Direction:Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow. As legend has it, Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars, the god of war. They had been left to drown in a basket on the Tiber river by a king of a nearby region and were rescued by a she-wolf. The twins lived to defeat that king and founded their own city on the river’s banks in 753 B.C. After killing his brother, Romulus became the first king of Rome, which is named after him. A line of Sabine, Latin and Etruscan (earlier Italian civilisations) kings followed in a non-hereditary succession. Rome’s era as a monarchy ended in 509 B.C. with the overthrow of its seventh king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, whom ancient historians portrayed as cruel and tyrannical, compared to his benevolent predecessors. Rome now turned from a monarchy into a republic. The power of the monarch passed to two annually elected magistrates called consuls. They also served as commanders-in-chief of the army. The magistrates, though elected by the people, were largely the descendants of the original senators from the time of Romulus. In 450 B.C., the first Roman law code was inscribed on 12 bronze tablets—known as the Twelve Tables—and publicly displayed in the Roman Forum. These laws included issues of legal procedure, civil rights and property rights and provided the basis for all future Roman civil laws. By around 300 B.C. real political power in Rome was centered in the Senate.
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
Consuls were elected every two years by the people.
Analyzing the Passage on Early Roman History
The provided passage details the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus, its early period as a monarchy, and its transition to a republic. It mentions key figures like Romulus, Remus, and King Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, as well as important developments like the introduction of elected consuls and the creation of the Twelve Tables law code.
We need to carefully read each statement in the options and compare it against the information given in the passage to find the one that is NOT true.
Evaluating Each Statement Against the Passage
Let's examine each option:
- Statement 1: Twelve Tables is the Roman code of law.
The passage states, "In 450 B.C., the first Roman law code was inscribed on 12 bronze tablets—known as the Twelve Tables... These laws included issues of legal procedure, civil rights and property rights and provided the basis for all future Roman civil laws." This directly confirms that the Twelve Tables was the Roman code of law. So, this statement is true according to the passage.
- Statement 2: Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome.
The passage begins by saying, "As legend has it, Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus and Remus..." This statement is directly supported by the passage. So, this statement is true according to the passage.
- Statement 3: Consuls were elected every two years by the people.
The passage describes the transition to the republic: "The power of the monarch passed to two annually elected magistrates called consuls." The passage explicitly states that consuls were elected "annually," meaning every year, not every two years. Therefore, this statement contradicts the information in the passage. This statement is NOT true according to the passage.
- Statement 4: Elected magistrates served as commanders-in-chief.
The passage states regarding the elected magistrates (consuls): "They also served as commanders-in-chief of the army." This confirms that the elected magistrates served this role. So, this statement is true according to the passage.
Identifying the False Statement
Based on the analysis above, the statement that is NOT true according to the passage is "Consuls were elected every two years by the people." The passage clearly states they were elected annually.
Revision Table: Key Facts from the Passage
| Historical Event/Figure | Detail from Passage |
|---|---|
| Founding of Rome | By Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C. |
| End of Monarchy | In 509 B.C. with overthrow of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus |
| Form of Government (Republic) | Power passed to two elected magistrates (consuls) |
| Consul Election Frequency | Annually elected |
| Consul Role | Magistrates and commanders-in-chief |
| Twelve Tables | First Roman law code, inscribed in 450 B.C. |
Additional Information: Early Roman Republic
The transition from a monarchy to a republic in Rome was a pivotal moment. The establishment of annually elected consuls was a significant change, distributing power among multiple individuals rather than concentrating it in a single king. While elected by the people, the initial consuls were often from the patrician class (descendants of the original senators). The development of the Twelve Tables was crucial for making the law accessible and providing a foundation for future legal principles, though early Roman society still faced significant social and political struggles between different classes.
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