Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE URDANETA CITY
CATABLAN INTEGRATED SCHOOL
Urdaneta City Pangasinan

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

1st Quarter Examination

Name: ____________________________ Score: __________________________

Grade & Section: ___________________ Teacher: ________________________

Directions: Read and comprehend the questions carefully. Encircle the correct answer.

1. It refers to the author’s life and the social, political, and economic conditions that influenced
and shaped it.
a. Biographical context c. Socio-cultural context
b. Linguistic context d. Literature

2. When you read a text based on biographical context, you engage in a ______________
a. Formalist criticism c. Biographical criticism
b. Psychoanalytic criticism d. Gender criticism

3. Which of the following should not be considered in reading through a biographical context?
a. Educational b. Social c. Figurative language d. Political

4. In analyzing a text based on its biographical context, a reader __________.

a. Compares the literary work to other works
b. Examines the styles and techniques used by the author
c. Gathers relevant facts about the authors life
d. Identifies the images used by the author.

5. Which of the following tells why we should consider gathering information about the
author’s literary influences?
a. It helps the reader to understand literary works thoroughly.
b. It develops the reader reading critical skills
c. It may have caused an impact to the author and his works.
d. It reveals the authors lack of originality.

6. Who wrote “My Last Farewell”?

a. Andres Bonifacio b. Jose Rizal c. Apolinario Mabini d. Antonio Luna

7. Which of the following does NOT belong to the group?

a. Mi Ultimo Adios c. El Filibusterismo
b. Comedia De Capa d. Noli Me Tangere

8. My Last Duchess (An Excerpt)

By Robert Browning
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a
wonder, now: FràPandolf’s hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Whose voice does the poet assume in his work?
a. the painting b. the poet himself c. the duchess d. the duke
9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (An Excerpt)
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
No, said Snow White, I dare not take anything. Are you afraid of poison, said the old woman,
look, I will cut the apple in two pieces, you eat the red cheek, and I will eat the white. The apple
was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was poisoned. Snow White longed for the fine
apple, and when she saw that the woman ate part of it she could resist no longer and stretched
out her hand and took the poisonous half. But hardly had she a bit of it in her mouth than she
fell down dead. Then the queen looked at her with a dreadful look, and laughed aloud and said,
white as snow, red as blood, black as ebony-wood, this time the dwarfs cannot wake you up
again.
Which of the following techniques best describe the excerpt?
a. Antihero b. Catharsis c. Hamartia d. Foreshadowing

10. Gollum was a notable character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. He was portrayed
as a creature who constantly struggles between good and evil. What can you infer about
Gollum?
a. He is a villain. b. He is just another creature. c. He is an antihero. d. He is a Hero

11. Which of the following is an Ilocano writer?

a. Carlos Bulosan c. Jose Garcia Villa
b. Ismael Mallari d. Amado T. Daguio

12. Below are some questions that can be asked about a short story:
Who are the main characters?
Where is the story set?
What is the conflict in the story?
What is the purpose of the questions?
a. Comprehension b. comparison and contrast c. reflection d. evaluation

13. Which of these statements tells the consequence of English being the official medium of
instruction in public schools during the American Colonial Period?
a. Filipinos easily embraced the new language.
b. Filipinos were exposed to the Anglo-American culture and ways of thinking.
c. Filipinos wrote original and interesting stories using the new language.
d. Filipinos saw that Anglo-American literature was superior to their native and Spanish
colonial literatures.

14. Which of the following is not true about the importance of critical reading in literature?
a. Critical reading enables readers to write a critical review or analysis of a piece of literature.
b. Critical reading develops one’s critical thinking skills and makes one keen to details.
c. Critical reading enables readers to understand and appreciate a piece of literature further.
d. Critical reading is done to make a literary work popular.

15. Beowulf (An Excerpt)

LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have
heard, and what honor the athelings won! Oft Scald the Scefing from squadroned foes, from
many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, awing the earls. Since erst he lay friendless, a foundling,
fate repaid him: for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve, till before him the folk, both
far and near, who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate, gave him gifts: a good king
he!To him an heir was afterward born, a son in his halls, whom heaven sent to favor the folk,
feeling their woe that erst they had lacked an earl for leader so long a while; the Lord endowed
him,the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown.Famed was this Beowulf: far flew the boast of
him, son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.
The word whale-path is an example of a kenning. What does it refer to?
a. a whale b. the sea c. dry land d. a road
16. These are essential to a story as writers utilize these components to serve as the structure
of and to develop a story.
a. Foreshadowing b. literary techniques c. literary elements d. catharsis

17. All statements are true for both Bienvenido Santos and N. V. M. Gonzalez except one.
Which one is it?
a. They wrote about the Philippines. c. They studied in American universities.
b. They published works in English. d. They were both naturalized American citizens.

18. Which of the following is not true about the importance of critical reading in literature?
a. Critical reading enables readers to write a critical review or analysis of a piece of literature.
b. Critical reading develops one’s critical thinking skills and makes one keen to details.
c. Critical reading enables readers to understand and appreciate a piece of literature further.
d. Critical reading is done to make a literary work popular.

