11.05.26: Level 2 (review); Carolus et Maria [27] [ii]: reading and comprehension (2) higher level (1)

Part 2

Ōlim Hispānia rēgēs habēbat. Interdum rēgēs in urbe nōn manēbant, sed rūrī habitābant. Saepe tēctum quod rūrī erat magnum erat. Circum tēctum erat mūrus altus. Hodiē Carolus et eius pater in viā prope mūrum ambulant. Portae sunt apertae, per quās pater fīliusque hortum et tēctum inter arborēs vident.

“Antīquīs temporibus,” inquit pater, “mīlitēs circum iānuam stābant.”

“Cūr hoc fēcērunt?” rogat Carolus.

“Sīc eī rēgēs ā perīculō rapiēbant,” respondet pater. “Saepe rēgēs inimīcōs quī eōs etiam necāre audēbant habēbant. Saepe pictūrās in quibus erant pīla quae paucī ex mīlitibus portābant vīdī. Galeās et gladiōs quoque portābant. Haec erant arma splendida. Signa in quibus erant figūrae avium aut animālium portābantur. Tū exempla bona hōrum signōrum antīquōrum Rōmae vīdistī. Mīlitēs Rōmānī quoque signa in proeliīs portābant. Sīc in mediō proeliō mīlitēs loca sua nōscēbant.”

Question [1]

What information is given in the text about where Spanish kings lived? (8)

Question [2]

What information is given in the text about [a] the role of the soldiers in the past (5), and [b] soldiers’ armour and equipment? (8)

Question [1]

Look at the phrase that leads you to the answer, and the marks allocated:

What information is given in the text about where Spanish kings lived. (8)

That the question awards eight marks will tell you that either there are many separate points or, in this case, precise details are needed. Marks reflect distinct pieces of information, not necessarily single words.

(1) Sometimes (2) did not stay in the city

(3) but lived in the countryside

(4) Often (5) the house in the countryside was large

(6) Around (7/8) the house was a ¦ high ¦ wall.

An answer such as “They did not stay in the city. They lived in the countryside. The house was large. The house had a wall” will not gain maximum marks since it is too generalised and misleading.

Question [2]

What information is given in the text about [a] the role of the soldiers in the past (5), and [b] soldiers’ armour and equipment? (8)

Many references are made to soldiers in the text, and so there is a need to answer [a] and [b] according to the topics that are given:

[a] the role of the soldiers in the past (5)

(1) stand around the gate; (2) carry the kings away (3) from danger; (4) kings often had enemies; (5) enemies tried to murder them

[b] soldiers’ armour and equipment (8)

(1) some / a few soldiers carried javelins: it is not enough to say merely “javelins”

(2) they had helmets and swords

(3) splendid / shining weapons

(4) standards were carried

(5) on the standards were images of birds and animals

(6) standards were carried in battles

(7) the standards showed soldiers where they were / their position (8) in the middle of a battle

Key points for higher-level answers:

To gain higher marks, you must give expanded answers that include all the relevant information from the Latin. Do not summarise or generalise.

You need to be precise and pay close attention to detail. This means:

• noticing adverbs (for example sometimes, often),
• noticing adjectives (for example high, splendid, a few),
• and including these details clearly in your answer.

Small words matter: if the Latin includes a word such as sometimes or often, you must reflect this meaning in your answer, by using the same word or an equivalent phrase.

Leaving out these details can lose marks, even if the main idea is correct.

Remember: marks are awarded for distinct pieces of information, so the more accurately you reflect the Latin, the higher your mark will be.