Bartholomew the Englishman

On the Dragon

Latin Grammar: Reading Comprehension

Draco maximus est cunctorum serpentum, ut dicit Isidorus libro 12. Hunc Graeci draconta vocant, ut qui saepe a speluncis abstractus fertur in aerem, excitaturque propter eum aer, similiter et mare contra eius ventum intumescit. Est autem cristatus, parvo ore, et arctis fistulis spiritum trahit, et linguam exerit vel erigit. Dentes habet acutos et serratos, vim autem habet non in dentibus sed in cauda, et verbere plus quam ictu nocet.Non habet autem tantum de veneno quantum et alii serpentes, quia ad mortem alicui inferendam non sunt illi necessaria venena, quia si quam ligaverit, occidit; a quo nec elephas tutus est corporis sui magnitudine. Nam circa semitas delitescens per quas elephantes gradiuntur, crura cauda sua alligat et innodat, et suffocatos perimit atque necat.

Answer the following questions based upon your reading of the paragraph above.

1. We discover that the dragon...

  • is bigger than Isidorus's serpent.
  • is approximately twelve feet long.
  • is the biggest of all serpents.

2. The Greeks call this species draco because...

  • the air moves and the sea rises when you dig it out of its cave.
  • it bears an abstract resemblance to dragons in cave art.
  • it has markings on its stomach like those seen on ancient sea creatures.

3. Its appearance includes...

  • a crusty mouth.
  • a very cold spirit.
  • a flickering tongue.

4. The dragon's strength is found mostly...

  • in its teeth.
  • in its tail.
  • in its back.

5. Regarding its poison, we find that...

  • it does not have as much as other serpents.
  • it is the most deadly of all poisons.
  • it dies if it uses its poison glands.

6. Regarding elephants and dragons, we are told that...

  • an elephant's body has too much magnitude for a dragon to kill.
  • the dragon ties up the elephant's legs in knots and suffocates it.
  • the dragons teeth cut through elephant hide like a scimitar.

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