[OCR GCSE LATIN J282 04] – EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS |
2026/27 LATEST UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
Section One: Questions 1 – 50
1. In the sentence "servus dominum videt," what is the grammatical function of
"dominum"?
A. Subject
B. Direct Object
C. Indirect Object
D. Genitive of Possession
Correct Answer: B. Direct Object
Rationale: The noun "dominum" is in the accusative case, which is the primary
marker for the direct object of a verb. The direct object receives the action of the
verb. Here, the slave (subject) sees (verb) the master (direct object). Option A is
incorrect because the subject is "servus" (nominative case). Option C is incorrect as
an indirect object would be in the dative case. Option D is incorrect as a genitive of
possession would indicate ownership.
2. Which of the following is the correct translation of "cibum parare coepit"?
A. He prepares the food.
B. He had prepared the food.
C. He began to prepare the food.
D. He will prepare the food.
Correct Answer: C. He began to prepare the food.
,Rationale: The verb "coepit" is the perfect tense of "coepi," which means "began." It
is followed by a complementary infinitive, "parare" (to prepare). Therefore, the
phrase means "He began to prepare the food." Option A is the present tense, which
would be "parat." Option B is the pluperfect tense, and Option D is the future tense,
neither of which are indicated by "coepit."
3. A tombstone inscription reads "Hic iacet Lucius." What does the word "iacet"
indicate?
A. He lived
B. He lies
C. He was born
D. He built
Correct Answer: B. He lies
Rationale: "Iacet" is the third person singular present active indicative of "iacere,"
which in a funerary context means "lies" (as in lies buried). Option A would be
"vixit." Option C would be "natus est." Option D would be a form of "aedificare."
4. What is the primary meaning of the ablative case when used without a
preposition?
A. Possession
B. The subject of the sentence
C. The means or instrument by which an action is performed
D. The person to whom something is given
Correct Answer: C. The means or instrument by which an action is performed
Rationale: When the ablative case is used without a preposition, its most common
function is the ablative of means/instrument. For example, "gladio pugnat" means
,"He fights with a sword." Option A is incorrect; possession is typically shown by the
genitive case. Option B is incorrect; the subject is in the nominative case. Option D
is incorrect; the person to whom something is given is expressed by the dative case.
5. A Roman general is reported to have "urbem cepit." What has he done?
A. He has burned the city.
B. He has besieged the city.
C. He has captured the city.
D. He has built a city wall.
Correct Answer: C. He has captured the city.
Rationale: The verb "cepit" is the perfect tense of "capio," which means "to take" or
"to capture." The context of a general and the object "urbem" (city) implies a
military capture. Option A would be "incendit." Option B would be "obsedit." Option
D would be "murum aedificavit."
6. Read the following sentence: "puellae, quae in horto ambulabant, flores
carpserunt." What is the purpose of the relative clause?
A. To identify which girls picked the flowers.
B. To state the reason the girls were in the garden.
C. To describe the flowers that were picked.
D. To indicate when the girls picked the flowers.
Correct Answer: A. To identify which girls picked the flowers.
Rationale: The relative clause "quae in horto ambulabant" (who were walking in
the garden) is a restrictive clause that identifies the specific girls who are the subject
of the main verb "carpserunt" (picked). It distinguishes these girls from any others.
, Option B would require a causal clause, Option C would modify "flores," and
Option D would require a temporal clause.
7. Which of the following best translates the Latin idiom "gratias agere"?
A. To do thanks
B. To have thanks
C. To give thanks
D. To thank
Correct Answer: C. To give thanks
Rationale: "Gratias agere" literally translates to "to do/perform thanks." This is the
standard Latin idiom for "to give thanks" or "to thank." Option A is a literal but
unidiomatic translation. Option B translates to "to have thanks," which is not the
meaning. Option D is a simplified paraphrase; while accurate in meaning, it doesn't
reflect the exact lexical idiom as well as "to give thanks."
8. A Roman soldier is described as "fortis." What quality is being attributed to
him?
A. Loyalty
B. Wisdom
C. Bravery
D. Speed
Correct Answer: C. Bravery
Rationale: The Latin adjective "fortis" means brave, courageous, or strong. It is one
of the most common virtues (virtus) attributed to a soldier. Option A is "fidelis."
Option B is "sapiens." Option D is "celer."
