READING COMPREHENSION (41-90)

SELECTION ABOUT FAITH AND MUSIC

The Filipino is sustained by his faith and his music. This was the observation made many years ago by a noted
Jesuit.
This I saw, felt and believed when I took a summer vacation in my father’s hometown.
For example, Tata Kandong would work like a horse the whole day as he shuttles endlessly between his vegetable
farm and his modest piggery. In the evenings he would play his banduria and tell lots of stories between his pieces.
Then he would sound solemn and pious in saying, “God will send us rain for our rice field soon”.
My father’s youngest sister, Tita Cora, was a fine example of wife and mother would put her young to sleep with
her sweet lullabies. Going back to her work as a seamstress, she would hum lovely kundiman. On one occasion, she
paused and with a glint on her eyes, she hoped her two children would be successful professionals.
My cousin, Josuel, just graduated from high school. He had to walk five kilometres every day to school as there
were no available means of transportation. Some evenings we would share some praise songs. “I hope”. He wistfully
said once, “I can be a lawyer, so I can help the victims of exploitation in our town.”
Tata Kandong, Tita Cora and Josuel typify the strong and resolute Filipinos. While life is difficult, hope springs
eternal from their hearts, by the power of their faith and music.

1. We can infer from the selection that people

Can overcome life’s difficulties thru _________.
a. Sense of humor
b. Faith in others
c. Love songs and dances
d. Love of God and music
2. As used in the selection, the word “glint means ___________.
a. Doubt
b. Pain
c. Sparkle
d. Sadness
3. The theme of this selection is that the Filipino _____________.
a. Overcome difficulties by his faith and music
b. Can always turn to others in order to survive
c. Depends on others to survive
d. Look at life as a burden
4. The phrase ”hope springs eternal” most likely mean __________.
a. To ask for hope
b. To rely on hope
c. There is no more
d. There is always hope
5. The Filipino value most exemplified selection in his __________.
a. Faith in others
b. Love of family
c. Respect for elders
d. Love of people

SELECTION ABOUT VERB CHOPSTICK

Chopstick were invented in china over thousand years ago, probably evolving from twigs used to spear food from a
cooking pot. Knives took over this function in the West, but Confucius, who considered knives instruments of
aggression, encouraged the use of chopsticks as part of his teaching of nonviolence. The name in Chinese is kuai
zi, which means “quick little fellows” came from the pidgin English for kuai.
Chopsticks spread throughout the orient, those belonging to the rich made of gold, silver, ivory, or jade. Most
however, were-and are made of bamboo, which was plentiful and cheap, with no taste or smell that could affect the
food. The Japanese made them from a variety of woods and lacquered them for durability. It was not until the late
19th century that the disposable bamboo variety became popular.
Traditionally, Chinese and Japanese chopsticks differ in length and shape. The Chinese are ten inches long,
square, and blunt at the tip, while the Japanese are rounded, come to a point, and are a couple of inches shorter.
They are efficient enough to pick up a single grain of rice, but the accepted way to eat rice is to use the chopsticks
almost like scoop, moving the grains from a small bowl held close to the mouth.
Chopstick etiquette says you should not gesture with them as you talk, nor should you use them to pass food. And
you’re inviting misfortune if you drop them or place them crossed on your plate, unless you do it in a restaurant to
show the waiter you’re finished and ready for the check.
6. Another way of expressing the idea “chopsticks spread throughout the orient” is________________.
a. Chopsticks were swiftly accepted in the orient
b. Chopsticks were mostly found in the orient
c. Chopsticks were discovered
d. Chopsticks were only found in the orient
7. In the phrase “and lacquered them for durability” the most likely meaning of lacquered is ______________.
a. Mixed
b. Dipped
C. Coated
D. Sprayed
8. In the passage, Chinese and Japanese chopsticks were described to __________.
a. Show that the Chinese and Japanese use chopsticks
b. Point out differences between the two
c. Give an idea of where chopsticks came from
d. point out the similarities of the two
9.Using a term that means ”quick little felloes” to refer a pair of chopsticks is an example of a
__________.
a. Simile
b. Metaphor
c. Hyperbole
d. Personification
10. Chopsticks show a cultural difference associated with people’s ___________.
a. Eating practice
b. Food preparation
c. Rice eating- habits
d. Cooking traditions

