Beginning Latin Exam Review

Beginning Latin Exam Overview

• Purpose

  • The Beginning Latin Exam is designed for:

  • Beginning Latin I classes

  • Slower-paced Latin II classes

  • Targeted for novice-high to intermediate-low learners as per ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

Structure of the Exam

• Part One:

  • Tests knowledge of Latin language, culture, history, and mythology.

  • Format: Unconnected sentences and questions.

• Part Two:

  • Tests reading comprehension and understanding of an original Latin passage.

Language Components

Nouns

• Declensions:

  • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd declensions.

• Cases:

  • Nominative:

  • Subject and Predicate nominative.

  • Genitive:

  • Functions: "of," indicates possession.

  • Genitive phrases translated.

  • Dative:

  • Functions: "to" or "for", indicates the indirect object.

  • Dative phrases translated.

  • Accusative:

  • Functions in direct object and as the object of some prepositions.

  • Prepositions include:

    • ad (to), ante (before), circum (around), contra (against), in (in/on), inter (among), per (through), post (after), prope (near), super (above), trans (across).

  • Ablative:

  • Functions: "by," "with," "from," etc.

  • Functions as the object of the prepositions:

    • a(b) (by, from), cum (with), de (about, concerning), e(x) (out of), in (in, on), pro (for), sine (without), sub (under).

  • Indicates means or instrument (e.g., magno cum gaudio = "with great joy").

  • Vocative:

  • Used for direct address.

Pronouns

• Personal Pronouns:

  • Ego (I), tu (you, singular), nos (we), vos (you, plural)

  • Identified in nominative, dative, accusative, ablative.

  • Is, ea, id:

  • Nominative and accusative forms.

• Relative Pronouns:

  • Qui, quae, quod:

  • Nominative form only (employed for reading).

• Interrogative Pronouns:

  • Quis (who?), quid (what?)

  • Nominative and accusative forms only.

Adjectives

• Covers positive forms of the first, second, and third declensions.

• Noun/Adjective Agreement: Required for matching between nouns and adjectives.

• Cardinal Numbers:

  • From unus to decem (1-10), as well as centum (100).

• Roman Numerals:

  • I to C (from 1 to 100).

• Interrogative Adjectives:

  • Quot (how many?), used primarily with nouns.

  • Quam (how?) associated with positive adjectives and adverbs.

Adverbs

• Examples include:

  • Cras (tomorrow), heri (yesterday), ibi (there), mox (soon), numquam (never), saepe (often), statim (immediately), subito (suddenly), tum (then), ubi (where?).

• Positive forms derived from first and second declension adjectives.

• Interrogative Adverbs:

  • Cur? (why?), Ubi? (where?), Quomodo? (how?), Quando? (when?).

Conjunctions

• Common conjunctions include:

  • Aut (or), et (and), itaque (and so), neque (nor), quod (that), sed (but), ubi (when/where), et…et (both…and), neque…neque (neither…nor).

Enclitics

• Usage:

  • -ne for yes/no questions, -que for “and”.

Interjections

• Examples include:

  • Ecce! (behold!), Eheu! (alas!), Euge! (hooray!), Me miserum! (woe is me!).

Verbs

• Conjugations Covered:

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd-io, and 4th conjugations.

• Tenses Covered:

  • Three tenses of the indicative mood in active voice.

  • Tenses include:

  • Present

  • Imperfect

  • Perfect

• Irregular Verbs:

  • Sum (to be) and Possum (to be able).

  • Tenses covered include: Present, Imperfect, and Perfect.

• Imperatives:

  • Present active imperative in both singular and plural forms.

  • Negative imperative form uses noli (singular) and nolite (plural).

• Infinitives:

  • Includes the present active infinitive.

• Common Expressions:

  • Necesse est (it is necessary), Placеt (it is pleasing), Licet (it is permitted).

Idioms

• Common examples include:

  • Gratias agere (to give thanks), Brevi tempore (in a short time), Prima luce (at dawn).

Thematic Vocabulary

• Body Parts: Example vocabulary includes:

  • Caput (head), Oculus (eye), Manus (hand), Pes (foot).

• Oral Latin:

  • Greetings and pleasantries such as:

  • Quid est nomen tibi? (What is your name?), Salve! (Hello!), Salvete! (Greetings), Gratias tibi ago (Thank you).

• Weather Vocabulary:

  • Example: Sol lucet (The sun shines).

• Classroom Items & Expressions:

  • Liber (book), Adsum (I am here), Licetne mihi ire ad latrinam? (Is it allowed for me to go to the restroom?).

Derivatives

• English words derived from Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

• Examples include:

  • Sedentary, sorority, puerile, quadruped.

Expressions, Mottoes, and Abbreviations

• Notable examples include:

  • Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered); Summa cum laude (with highest honors); Per annum (per year);

  • Abbreviations:

  • i.e. (that is), e.g. (for example), etc. (and so forth), S.P.Q.R. (Senatus Populusque Romanus).

Culture

Geography

• Significant Italian locations including:

  • Ostia, Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Brundisium, Apennine Mountains.

• Provinces and Major Cities:

  • Africa, Athens, Gaul, Carthage, Asia Minor, Troy.

History

• Major historical divisions:

  • Monarchy, Republic, Empire.

  • Associated terms include: king, consul, emperor.

• Kings of Rome and notable early Roman heroes, such as:

  • Romulus, Tarquinius Superbus, Horatius, Cincinnatus.

Mythology

• Key Olympian deities and their associated myths, including:

  • Stories of Echo and Narcissus, Arachne and Minerva, Midas, Aeneas and the Trojan War.

Roman Life

• Overview of the city of Rome, including:

  • Forum, Palatine Hill, Via Appia, Pantheon, Campus Martius.

• Architectural Structures and their functions:

  • Aquaeductus (aqueducts), Thermae (public baths), Circus (circus), Amphitheatrum (amphitheater), Curia (senate house), Basilica (public building).

• Housing Types:

  • Triclinium (dining room), Insulae (apartment buildings).

• Meals:

  • Example of Cena (dinner), Culina (kitchen).

• Clothing Items:

  • Toga, Tunica, Stola.

Exam Content

• Total of 40 questions:

  • Approximately 30 questions focused on language, and 10 on cultural knowledge.