (m) — Polyphemus (the Cyclops)
  • saxum, -i (n) — rock, boulder
  • ostium, -i (n) — entrance, doorway
  • rugō, rugire — roar, bellow
  • callide — cleverly
  • nomen mihi est — my name is
  • hospes, hospitis (m) — guest; host
  1. Why had Ulysses been wandering the seas for many years? (2)
  2. How many companions did Ulysses take with him into the cave? (1)
  3. What did they find inside the cave? (1)
  4. Describe exactly what Polyphemus did when he returned to the cave. Give two details. (2)
  5. What does the description of Ulysses at the end of line 6 tell us about his character? Refer to the Latin in your answer. (2)
  6. What two questions did Polyphemus ask? (2)
  7. What name did Ulysses give and what reason did he give for being in the cave? (2)
  8. Why was it clever of Ulysses to call himself “Nemo”? Think about what “nemo” means in Latin. (2)
  9. How does the poet make Polyphemus sound frightening? Refer to two details from the Latin. (1)
Total: 15 marks
Question 2 — Translation (30 marks)

Translate the following passage into English as accurately as you can.

nocte Ulixes lignum acutum in igne posuit. dum Polyphemus dormiebat, Ulixes socios suos excitavit. “nunc” inquit “tempus agendi adest.” lignum ardens e flammis rapuit et in oculum Cyclopis impulit. Polyphemus, dolore oppressus, ululavit. alii Cyclopes extra speluncam clamorem audientes appropinquaverunt. “quis te laedit, Polyphere?” rogaverunt. “Nemo me laedit!” ille clamavit. itaque Cyclopes abierunt, credentes eum insanum esse. Ulixes autem socios suos sub ovibus celavit et sic omnes ex spelunca evaserunt. Polyphemus, caecus factus, eos capere non poterat. Ulixes ad naves suas laetus festinavit.
Vocabulary
  • lignum, -i (n) — piece of wood, stake
  • acutus, -a, -um — sharp, pointed
  • ignis, ignis (m) — fire
  • dormio, dormire — sleep
  • excito, -are — rouse, wake up
  • tempus agendi — time for action
  • adsum, adesse — be present, be at hand
  • ardens, ardentis — burning, blazing
  • flamma, -ae (f) — flame
  • rapio, rapere — snatch, seize
  • oculus, -i (m) — eye
  • impello, impellere — drive, thrust into
  • dolor, doloris (m) — pain
  • oppressus, -a, -um — overwhelmed
  • ululo, ululare — howl, shriek
  • extra (+ acc.) — outside
  • laedo, laedere — harm, hurt
  • credo, credere (+ acc. + infin.) — believe that
  • insanus, -a, -um — mad, insane
  • ovis, ovis (f) — sheep
  • evado, evadere — escape, get out
  • caecus, -a, -um — blind
Total: 30 marks
Question 3 — Grammar and Style (25 marks)
  1. Cases. Give the case and number of the following words from the passages above, and explain the reason for each case.
    1. socios (translation passage, line 2) (2)
    2. dolore (translation passage, line 4) (2)
    3. ovibus (translation passage, line 7) (2)
  2. Verbs. Parse the following verbs fully (person, number, tense, mood, conjugation) and give the first person singular of the present tense.
    1. rapuit (3)
    2. dormiebat (3)
    3. poterat (3)
  3. Comparison. Using the adjective ingens from the comprehension passage:
    1. Give the comparative form (nominative masculine singular) and translate it. (2)
    2. Give the superlative form (nominative masculine singular) and translate it. (2)
  4. Style. Look again at lines 4–6 of the translation passage (Polyphemus, dolore oppressus … Cyclopes abierunt).
    1. Identify one stylistic technique the writer uses and explain the effect it creates. (2)
    2. How does Ulysses use the name “Nemo” to outwit the other Cyclopes? Explain in your own words. (2)
  5. English into Latin. Translate the following sentences into Latin.
    1. The companions were afraid, but Ulysses was brave. (milites / socii, timeo, sed, Ulixes, fortis) (3)
    2. The Cyclops was not able to see the men. (Cyclops, possum, video, vir) (3)
Total: 25 marks
Question 1 — Comprehension
  1. The gods had placed their anger on him / the gods were angry with him (and sent him wandering). Award 1 for gods angry, 1 for the consequence / the wandering caused by it. (2)
  2. Twelve (duodecim). (1)
  3. Many gifts of the gods. (1)
  4. Any two from: he returned to the cave / he placed a huge rock in front of the entrance. (2)
  5. socios non deseruit — he did not abandon his companions; shows loyalty/courage despite fear. Award 1 for correct Latin reference, 1 for the inference about character. (2)
  6. Who are you? / Why are you in my cave? Award 1 each. (2)
  7. He said his name was Nobody (Nemo); he said he was the Cyclops's guest. Award 1 each. (2)
  8. nemo means “nobody” in Latin; so when Polyphemus tells the other Cyclopes “Nobody hurt me” they think nothing is wrong and go away. Award 1 for the meaning, 1 for the consequence. (2)
  9. Any two from: Cyclops ingens (vast / huge size), rugit (he roars / bellows). Award 1 for any one clearly referenced detail. (1)
Question 2 — Translation (key sense-units, 30 marks)
  1. nocte Ulixes lignum acutum in igne posuit — At night Ulysses put a sharp stake in the fire. (3)
  2. dum Polyphemus dormiebat, Ulixes socios suos excitavit — While Polyphemus was sleeping, Ulysses roused his companions. (3)
  3. “nunc” inquit “tempus agendi adest” — “Now” he said “the time for action is at hand.” (2)
  4. lignum ardens e flammis rapuit et in oculum Cyclopis impulit — He snatched the burning stake from the flames and drove it into the Cyclops’s eye. (4)
  5. Polyphemus, dolore oppressus, ululavit — Polyphemus, overwhelmed by pain, howled. (3)
  6. alii Cyclopes extra speluncam clamorem audientes appropinquaverunt — Other Cyclopes, hearing the shout outside the cave, came near. (3)
  7. “quis te laedit, Polyphere?” rogaverunt — “Who is hurting you, Polyphemus?” they asked. (2)
  8. “Nemo me laedit!” ille clamavit — “Nobody is hurting me!” he shouted. (2)
  9. itaque Cyclopes abierunt, credentes eum insanum esse — And so the Cyclopes went away, believing him to be mad. (3)
  10. Ulixes autem socios suos sub ovibus celavit et sic omnes ex spelunca evaserunt — But Ulysses hid his companions under the sheep and in this way they all escaped from the cave. (3)
  11. Polyphemus, caecus factus, eos capere non poterat. Ulixes ad naves suas laetus festinavit — Polyphemus, having been made blind, was not able to catch them. Ulysses hurried happily to his ships. (2)
Question 3 — Grammar and Style

