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WorksheetsCaesar Sightread "Will it be war or peace"
Total questions: 19
Worksheet time: 5hrs 45mins
In lines 1–3, Caesar informs the reader that Vibullius had
left Corfinium for Spain
defected to Caesar's side
been captured and released twice before
been dismissed by Pompey
ab eo (line 2) means
to him
to that place
away from it
by him
The words semel...iterum (lines 2–3) mean
not only... but also
once ... again
although ... nevertheless
just ... so
Hunc (line 3) refers to
Vibillium
Pompey
Caesar
Corfinium
Why does Caesar judge Vibullius to be a suitable envoy?
Vibullius comes from a noble family
Vibullius owes Caesar for sparing his life in the past
Caesar knows Vibullius will want the reward he is now offering
Vibullius has served as a magistrate in the past
The words quem ... mitteret in line 4 show
purpose
doubt
fear
disbelief
To whom does eundem (line 4) refer?
The Romans
Caesar
the Senate
Vibullius
What is the general meaning of apud Cn. Pompeium auctoritatem habere (line 4–5)?
Pompey was the author of several books
he was at Pompey's house
he has influence with Pompey
Pompey originated the plan of attack
In lines 5–6, mandatorum refers to the
content of the message that Caesar sends to Pompey
hostages to be exchanged
speech that Caesar gives to his troops
site of the battle to be fought
The words erat autem haec summa mandatorum (lines 5–6) introduce a series of
purpose clauses
indirect statements
conditional sentences
participial phrases
In the lines following summa mandatorum (lines 5–6), Caesar presents:
threats of punishment to Vibullius
a strategy for cutting of and destroying Pompey's army
conditions for peace between himself and Pompey
directions to help Vibullius find Pompey's camp
With the words (debere) neque amplius fortunam periclitari (lines 6–7), Caesar says that
victory is sometimes won without risk
good luck also requires taking a risk
fortune can sometimes make weapons useless
neither side ought to take further risks
In line 6, ab armis discedere is closest in meaning to:
repair their weapons
wage war
cease hostilities
negotiate a treaty
In lines 7–8, the words quae pro disciplina et praeceptis habere possent indicate that
Pompey and Caesar could learn lessons from past experiences
troops on both sides could lose their discipline
one of them may suffer great losses
Pompey's troops must learn to win on their own
In the clause ut reliquos casus timerent (line 8) Caesar suggests that
he fears that the soldiers want to leave
both he and Pompey should now fear further disasters
fear often causes the loss of a battle
those left behind may be the cause of a renewed battle
The case and number of casus in line 8 is:
accusative plural
genitive singular
nominative singular
nominative plural
In lines 9–10, Caesar suggests that he and Pompey are proof enough of
how small losses can cause great difficulties
what a powerful factor sheer luck can be in war
why Fortune's lessons are often overlooked
why foreign wars are the most costly and dangerous
In line 10, incommodis suis is best translated
of their losses
without their losses
their losses
by their losses
What is the general message of this passage?
"Pompey, you have suffered more losses than I have and you are about to suffer even more."
"You, Pompey, will lose because you don't understand the real meaning of political power."
"We should stop this war because even more terrible things could happen to either side."
"Let's make arrangements to finish this war with one final battle."
