2025 OCR A-LEVEL LATIN H443/02 Prose Composition or Comprehension Question Paper & Mark
Scheme (Merged) June 2025 [VERIFIED]
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Answer Section A or Section B.
Section A Comprehension
and Grammar
Read the passage.
After the discovery of a plot, the Senate debate what should be done with the arrested
conspirators. Cato’s proposal of the death sentence is accepted and the executions are
carried out that very day.
ita locutus est Cato: ‘cum res publica consilio scelestorum hominum in maxima
pericula venerit eique confessi sint se caedem, incendia aliaque crudelia facinora in
cives patriamque paravisse, more antiquo supplicium est sumendum’.
postquam Cato consedit, consulares omnes magnaque pars senatus sententiam eius
laudant, virtutem animi ad caelum ferunt, alii alios accusantes timidos vocant. Cato 5
clarus atque magnus habetur; senatui constitutum est sicut ille suaserat.
tum consul, ratus ante noctem agendum esse, ne quid mali eo spatio temporis
fieret, carnifices ea quae res postulabat statim parare iubet. ipse praesidiis dispositis
Lentulum in carcerem deducit; idem fit ceteris per praetores. est in carcere locus qui
Tullianum appellatur, ubi paulum ascenderis ad sinistram, circiter duodecim pedes 10
humi depressus. eum muniunt undique muri validi; incultu, tenebris, odore terribilis
est eius facies. in eum locum postquam demissus est Lentulus, carnifices, ut
imperatum erat, laqueo collum fregerunt. ita ille nobilis ex gente clarissima natus, qui
consulare imperium Romae habuerat, dignum moribus factisque suis exitium vitae
invenit. de
ceteris captivis eodem modo supplicium sumptum est. 15
Sallust, Bellum Catilinae, 52–55 (adapted)
Names
Cato, -onis (m) Cato (a senator)
Lentulus, -i (m) Lentulus (one of the conspirators)
Tullianum, -i (n) the Tullianum
Words
supplicium, -i (n) punishment
© OCR 2025 H443/02 Jun25
, 3
consularis, -e consular, of consular rank
carnifex, -icis (m) executioner
incultus, -us (m) filth
laqueus, -i (m) rope, noose
© OCR 2025 H443/02 Jun25
, 4
1 cum res … sumendum (lines 1–3):
(a) what accusations did Cato make against the conspirators? [5]
(b) what course of action did he suggest? [2]
2 In lines 4–6 (postquam … suaserat), what indications are there that Cato’s speech received a
positive reaction from the Senate? [6]
3 tum … praetores (lines 7–9): what does Sallust mention which shows fear and urgency? [5]
4 est in carcere … facies (lines 9–12): what details does Sallust give about the prison to which the
prisoners were taken? [6]
5 Translate in eum locum … invenit (lines 12–14).
Please write your translation on alternate lines. [10]
6 de ceteris … est (lines 14–15): what happened to the other conspirators? [1]
7 State and explain the case of the following:
(a) cives (line 3) [2]
(b) spatio (line 7) [2]
(c) ceteris (line 9) [2]
(d) eodem modo (line 15) [2]
8 Give the present infinitive of the following:
(a) locutus (line 1) [1]
(b) dispositis (line 8) [1]
(c) fregerunt (line 13) [1]
9 Explain why the following verbs need to be subjunctive, using a translation if you think it helpful:
is
(a) venerit (line 2) [1]
(b) fieret (line 8) [1]
10 In line 7, ratus ante noctem agendum esse, which parts of the verb are:
(a) ratus? [1]
(b) agendum? [1]
© OCR 2025 H443/02 Jun25 Turn over
Scheme (Merged) June 2025 [VERIFIED]
© OCR 2025 OCR is an exempt
[601/8254/4] DC Charity Turn over
(CJ) 334320/4
, 2
Answer Section A or Section B.
Section A Comprehension
and Grammar
Read the passage.
After the discovery of a plot, the Senate debate what should be done with the arrested
conspirators. Cato’s proposal of the death sentence is accepted and the executions are
carried out that very day.
ita locutus est Cato: ‘cum res publica consilio scelestorum hominum in maxima
pericula venerit eique confessi sint se caedem, incendia aliaque crudelia facinora in
cives patriamque paravisse, more antiquo supplicium est sumendum’.
postquam Cato consedit, consulares omnes magnaque pars senatus sententiam eius
laudant, virtutem animi ad caelum ferunt, alii alios accusantes timidos vocant. Cato 5
clarus atque magnus habetur; senatui constitutum est sicut ille suaserat.
tum consul, ratus ante noctem agendum esse, ne quid mali eo spatio temporis
fieret, carnifices ea quae res postulabat statim parare iubet. ipse praesidiis dispositis
Lentulum in carcerem deducit; idem fit ceteris per praetores. est in carcere locus qui
Tullianum appellatur, ubi paulum ascenderis ad sinistram, circiter duodecim pedes 10
humi depressus. eum muniunt undique muri validi; incultu, tenebris, odore terribilis
est eius facies. in eum locum postquam demissus est Lentulus, carnifices, ut
imperatum erat, laqueo collum fregerunt. ita ille nobilis ex gente clarissima natus, qui
consulare imperium Romae habuerat, dignum moribus factisque suis exitium vitae
invenit. de
ceteris captivis eodem modo supplicium sumptum est. 15
Sallust, Bellum Catilinae, 52–55 (adapted)
Names
Cato, -onis (m) Cato (a senator)
Lentulus, -i (m) Lentulus (one of the conspirators)
Tullianum, -i (n) the Tullianum
Words
supplicium, -i (n) punishment
© OCR 2025 H443/02 Jun25
, 3
consularis, -e consular, of consular rank
carnifex, -icis (m) executioner
incultus, -us (m) filth
laqueus, -i (m) rope, noose
© OCR 2025 H443/02 Jun25
, 4
1 cum res … sumendum (lines 1–3):
(a) what accusations did Cato make against the conspirators? [5]
(b) what course of action did he suggest? [2]
2 In lines 4–6 (postquam … suaserat), what indications are there that Cato’s speech received a
positive reaction from the Senate? [6]
3 tum … praetores (lines 7–9): what does Sallust mention which shows fear and urgency? [5]
4 est in carcere … facies (lines 9–12): what details does Sallust give about the prison to which the
prisoners were taken? [6]
5 Translate in eum locum … invenit (lines 12–14).
Please write your translation on alternate lines. [10]
6 de ceteris … est (lines 14–15): what happened to the other conspirators? [1]
7 State and explain the case of the following:
(a) cives (line 3) [2]
(b) spatio (line 7) [2]
(c) ceteris (line 9) [2]
(d) eodem modo (line 15) [2]
8 Give the present infinitive of the following:
(a) locutus (line 1) [1]
(b) dispositis (line 8) [1]
(c) fregerunt (line 13) [1]
9 Explain why the following verbs need to be subjunctive, using a translation if you think it helpful:
is
(a) venerit (line 2) [1]
(b) fieret (line 8) [1]
10 In line 7, ratus ante noctem agendum esse, which parts of the verb are:
(a) ratus? [1]
(b) agendum? [1]
© OCR 2025 H443/02 Jun25 Turn over
