RULES TO FOLLOWThe Grade Six pupils decided to make their room clean, orderly and beautiful. Here are some of the rules everyone needs to follow: Wipe your shoes on the doormat before entering the room. Put the wastepaper, fruit peelings and candy wrappers in the waste basket. Keep the walls, desks and tables free from pencil and chalk marks and scratches. Put the cleaning materials in a box. Arrange the furniture properly. Put away your pencils, books, notebooks after using them. Hang umbrellas and raincoats in one corner of a room. Keep books clean and well- covered. 1. What did the pupils decide to do? A. make their room clean, orderly and beautiful B. make their home s clean, orderly and beautiful. C. make their school surroundings clean, orderly and beautiful 2. What did they agree upon? A. to form a society B. to follow the rules C. to work on the school ground 3. What will they do with their shoes? A. wipe on the doormat B. leave on the doormat C. put under the doormat 4. From what will they keep the furniture free? A. books B. cover C. scratches 5. Where should the cleaning materials be kept? A. box B. drawer C. bookcase 6. How should the furniture be arranged? A. properly B. artistically C. carelessly 7. Where should one keep his pencils, books and notebooks after using? A. in his bag B. on the desk C. on the teacher’s table 8. Where should wastepaper be thrown? A. in the desk B in the drawer C. in the waste basket 9. Where should one hang raincoats and umbrellas? A. on the desk B. in the cabinet C. on one corner of the room 10. What should be kept clean and well-covered. A. desks B. books C. tables VOCABULARY: decided scratches DAPHNE Daphne was a beautiful nymph. The son God, Apollo, fell in love with her but she rejected him. Once, Apollo saw her and pursued her. Daphne sought shelter behind a big tree. She was out of breath from running. Now, as she leaned on the tree, she looked back with frightened eyes. Was Apollo still running after her? She threw herself upon her knees and prayed to be saved from her pursuer. She rose with outstretched arms. Then her fingers fluttered gently, as if blown by a gentle breeze. Little by little she was changed from a beautiful nymph to a laurel tree. Slowly she broke into a smile. Now, she was safe. Apollo could not carry her away anymore. 1. Daphne sought shelter behind ____. a. a big tree b. a laurel tree c. a large house 2. As she leaned on the tree, she looked back with __. a. round eyes b. smiling eyes c. frightened eyes 3. She was out of breath from __. a. talking b. running c. laughing 4. She prayed to be saved from her __. a. father b. pursuer c. husband 5. Slowly she stretched out her __. a. feet b. arms c. hands 6. She threw herself upon her __. a. bed b. knees c. pillow 7. She was changed from a beautiful nymph into __. a. an oak tree b. a narra tree c. a laurel tree 8. Her fingers fluttered __. a. slowly b. gently c. rapidly 9. She felt safe, after she became a __. a. tree b. nymph c. goddess 10. She could not be carried away anymore by__. a. Theus b. Midas c. Apollo Vocabulary: Nymph leaned pursued fluttered HOW THE ROMANS COOKED THEIR FOOD Long ago the Romans used to cook their food just as the way hunters today sometimes do. They dug out an oven in the ground, lined it with stones and made a fire in it. When the improvised oven was well heated, they raked out the ashes, put in the food and covered it. We learned it from excavations in the city of Pompeii. Pompeii was destroyed and buried during the eruption of a volcano hundreds of years ago. When the city was excavated, ovens with wood and ashes were found around the ruins. It is believed that just as the cooks were about to bake, the fiery volcano rained out ashes and boiling lava and burned down the city. 1. In ancient times, how did the Romans cook their food? a. just as the cooks do today b. just as the people do today c. just as some hunters do today 2. What did they use to line the ground where they built the ovens? a. lime b. clay c. stones 3. What did they do with the oven before putting in their food? a. They cooked it. b. They poured water in it. c. They heated it 4. Where did they dig their ovens? a. in the ground b. in the tree trunks c. in the cement 5. What did they rake out of the oven before putting in their food? a. sand b. ashes