Oxford Cambridge and RSA
*1864753086*
Friday 16 May 2025 – Afternoon
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 16 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8124/2] DC (SL) 350109/4
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
1 Read the passage and answer the questions.
, 2
Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est. nam in C. Silium, iuventutis
Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam,
matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adultero potiretur. neque Silius flagitii aut
periculi nescius erat: sed
intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris
celandi
spem esse.
Tacitus, Messalina, lines 1–7
(a) Messalina … incensa est (line 1): what do we learn about Messalina here?
........................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
............. [2]
(b) nam … potiretur (lines 1–3): what did Messalina do because of her love for Gaius
Silius? Make two points.
1 .....................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
2 .....................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
(c) neque … nescius erat (line 3): what was Silius aware of?
........................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
............. [1]
(d) sed intellexit … esse (lines 3–5): why do you think Silius chose to continue the affair?
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..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
© OCR 2025
, 3
........................................................................................................................................
............. [2] BLANK PAGE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE 2* Read the
passage and answer the question.
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes
honoresque; postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe
videbantur. at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus. iam Messalina propter facilitatem
adulteriorum ad novas
libidines versa est. Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium
periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum
5 princeps senesceret.
Tacitus, Messalina, lines 8–17
What makes this such a vivid description of the affair between Messalina and Silius?
In your answer you may wish to consider:
• the increasingly bold actions of
Messalina; • the way Tacitus
describes Silius responding.
You should refer to the Latin and discuss Tacitus’ use of language.
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© OCR 2025
*1864753086*
Friday 16 May 2025 – Afternoon
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If you need extra space use
the lined pages at the end of this booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 16 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/8124/2] DC (SL) 350109/4
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
1 Read the passage and answer the questions.
, 2
Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est. nam in C. Silium, iuventutis
Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam,
matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adultero potiretur. neque Silius flagitii aut
periculi nescius erat: sed
intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris
celandi
spem esse.
Tacitus, Messalina, lines 1–7
(a) Messalina … incensa est (line 1): what do we learn about Messalina here?
........................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
............. [2]
(b) nam … potiretur (lines 1–3): what did Messalina do because of her love for Gaius
Silius? Make two points.
1 .....................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
2 .....................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
(c) neque … nescius erat (line 3): what was Silius aware of?
........................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
............. [1]
(d) sed intellexit … esse (lines 3–5): why do you think Silius chose to continue the affair?
........................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
........................................................................................................................................
..................
© OCR 2025
, 3
........................................................................................................................................
............. [2] BLANK PAGE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE 2* Read the
passage and answer the question.
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes
honoresque; postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe
videbantur. at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus. iam Messalina propter facilitatem
adulteriorum ad novas
libidines versa est. Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium
periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum
5 princeps senesceret.
Tacitus, Messalina, lines 8–17
What makes this such a vivid description of the affair between Messalina and Silius?
In your answer you may wish to consider:
• the increasingly bold actions of
Messalina; • the way Tacitus
describes Silius responding.
You should refer to the Latin and discuss Tacitus’ use of language.
...............................................................................................................................................
........... ...................................................................................................................................
.......................
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© OCR 2025