SELECTION ABOUT VERB

The verb is the business end of a sentence, the sentence’s reason for being. That’s where the action is. Without a
verb, even if it’s only suggested, there’s nothing going on, just a lot of nouns standing around with their hands in
their pockets. A verb is easy to spot. Just look for the moving target, the center of activity, the part that tells you
what’s going on. No wonder the verb is the most interesting word in a sentence. It is also the most complicated.
Because the verb expresses action, it has something that other words lack-time. It has to tell you whether something
happened in the past, the present, the future or some combination of times: sneeze, sneezed, will sneeze, would
have sneezed and so on.
The verb has another aspect, too. It varies according to who or what is performing the action: sneeze, he sneezes,
they sneeze, and so on.
There are plenty of reasons a verb can go astray. The most common is that it doesn’t match the subject: one is
singular and the other plural. For example, Pocholo and I was sneezing. The next most common reason is that the
verb’s timing-its tense-is off.
(Yesterday she sneezes). This makes verb sound daunting, but they’re really not so bad. Taken one at a time ( which
is how you encounter them, after all) problems with verb can be made to disappear.

11.The most important value of verbs is stated in the passage that says:
a. Spotting verbs in a sentence is very easy
b. Verbs are the necessary key in making sentences
c. Where verbs are, action is always present
d. Without a verb, a sentence is uninteresting.
12.According to the passage, one reason verbs are not easy to use is because ____________.
a. Unlike other words, they are bound to time
b. They always indicate an on going action
c. Unlike other words, their spelling changes
d. They cause complication in a sentence
13. Based on the passage, a verb can be defined as the word in a sentence that ___________.
a. Can most likely go astray
b. Is the most complicated
c. Can easily be spotted
d. Expresses action
14. “taken one at a time” problems with verbs can be made to disappear” is the same as
saying that________________.
A. Using verbs carries no necessary problem
b. Difficulty with verbs can be overcome gradually
c. Problems with verbs are that important
d. Although difficult, verb problems are easily solved
15. The passage is an example of ______________ of an idea.
a. An explanation
b. A narration
c. A description
d. An analysis

SOLAR ENERGY
16. What is the main idea of the selection?
a. solar energy B. Radiant energy c. Kinetic energy d. Absorptive activity
17. What does the phrase “the sun is our life source” mean?
a. The energy of the sun is alive.
b. The beginning of life is the sun.
c. The life of all living things come from the sun
d. The radiance of the sun is beautiful
18. For mankind, the sun is the source of ______.
a. carbon compounds b. atmosphere
c. electricity d. all heat
19. The largest part of the radiant energy directed towards the earth is ______.
a. Turned into fuel b. harnessed for electric power c. Stored by the current season’s plant d. Absorbed by the
earth’s atmosphere
20. All useful energy on the surface of the earth comes from the ______.
a. sun directly b. sun’s activity c. radiation of the sun d. energy stored by the sun
21. The author presented the selection about the sun by_____.
a. enumerating details b. giving examples c. describing d. narrating
22. “Let us get to the bottom” in the first paragraph means______.
a. Search for reasons b. Discover the basic facts or cause c. Define the meaning d. Move under the ground

SELECTION ABOUT PASTA

A world without pasta seems inconceivable. Macaroni and cheese loving children across the US would howl in
protest; Italy might suffer a heart attack; social unrest could explode in china where noodles are the main staple.
But if humans want to keep eating pasta, we will have to take much more aggressive action against global warming.
Pasta is made from wheat, and a large growing body of scientific studies and real world observations suggest what
wheat will be hit especially hard as temperatures rise and storms and drought intensify in the years ahead.
Three grains- wheat, corn and rice account for most of the food that humans consume. All these are already
suffering from climate change, but wheat stands to fare the worst in the years ahead, for it is the grain most
vulnerable to high temperatures. That spells trouble not only for pasta but also for bread, the most basic food of all.
International agricultural research centers and the private sector have woken up to the fact that higher temperatures
are almost inevitable and they have very little in their genetic toolbox to deal with them.
23. The meaning of inconceivable in the first sentence of the passage must be _________.
a. Not imaginable
b. Cannot happen
c. Unable to conceive
d. No possibility
24. The passage emphasizes an alarming future scenario because __________.
a. Humans will take more aggressive action against global warming
b. China, where noodles are the main staple, could have social unrest
c. Macaroni and cheese loving children across the US would protest
d. Three significant grains, especially wheat may be lost to humans.
25. This passage entitled Pasta Crisis points out with urgency that ____________.
a. Higher temperatures are almost inevitable
b. Three grains are already suffering from climate change
c. More aggressive action against global warming is needed
d. Drought will intensify in the coming years
26. Another way of expressing the idea in the sentence” it is the grain most vulnerable to high temperatures” is it is
the grain ____________.
a. Most affected under intense heat
b. Likely to flourish when it gets warm
c. Strongly at risk in temperate areas
d. Inclined to wither if it gets very hot
27. The idea in the passage is develop using ___________.
a. Narration
b. Exposition
c. Description
d. Illustration