19. In the story “Immigration Blues,” Antonietta was working on Alipio for her sister Monica.
She was dropping hints during their conversation. The most obvious one was when Alipio was
telling the two women how he and Carlito had impressed women before with their gallantry
and that they were “fools on fire.” Antonietta responded with less subtlety by saying, “I’m sure
you still got some of that fire.”
What does this reveal about Antonietta’s character?
a. She was a little vulgar. c. She was desperate.
b. She was candid. d. She was genuinely fond of Alipio.

20. Later in the short story “The Tomato Game,” the narrator realized his role in Sopi’s scheme.
As hinted by Sopi, he would need the narrator’s help as he was a lecturer at Transpacifica
University. The old man had already paid eight hundred dollars for Tony’s tuition in advance.
Towards the end of the letter, the narrator tells Greg what Sopi said to him when they left the
farm. Sopi said, “To think that that old man hasn’t even met the boy.”
What does Sopi’s statement likely suggest?
a. Sopi has other plans for both the old man and the boy.
b. Sopi clearly knows how to help the old man.
c. Sopi knows how the narrator could help him with the boy.
d. Sopi has plenty of opportunities to exploit the old man.

21. It is a term used to cover both oral and written forms of works which manifest expressive or
imaginative quality, nobility of thoughts, timelessness, and lastly, universality.
a. Literature b. Fictional literature c. Non-fictional literature d. Flash fiction

22.What is Japan’s foremost poetic form?

a. Sonnet b. Haiku c. Metrical Romance d. Free Verse

23. Which of the following sets of words refers to literary elements?

a. anaphora, dialogue, setting c. setting, theme, characters
b. plot, catharsis, setting d. characters, cliff-hanger, hamartia

24. Which of the following is not true about literature?

a. It is based on real events c. It only focuses on the author’s life.
b. It is based on orchestrated events. d. It is a form of expression.

25. Which of the following is true about the antihero?

a. The protagonist does not possess the traits expected of a hero.
b. The protagonist possesses the traits expected of a hero.
c. The protagonist has dignity.
d. The protagonist is brave.

26. All statements describe analyzing a text through a biographical context except
a. It is important to know the literary or philosophical movement that existed during the
author’s time.
b. It is important to know the author’s literary background.
c. It is important to know the educational institutions the author has attended.
d. It is important to know what is on the author’s mind while writing the text.

27. Which of the following Asian languages are vernacular languages of India?
a. Hindi b. Japanese c. Sanskrit d. Chinese

28. Nestor Vicente Madali “N. V. M.” Gonzalez was born on September 8, 1915 in Romblon,
Romblon. At the age of five, his family moved to Mindoro. He attended the Mindoro High
School from 1927 to 1930 and the National University, but he was not able to obtain a degree.
His first essay was published in the Philippine Graphic. He was also an editor for the Manila
Chronicle and Evening News Magazine.
The passage about N. V. M. Gonzalez is a _____ ____.
a. Biography b. biographical comparison c. biographical analysis d. fiction

29. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (An Excerpt)

By Manuel E. Arguilla
She stepped down from the carretela of Ca Celin with a quick, delicate grace. She was lovely.
She was tall. She looked up to my brother with a smile, and her forehead was on a level with his
mouth.
What effect do the different lengths of the sentences in the text create?
a. The text sounds easy and graceful. c. The text sounds choppy and quick.
b. The text sounds less poetic and more prosaic. d. The text sounds awkward and
unusual.

30. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (An Excerpt)

By Manuel E. Arguilla
"You are Baldo," she said and placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. Her nails were long, but
they were not painted. She was fragrant like a morning when papayas are in bloom. And a small
dimple appeared momently high on her right cheek. "And this is Labang of whom I have heard
so much." She held the wrist of one hand with the other and looked at Labang, and Labang
never stopped chewing his cud. He swallowed and brought up to his mouth more cud and the
sound of his insides was like a drum.
What makes this piece of text distinctly Filipino?
a. It uses the summer season, which happens all-year-round in the Philippines.
b. It uses a flourish of words that melodramatic Filipinos tend to enjoy.
c. It uses a short, simple statement that indicates Filipino practicality.
d. It uses images and scents that exist in the rustic Philippine countryside.

31. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (An Excerpt)

By Manuel E. Arguilla
"Give me the rope, Baldo," my brother Leon said. "Maria, sit down on the hay and hold on to
anything." Then he put a foot on the left shaft and that instant, Labang leaped forward. My
brother Leon laughed as he drew himself up to the top of the side of the cart and made the
slack of the rope hiss above the back of Labang. The wind whistled against my cheeks and the
rattling of the wheels on the pebbly road echoed in my ears.
In this passage, the author uses simple language to convey meaning. What makes it simple?
a. The tone is very dull. c. The words are familiar.
b. The writing is very smooth d. The characters are relatable.

