WorksheetsPliny the Younger & the eruption of Vesuvius
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 11mins
What was Pliny's full name?
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Felix
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus
Lucius Plinius Marcius Secundus
Lucius Marcius Plinius Pompeius Secundus
When was Pliny born?
AD 61
61 BC
AD 79
AD 161
Which of the following is NOT true about his uncle Pliny the Elder?
He was commander of a Roman fleet
He wrote extensively about Natural History
He had a villa at Misenum on the Bay of Naples
As a former gladiator, he was in very good shape
Which of the following emperors, ruling for 15 years, does history tell us was a dangerous and ruthless man?
Hadrian
Domitian
Trajan
Nerva
Roughly how old was Pliny when he witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?
17 or 18
20 or 21
23 or 24
13 or 14
What was unusual about Pliny's career?
He joined the senate very late
He was a soldier before getting into politics
None of his family had ever been a senator before
He bought his way into the junior ranks
The word 'senatus' (the Senate) is related to which Latin word?
senex, because the senate was comprised (supposedly) of experienced, wiser men
The verb senso, because senators were supposed to be 'in touch' of current affairs.
consensus, because agreement was necessary between senators in order for legislation to pass into law
None of these words
The Bay of Naples is...?
North of Rome
South of Rome
West of Rome
East of Rome
Which of the following had Pliny the Elder NOT been doing just prior to seeing the cloud above Vesuvius?
Sunbathing
Cold bath
Eating
Light exercise
Which of the following trees did Pliny the Younger compare the eruption cloud to?
Cypress
Palm
Pine
Oak
candida interdum, interdum sordida et maculosa.
What explanation did he give for this description of the cloud?
The heat of the eruption
The amount of earth & ash it carried
The force of the eruption
Mud and lava caught in the up-blast
magnum propiusque noscendum
With what words did Pliny say his uncle was drawn to this sight?
Because he was a highly educated man
Because it was his job as commander to investigate
Because he had lots of friends nearby
Because he wanted to take his nephew to see it
Best translation of magnum propiusque noscendum
Something great that had never been witnessed before
A clear and present danger
Huge and rather near
Important & worth investigating at closer quarters
From whom did Pliny the Elder receive a note prior to departing?
Rectina wife of Cascus
Tascina wife of Rectus
Rectina wife of Tascus
Tosca wife of Rectus
ut se tanto discrimini eriperet orabat
What type of construction is this?
Purpose clause
Result clause
Indirect question
Indirect command
quod studioso animo incohaverat obit maximo
Best literal translation of this remark?
He went out to meet what he had seen in curiosity
What he had begun with an enquiring mind he finished in an heroic one
Things which others had begun in a heroic way he completed in a spirit of investigation
He had understood (at once) with his curious mind what he went out to meet
What made the Bay of Naples so popular, according to Pliny?
frequens civibus
amoenitas orae
multis auxilium
solem plagamque
properat illuc unde alii fugiunt
and
studioso animo incohaverat obit maximo
What links these phrases?
They are polysyndetic
Use of hendiadys
Chiasmus
Indirect questions
complectitur trepidantem consolatur hortatur
and
lotus accubat cenat
What do these sentences have in common?
Polysyndetic: denoting dynamism, bravery
Asydnetic: promoting decisiveness, bravery
Chiasmatic: denoting contrast between Pliny & others
Subjunctives: denoting motives assumed by Pliny Younger
Respectively, propius is an example of a ................ and densior is an example of a .....................?
Comparative adverb and comparative adjective
preposition and superlative adverb
subjunctive and indicative
positive adjective and comparative adjective
