Department of Education

Region VI-Western Visayas

Mandurriao National High School
Q. Abeto St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City

ENGLISH GRADE 10
DIAGNOSTIC TEST
SY: 2016-2017

I. Special Terms
Directions: Match each term in column B with the most appropriate description in column A.
A. B.
___1. argument A. what needs to be proven by facts
___2. controlling idea B. central idea of a work of literature
___3. mood C. the feeling created in a reader by a literary work
___4. opinion D. a core idea or focus of a written work
___5. tone E. contains the body of evidence used to
___6. theme support a point of view F. refers to the attitude of the writer towards his subject

II. Grammar
Modals. Directions: Choose from the pool of answers the writer’s/speaker’s intention as hinted by each
underlined expression.
A. ability B. obligation C. probability D. willingness

7. It’s true that sorrows in life may bring despair.

8. We must find courage even in the small things that we do.
9. We will endure even the greatest sufferings that will come our way.
10. Ordinary trials can be turned into extraordinary moments.

III. Reading and Literature

Directions: Read each of the following short passages carefully and copy the letter of the word or phrase that
best completes each numbered item.

Exploring the Sea of Goodness

Lee Emm
1.) Do you believe that a sea of goodness is possible in this world? 2.) I always believe it is possible. 3.) Doing
something good, no matter what the consequences will always make me contented and secure. 4.) There are a
lot of ways I can do such, especially in doing something “good” for others. 5.) The steps are easy but
zealousness, humility and consistency are the subtle ways. Here are the simple ones: 6.) The first one is I
imagine that I am in the place of the other person I’ll do good to. 7.) Next, I’ll imagine how she’ll feel and react.
8.) That way, I’ll think doing good to others will make me at least a better person. 9.) That will make me be
grateful that I have done something good. 10.) With these simple but notable ways I can prove to myself, to
others and to God that I can explore the sea of goodness in this ever changing world. 11.) How about you, can
you explore it also? 12.) I bet you can!
11. The main point of the article is best expressed in sentence no. __.
A. 3 C. 10
B. 4 D. 12
12. Exploring the sea of goodness, means you are practicing ______.
A. conscientiousness C. kindness
B. humility D. sympathy
13. The word subtle in Sentence 5 means _________.
A. clear C. refined
B. practical D. strained
14. The kind of evidence used by the writer to support her stand is through____.
A. anecdotes C. statistics
B. examples D. video
15. The generalization or statement about the passage on life or human experience is to __________.
A. bring out the best in you C. struggle against the odds
B. stand up for one’s belief D. take strength to bear up the odds
For nos. 16 to 20

1.) The best way to overcome a disability is to face it head-on and not to let it prevent you from achieving great
things. 2.) This is the lesson I draw from the lives of two people whom I admire - the musician Stevie Wonder
and the track-and-field star Jackie Joyner-Kersee. 3.) I respect them for their courage and strength in
overcoming obstacles. 4.) Both are persons with disabilities who defied obstacles in order to be successful in
their fields. 5.) They taught me never to give up no matter how intimidating the obstacles I face in life.
from: “Overcome an Obstacle to Succeed” by Eddie Harris
16. The word “fought” is a/an _______ of the word “defied” in sentence no. 4.
A. connotation C. opposite
B. denotation D. symbol
17. This passage would most probably interest a/an __________.
A. adolescent C. child
B. adult D. old man
18. The passage is most probably a part of a/an __________.
A. anecdote C. letter
B. autobiography D. persuasive essay
19. To support his claim, the writer uses ____.
A. facts C. reasons
B. opinion D. statistics
20. An effective persuasive technique used by the author to emphasize his point is through appealing to
________.
A. emotion C. reason
B. moral D. both A and C
For nos. 21 to 23
“When the world looks hopeless,
And life is not fair,
Throw back your shoulders
And do not despair.”