SELECTION ABOUT SOCIAL CHANGES

In the light of social changes, we come to the question: What qualities should distinguish the educated Filipino
today? I venture to suggest that the educated Filipino should first be distinguished by the power to do.
The oriental excels in reflective thinking he is a philosopher. The Occidental is a doer; he manages things, men
and affairs. The Filipino of today needs more of this power to translate reflection into action. I believe that we
are coming more to this power to translate reflection into action.
We are coming more likely to the conviction that no Filipino has the right to be considered educated unless he is
prepared to take an active and useful part in the work, life, and progress of our country as well as in the progress of
the world.

28. what is the best paraphrase of the last paragraph in the passage?
A. Participation in the work and progress of our country is sought by every Filipino
B. The country’s progress and advancement depend primarily on educated Filipino
C. A truly educated Filipino participates actively in the work and progress of the country and the world as a
whole.
D. To be considered educated, one has to be globally competitive and willing to take risks.
29. As used in the selection, what does word “conviction” mean?
A. intellectual guess C. verdict
B. strong belief D. allegiance
30. What trait is found in most Orientals but needs to be deepened in Filipino?
A. action oriented C. good in managing
B. patience D. reflective thinker
31. What is meant by this line?
“ The oriental is a philosopher”
A. Oriental people are contemplative
B. Oriental people have the blood of great philosophers
C. They have a tendency to become philosophers
D. They think like Great Solomon.
32. What value is implied in the same passage above?
A. justice C. hyperactivity
B. courage D. active involvement

SELECTION ABOUT HAPPINESS

We strive for happiness, generally in self- centered ways. We expect others to favour us with their attention, for
example, or we wait for invitations or gifts. We have probably tried to buy happiness with purchase of a new dress
or shoes. Fleeting moments of happiness are gained, that’s all. And soon we are discontented once again. And the
search begins anew.
But things may have changed for some of us. We are learning, maybe slowly, how to find more permanent
happiness. And we know that happiness that comes from “getting” is elusive. Giving to others, giving attention,
sharing hope, sharing our stories with others, listening to theirs, is the key to finding the happiness for which we
have searched so long. We must get outside of ourselves and focus on other’s joys or sorrows. Only then do we get a
clear perspective on who we are and the necessary role we play in the lives of others who need our attention
and who have a message we also need to hear.
33. The underlined word in the selection connotes_____.
A. hard to possess
B. easy to achieve
C. difficult to lose
D. easy to understand
34. From the ideas presented in the selection we can infer that happiness _____.
a. can never be truly attained
b. is temporary and fleeting
c. which comes from giving is more lasting and permanent
d. is achieved when we get something from others
35. It can be concluded that the value being given emphasis in the selection is _____.
a. being true to oneself
b. being true to others
c. receiving from others
d. giving to others
36. What is meant by the line “We must get outside and focus on other’s joy or sorrow”?
a. showing interest in others will get them interested in us
b. we must share with others our secret longings and dreams
c. we must try to involve ourselves in a personal life of others.
d. showing concern for others makes us forget our pre-occupation with ourselves.
37. The idea of the author about happiness conveyed through _____.
a. comparing a thought with others experiences
b. sharing other’s experiences on the construct
c. narrating a story and quoting a verse
d. explaining and citing examples

*SELECTION ABOUT CONFIDENCE:

38. main idea – D. Self-confidence is the key factor
39. to develop confidence – B. paragraph 2
40. “hitch” – B. fasten
41. successful people – A. work hard at having faith
42. “each individual” – C. a person should aim as high
43. literary technique – D. giving suggestions
44. ways to achieve – B. Deal with people who have
45. conclusion – A. Confidence is oneself a crucial

*SELECTION ABOUT ASIA

46. Asia – D. new generation of youth
47. inferred – C. have been influenced by western
48. observing – C. they share a coomon character
49. author about asian youth – D. practice news and experiments
50. conclusion – B. peers and broadcast media have a great influence
*exposed – A. develop foreign values
*literary technique- B. describing

***END OF ENGLISH TEST***