Q3.1 Cases:

  1. socios — accusative plural; direct object (Ulysses roused his companions). (2)
  2. dolore — ablative singular; ablative of cause (overwhelmed by pain). (2)
  3. ovibus — ablative plural; ablative of place / after sub (hid under the sheep). (2)

Q3.2 Verbs:

  1. rapuit — 3rd person singular, perfect, indicative, active; 3rd conjugation (rapio). rapio. (3)
  2. dormiebat — 3rd person singular, imperfect, indicative, active; 4th conjugation. dormio. (3)
  3. poterat — 3rd person singular, imperfect, indicative, active; irregular (possum). possum. (3)

Q3.3 Comparison:

  1. Comparative: ingentior — bigger, more huge/enormous. (2)
  2. Superlative: ingentissimus — biggest, most enormous/huge. (2)

Q3.4 Style:

  1. Accept any clearly identified technique with a plausible effect: e.g. irony / dramatic irony in “Nemo me laedit” (Polyphemus cannot explain his situation to the other Cyclopes); or the contrast between Polyphemus’s strength and helplessness once blinded. Award 1 for identifying a technique, 1 for explaining the effect with reference to the text. (2)
  2. “Nemo” means “nobody” in Latin, so when Polyphemus cries that “Nobody hurt me”, the other Cyclopes think he is unhurt or mad and go away, allowing Ulysses to escape. (2)

Q3.5 English into Latin:

  1. socii timebant sed Ulixes fortis erat. Award: correct nom. pl. subject (1), imperfect verb (1), sed + nom. sg. + correct form of fortis/esse (1). (3)
  2. Cyclops viros videre non poterat. Award: correct subject nom. (1), correct acc. pl. for vir (1), non poterat + infinitive correctly formed (1). (3)
Scholarship marking: reward genuine understanding of Latin and sensitivity to meaning. A good translation that renders the sense accurately without being word-for-word should score highly. Penalise serious grammatical errors (wrong case, wrong tense) but reward good English expression.