21. The expression to “throw back your shoulders” means________.

A. exercise your shoulders C. be confident and brave
B. forget your responsibilities D. show your feelings
22. The passage appeals more to the sense of ________.
A. feeling C. sound
B. sight D. taste
23. Most probably, the writer’s purpose in this passage is to ____.
A. express a feeling C. reveal the truth
B. give an advice D. win other’s approval
For nos. 24to 26 An excerpt from: Rabbi Ben Ezra
by Robert Browning
Then, welcome each rebuff
That turns earth’s smoothness rough,
Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand but go!
Be our joys three-parts pain!
Strive, and hold cheap the strain’;
Learn, nor account the pang; dare, never grudge the
throe.
24. The word in the poem which is the opposite of “acceptance” is _____.
A. bids C. pangs
B. joys D. rebuff
25. Line nos. 5 and 6 appeal more to the sense of _______.
A. feeling B. sight C. taste D. touch
26. The tone of the poem is more of _______.
A. admiration C. inspirational
B. criticism D. pride
For nos. 27 to 30

If you have endured a great despair,

Then you did it alone.
Getting a transfusion from a fire,
Picking the scabs off your heart,
Then wringing it out like a sock.
- from: “Courage” by Anne Sexton
31. The feeling that the writer intends us to have toward life is ________.
A. contentment C. fear
B. courage D. hopelessness
34. The word in the poem that gives hint to the mood it evokes is _____.
A. aspired C. sink
B. sail D. succeed
35. The figure of speech used in the poem is ______________.
A. alliteration C. personification
B. metaphor D. simile
36. The last two lines of the poem express _____________.
A. arrogance C. optimism
B. courage D. warning
IV. Choose the best answer for each of the following questions:
37. This sad story made him ________ about his own tragedy.
a. to think c. think
b. thought d. thinks
38. My uncle went out of the house ________ ago.
A. an hour's half C. a half of hour
B. half an hour D. a half hour
39. Which city did you like most? - I enjoyed all of the cities on the tour, but the city ________ I enjoyed most
was Miami, Florida.
A. what C. that
B. where D. there
40. There's a buffalo in the garden! - ________.
A. What? C. How?
B. Don't say it to me! D. Excuse?
41. Can I ________ you a question?
A. put C. make
B. ask D. pose
42. Do you like Greek food? Yes, ________.
A. it's very well. C. I like
B. is good D. I do
43. I can wear the blue socks or the ________.
A. greys C. grey ones
B. my grey ones D. grey one
V. Choose the underlined part that needs correction:
44. The international working class made the one of May their day of solidarity.
A. Working C. made
B. One D. of
45. TV provides many more entertainment programs as any other kind.
A. many C. entertainment
B. as D. any
46. The rubber farms will make a lot of money and give jobs to a great deal of people.
A. rubber C. make
B. a lot of D. a great deal of
47. Around the age of sixteen you must make one of the biggest decision of your life.
A. Around C. of
B. must D. decision
VI. Read the passage and then choose one answer for each of the following questions:

When you put a letter into the postbox, do you know what will happen to it?

First of all, a postman will come in a van to collect all the mail from it. The mail is collected at fixed times,
usually once in the afternoon. These collection times are shown on each postbox. The van will then take the
mail to the nearest post office.

The mail going to places in the same district will be put together. A machine will chop the stamps so that they
cannot be used again. Then postmen will arrange the letters into bundles and pack them into their postbox.

The work of a postman is not easy. He often has to get up very early. He has to work outdoors in all the
weathers. He must be strong in older to carry his heavy postage. He sometimes has to read bad writing. Can you
read address on this envelope? It is very difficult for postman to deliver mail quickly and correctly when
addresses are not written clearly.

Do you know the proper way to send a letter? If you are writing to someone in Hong Kong, you should use a
white envelope. If you want Lo send a letter to a country outside Hong Kong, you should use an envelope
bordered by red and blue stripes. Also you should write the name and address clearly and correctly on the
envelope. Letters and small parcels can be posted in postboxes or at a post office. However, you must take
larger parcels to a post office. It costs more to send a heavy parcel than a light one. It is also more expensive to
send mail overseas.

48. When is mail collected from a postbox?

A. Usually twice a day
B. At any time in a day
C. Only once in the afternoon
D. Twice in the morning
49. How do we know the collection times?
A. A policeman will tell us
B. They are shown outside the mail vans.
C. They are written on the postbox.
D. They are shown on the postboxes.
50. What does a machine do to the mail collected in a post office?
A. It takes the stamps off for use again.
B. It puts a chop on the stamps.
C. It sticks more stamps onto them.
D. It arranges the letters into bundles.

G. Composition Writing (Nos. 37 to 40)

Directions:
Imagine you are a sales representative persuading the consumers to buy the latest gadget or product you’re
promoting/selling. Write a paragraph convincing the public about the advantages of buying the gadget.
Convince them using the persuasive techniques you know. You will be given ten (10) points for this task.

Noted: Prepared by;

Marie Luna Mae C. Capatayan Maria Fe F. Naredo

SSHT III – English Department SST - I