32. Words or phrases that express meanings in a nonliteral way are referred to as figurative
language or.
a. figures of speech c. figures of relationship
b. figures of emphasis d. figures of sound
33. Onomatopoeia and alliteration are classified as.
a. figures of sound c. figures of relationship
b. figures of reference d. figures of emphasis
34. Also referred to as figurative language, are words or phrases that express meanings in a
nonliteral way.
a. Vocabulary b. Figures of Speech c. Grammar d. Symbolism

35. Which of the following figures of speech is used in the passage below? All the world's a
stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
–from As You Like It by William Shakespeare
a. Simile b. Personification c. Metaphor b. Personification d. Irony

36. Why do writers use figurative speech in writing literary pieces?

a. To enhance the artistic quality of their works.
b. To add color to the work.
c. Just for fun
d. To make it more interesting.

37. Which questions allow the learners to reflect on a reading text?

a. Which character would you like to have as a friend and why?
b. What event or place in the story reminds you of your life and why?
c. What happened in the beginning of the story?
d. What is the overall tone of the short story?

38. A Haiku by Basho

A snowy morning-- by myself, chewing on dried salmon.
Which statements can be said about the image?
a) It shows a very cold morning. c) It shows a very poor man.
b) It shows a moment during wintertime. d) It shows a solitary man.

39. If a biographical approach refers to the reading strategy one employs in reading a text, then
biography refers to
a. a detailed account about the author’s life
b. a fictional account about the author’s life
c. a superficial account about the author’s life
d. a partial account about the author’s life

40. A Haiku by Basho

A snowy morning-- by myself, chewing on dried salmon.
Which statements can be said about the image?
a) It shows a very cold morning. c) It shows a moment during wintertime.
b) It shows a very poor man. d) It shows a solitary man.

41. “Mi últimoadiós” is a poem written by Jose Rizal a day before he was executed in
Bagumbayan. Based on this information, what can you infer about the author?
a. He was prepared to die.
b. He passed the torch to Andres Bonifacio.
c. He remained optimistic despite of his suffering.
d. He encouraged the people to fight against the Spaniards.

42. Which of the following is not the purpose of critical reading?

a. Readers read texts critically to learn more about culture and society.
b. Readers read texts critically for amusement.
c. Readers read texts critically for better understanding of their meaning.
d. Readers read texts critically to learn new information.
43. Which of the following is not true about the importance of critical reading in literature?
a. Critical reading enables readers to write a critical review or analysis of a piece of literature.
b. Critical reading develops one’s critical thinking skills and makes one keen to details.
c. Critical reading enables readers to understand and appreciate a piece of literature further.
d. Critical reading is done to make a literary work popular.

44-50. (Poem analysis) Read carefully the poem and answer the questions below.

TO A LOST ONE
ANGELA MANALANG-GLORIA

I shall haunt you O my lost one, as the twilight

Haunts a grieving bamboo trail,
And dreams will linger strangely with the music
Of a phantom lover’s tale,
You shall not forget, for I am past for forgetting,
I shall come to you again
With the starlight and the scent of white Champacas,
And the melody of the rain.
You shall not forget. Dust will peer into your
Window, tragic-eyed and still,
And unbidden, startle you into remembrance
With its hand upon the still.

44. What context does the poem establish?

a. A person has to leave but wants not to be forgotten.
b. An expression of genuine plea for someone to stay.
c. A mere expression of one’s lasting love and affection.
d. A woman who wants to die.

45. Who could be the persona and addressee in the poem?

a. A mother giving an advice to her child.
b. An old woman reminiscing the past with her deceased husband
c. A ghost talking to a person being loved so much.
d. A woman with third eye.

46. What are the figurative languages used in the 1st and 2nd line of the poem?
a. simile and personification
b. simile and metaphor
c. metaphor and personification
d. hyperbole

47. What is the persona’s desire as revealed by the lines?

a. The persona desires to be loved eternally.
b. The person wants to be genuinely remembered.
c. The persona asks for forgiveness.
d. None of the above

48. How do you perceive the meanings of the use of the words “twilight”, “phantom lover’s
tale”, “melody of rain”?
a. Darkness, unrequited love, regrets
b. Death, eternal love, tears of joy and happiness
c. End failed relationship, tears of pain and sorrow
d. None of the above
49. How will you describe the mood or atmosphere that prevails in the poem?
a. somber b. proud c. lucid d. guilty

50. What is mainly emphasized by the poem?

a. Bad experiences in life are worth to be forgotten and ignored.
b. In life, people just come and go.
c. People want to be left unforgotten at times.
d. The people are not happy with their life.

___________________________________________________________________________

END OF EXAMINATION

Prepared by: Checked by:

MARK JAY Q. BONGOLAN LOURDES R. PABITO

Teacher I Head Teacher III

Noted:

TEDIE A. DE VERA
Principal II
 Answers Key
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

1. A 41. A
2. C 42. B
3. C 43. D
4. C 44. C
5. A 45. C
6. B 46. A
7. B 47. B
8. D 48. A
9. C 49. A
10. C 50. C
11. A
12. A
13. B
14. D
15. B
16. C
17. D
18. D
19. D
20. D
21. A
22. B
23. C
24. C
25. A
26. D
27. A
28. A
29. A
30. D
31. C
32. A
33. A
34. B
35. C
36. A
37. B
38. C
39. A
40. B