Sibylline Books Vocabulary Quiz

King Tarquin, or Tarquin the Proud, as he came to be called, ruled over the prosperous city of Rome in the sixth century BCE.

What is the meaning of 'prosperous'?

• lifeless

• thriving

• failing

• flourishing

Carts laden with animal skins and bundles of firewood creaked over the cobbles

What is the meaning of 'laden'?

• loaded

• full

• burden

• eased

Carts laden with animal skins and bundles of firewood creaked over the cobbles

What is the meaning of 'bundles'?

• group

• flock

• bunches

• myriad

One of the most important was the Cumaean Sybil who lived, unseen, in a cave where people would consult her and seek her advice.

What is the meaning of 'consult'?

• talk

• chat

• ask

• argue

One of the most important was the Cumaean Sybil who lived, unseen, in a cave where people would consult her and seek her advice.

What is the meaning of 'seek'?

• attempted

• try

• request

• solicit

‘Let her enter,’ he told the guards, and the tired old woman entered the audience chamber.

What is the meaning of 'chamber'?

• a bedroom

• a large room used for formal or public events

• a natural enclosed space or cavity

‘These books contain all the knowledge and wisdom of the word. From them you can learn how to protect your city from pestilence, and you can become the wisest king in history.’

What is the meaning of 'pestilence'?

• pest

• curse

• epidemic

• contagious disease

The old woman heaved her sack onto her back and walked back through the market.

What is the meaning of 'heaved'?

• hauled

• boosted

• dropped

• lifted

At last spring came, life improved and they forgot about the books until once again one market day, the old woman, a little more dishevelled than before, entered through the city gates and approached the palace.

What is the meaning of 'dishevelled'?

• unkempt

• neat

• messy

• tidy

'For half a bag of gold?' asked the king, thinking it was a high price but perhaps a bargain for half the wisdom of the world.

What is the meaning of 'bargain'?

• luxury

• a deal

• a steal

• rip-off