GCSE Latin: Paper 1: Higher Translation and Comprehension (Specimen 2003 Paper)

Answer questions 1, 2 and 3. The three passages form a continuous story, and you are advised to answer the questions in the order in which they appear.

1. Read the first section of the story carefully, then answer all the questions.

The young Maximinus wins the emperor Severus's approval by taking part in two wrestling contests and beating all his opponents.

Maximinus erat iuvenis. hic iuvenis magnum corpus habebat et fortissimus erat. quod gloriam sibi comparare volebat, Romam iter fecit. ibi imperator Severus magna praemia argentea victoribus ludorum offerebat. Maximinus, quamquam tam iuvenis erat, imperatorem oravit ut ipse pugnaret. imperator, magnitudine corporis eius attonitus, libenter consensit. postquam Maximinus decem viros potentes facile superavit praemiaque accepit, miles factus est.

gloria, gloriae (f) = glory
comparo, comparare, comparavi, comparatus = I win
argenteus, argentea, argenteum = made of silver
victor, victoris (m) = winner
ludi, ludorum (m pl) = games
magnitudo, magnitudinis (f) = size
attonitus, attonita, attonitum = astonished

(a) From lines 1-2, pick out any two facts about Maximinus. [2]
(b) In lines 2-3, why did Maximinus travel to Rome? [1]
(c) (i) How are the prizes described (line 3)? [1]
(c) (ii) Who would receive them? [1]
(d) In line 5, what request did Maximinus put to the emperor? [1]
(e) Why did the emperor agree to this request? [1]
(f) In line 7, what was the result of the contest? [2]
(g) How did Maximinus’ career benefit as a result of the contest? [1]

[10 marks]

2. His height, size and proportions, his large eyes and the whiteness of his skin made him stand out from all other men. It is generally agreed that in a single day he would drink a whole amphora of wine and eat twenty kilogrammes of meat.

Read the next section carefully and then translate it into English. Please write your translation on alternate lines.

Maximinus, after a long absence from Rome, returns to receive great honours from the new emperor, Alexander. He later becomes emperor himself, but behaves so cruelly that he is assassinated.

postridie quod arrogantiam inter cives praestitit, Severus tribunum iussit disciplinam ei imponere. Maximinus tamen simulac imperatorem conspexit ad eum contendit, dixitque se velle iterum pugnare. Severus ei imperavit ut cum fortissimis militum pugnaret. septem militibus victis, maioribusque praemiis acceptis, in aulam ductus est ut imperatorem ipsum custodiret. hoc modo Maximinus clarus inter milites erat. imperator quoque ei dabat omnia quae volebat. sed post mortem Severi, novum imperatorem adeo oderat, ut Roma discederet et ad eum locum ubi natus erat rediret. cum imperator multis post annis occisus esset, Maximinus Romam iterum contendit ut novum imperatorem, Alexandrum nomine, salutaret. qui eum maximo gaudio excepit.

arrogantia, arrogantiae (f) = arrogance
praesto, praestare, praestiti = I show, display
tribunus, tribuni (m) = tribune
impono, imponere, imposui, impositus = I impose
aula, aulae (f) = palace
excipio, excipere, excepi, exceptus = I receive, welcome

[30 marks]

3. Read the final section of the story carefully, then answer all the questions.

Because of his popularity, Maximinus is made emperor, but his reign becomes so cruel that he is eventually killed.

statim eum legioni praefecit; mox dux omnium legionum fuit. Milites Maximinum adeo amabant ut Alexandro interfecto illum imperatorem facerent. quamquam callidissimus erat, timebat ne ipse ccideretur. itaque, quia credebat se potestatem non retenturum esse nisi crudelitate, homines crudeliter punire coepit: aliorum capita fustibus frangebat, alios leonibus offerebat. cives Romani, qui eum non iam amabant, eum eicere voluerunt. erat coniuratio militum, qui Maximinum circumventum interficere conati sunt. his autem omnibus victis occisisque etiam ferocior erat, sicut leo qui vulneratus magis saevit. tandem, ab omnibus Romanis spretus, a suis custodibus necatus est.

Adapted from Scriptores Historiae Augustae, The Two Maximini, II-XXIII.

praeficio, praeficere, praefeci, praefectus + dative = I put in charge of
callidus, callida, callidum = clever
potestas, potestatis (f) = power
retineo, retinere, retinui, retentus = I keep
crudelitas, crudelitatis (f) = cruelty
fustis, fustis (m) = club
eicio, eicere, eieci, eiectus = I throw out
coniuratio, coniurationis (f) = conspiracy
circumvenio, circumvenire, circumveni, circumventus = I surround
saevio, saevire, saevii = I am in a rage
sperno, spernere, sprevi, spretus = I despise, reject

(a) In line 1, what two promotions did Maximinus gain? [2]
(b) milites…facerent (lines 1-3): give the details of Maximinus' final promotion. [3]
(c) From line 3, pick out and translate the adjective that describes Maximinus. [2]
(d) How did fear influence the way he viewed his own power? [2]
(e) homines crudeliter punire coepit: give two examples of this harsh treatment. [2]
(f) What effect did this harsh treatment have on:
(i) the Roman citizens;
(ii) the soldiers? [2 + 3]
(g) his…necatus est (lines 8-10): how did Maximinus' cruelty lead to his death? [4]
[20 marks]

[Total marks: 60]

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