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | PLUS RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS |
2026/27 LATEST UPDATE | EXAM PREP | STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE TEST
Section One: Questions 1 – 50
1. In the sentence "servus dominum videt," what is the grammatical function of
"dominum"?
A. Subject
B. Direct Object
C. Indirect Object
D. Genitive of Possession
Correct Answer: B. Direct Object
Rationale: The noun "dominum" is in the accusative case, which is the primary
marker for the direct object of a verb. The direct object receives the action of the
verb. Here, the slave (subject) sees (verb) the master (direct object). Option A is
incorrect because the subject is "servus" (nominative case). Option C is incorrect as
an indirect object would be in the dative case. Option D is incorrect as a genitive of
possession would indicate ownership.
2. Which of the following is the correct translation of "cibum parare coepit"?
A. He prepares the food.
B. He had prepared the food.
C. He began to prepare the food.
D. He will prepare the food.
Correct Answer: C. He began to prepare the food.
,Rationale: The verb "coepit" is the perfect tense of "coepi," which means "began." It
is followed by a complementary infinitive, "parare" (to prepare). Therefore, the
phrase means "He began to prepare the food." Option A is the present tense, which
would be "parat." Option B is the pluperfect tense, and Option D is the future tense,
neither of which are indicated by "coepit."
3. A tombstone inscription reads "Hic iacet Lucius." What does the word "iacet"
indicate?
A. He lived
B. He lies
C. He was born
D. He built
Correct Answer: B. He lies
Rationale: "Iacet" is the third person singular present active indicative of "iacere,"
which in a funerary context means "lies" (as in lies buried). Option A would be
"vixit." Option C would be "natus est." Option D would be a form of "aedificare."
4. What is the primary meaning of the ablative case when used without a
preposition?
A. Possession
B. The subject of the sentence
C. The means or instrument by which an action is performed
D. The person to whom something is given
Correct Answer: C. The means or instrument by which an action is performed
Rationale: When the ablative case is used without a preposition, its most common
function is the ablative of means/instrument. For example, "gladio pugnat" means
,"He fights with a sword." Option A is incorrect; possession is typically shown by the
genitive case. Option B is incorrect; the subject is in the nominative case. Option D
is incorrect; the person to whom something is given is expressed by the dative case.
5. A Roman general is reported to have "urbem cepit." What has he done?
A. He has burned the city.
B. He has besieged the city.
C. He has captured the city.
D. He has built a city wall.
Correct Answer: C. He has captured the city.
Rationale: The verb "cepit" is the perfect tense of "capio," which means "to take" or
"to capture." The context of a general and the object "urbem" (city) implies a
military capture. Option A would be "incendit." Option B would be "obsedit." Option
D would be "murum aedificavit."
6. Read the following sentence: "puellae, quae in horto ambulabant, flores
carpserunt." What is the purpose of the relative clause?
A. To identify which girls picked the flowers.
B. To state the reason the girls were in the garden.
C. To describe the flowers that were picked.
D. To indicate when the girls picked the flowers.
Correct Answer: A. To identify which girls picked the flowers.
Rationale: The relative clause "quae in horto ambulabant" (who were walking in
the garden) is a restrictive clause that identifies the specific girls who are the subject
of the main verb "carpserunt" (picked). It distinguishes these girls from any others.
, Option B would require a causal clause, Option C would modify "flores," and
Option D would require a temporal clause.
7. Which of the following best translates the Latin idiom "gratias agere"?
A. To do thanks
B. To have thanks
C. To give thanks
D. To thank
Correct Answer: C. To give thanks
Rationale: "Gratias agere" literally translates to "to do/perform thanks." This is the
standard Latin idiom for "to give thanks" or "to thank." Option A is a literal but
unidiomatic translation. Option B translates to "to have thanks," which is not the
meaning. Option D is a simplified paraphrase; while accurate in meaning, it doesn't
reflect the exact lexical idiom as well as "to give thanks."
8. A Roman soldier is described as "fortis." What quality is being attributed to
him?
A. Loyalty
B. Wisdom
C. Bravery
D. Speed
Correct Answer: C. Bravery
Rationale: The Latin adjective "fortis" means brave, courageous, or strong. It is one
of the most common virtues (virtus) attributed to a soldier. Option A is "fidelis."
Option B is "sapiens." Option D is "celer."