c. wood 6. Who cooked their food in underground oven? a. the Jews b. the Italians c. the Romans 7. Who had ovens with wood ashes in them? a. the British b. the Romans c. the people of Pompei 8. What destroyed Pompei? a. a great fire b. a terrible flood c. a volcanic eruption 9. What were the cooks about to do when the volcano erupted? a. eat b. bake c. wash dishes 10. What was done with the buried city? a. rebuilt b. forgotten c. excavated Vocabulary: raked fiery eruption excavation FIRST NIGHT IN THE CITY It was Lynn’s first night in the city. she woke up with a stun and then she remembered where she was. She had never spent the night in a city before. She lay still and listened. Cars and jeepers seemed to race like ants heading straight towards her. A new house was being built next to her aunt’s house and the cement mixer was roaring angrily. Downstairs, in the kitchen, she heard the cluttering of pans. Then, she heard the chime of the big clock. She turned over and asleep again. 1. What did Lynn remember when she woke up? a. She was in the city b. She was in her country. c. She was in her house. 2. Has Lynn ever spent a night before in the city? a. No b. Yes c. Maybe 3. Where did Lynn imagine the cars and jeeps going? a. heading to the city b. heading towards the house c. heading toward her 4.Where did the roaring sound come from? a. a bulldozer b. a street sweeper c. a cement mixer 5. How did she know the time? a. from the radio b. from the position of the sun c. from the big clock 6. Why did Lynn wake up with a stun? a. She was afraid. b. She had a dream. c. She felt she was in a strange place. 7. What did she do when she wake up? a. She ran out to play. b. She washed her face. c. She lay still and listened. 8. What did Lynn hear passing in front of the house? a. buses and trains b. streetcars and carts c. cars and jeepneys 9. Where did she hear the clattering of the pans? a. from the streets b. from the living room c. from the kitchen 10. Did Lynn fall asleep again? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe Vocabulary: clattering roaring stun THE FACE IN THE POOL Narcissus was out of breath from running when he came to a clear pool. He stopped to drink. Just as he was about to sip the cool water, he saw a face in the pool. It was handsome and he was attracted to it. “Who are you?” he asked. “Who are you?” echoed someone. “Why are you mocking me?” asked Narcissus. “Mocking me,” said the voice. Narcissus was puzzled. He wanted to talk with the face in the pool but it would not answer. He tried to catch it but no to avail. At last, he lost hope and plunged into the pool hoping to see the owner of the face. 1. Why was Narcissus out of breath? a. He was running. b. He was skipbping. B. He was jumping. 2. Which of these sentences is true? a. Narcissus came to a clear lake. b. Narcissus came to clear pool. C. Narcissus came to clear path. 3. He stopped to __. a. drink b. swim c. bathe 4. He saw something which __. a. attracted him b. frightened her c. drove him away 5. What did he see in the pool? a. a boat b. a face c. a flower 6. Which is correct? a. He talked with the face in the pool. b. He shouted at the face in the pool. c. He played with the face in the pool. 7. Narcissus heard ___. a. his own echo b. the singing bird c. a reply from the man in the pool 8. Narcissus was not able to __. a. drink b. swim c. talk with the man in the pool 9. He became __. a. sad b. angry c. hopeless 10. What did he do at last? a. plunged into the pool b. ran away from the pool c. ran into the dark woods Vocabulary: puzzled echo plunged CAMPING Rene was tired from the day’s tramp. He rolled himself in his scout blanket and laid still. It was very quiet in the woods. Then he heard some queer noises. There was a flapping of wings. A night owl was on its way to hunt. Tiny raindrops started to fall on the leaves. The shower was over though, in a moment. The cicadas and other insects started their night songs which ended into a forest symphony. “Those queer night sounds in the forest is a good lullaby,” Rene thought as he drowsed off to a sound sleep. 1. Rene went on __. a. a field trip b. an excursion c. a Boy Scout camping 2. It was very quiet in the __. a. cityp b. house c. woods 3. He rolled himself in his __. a. mat b. raincoat c. scout blanket 4. He began to hear __. a. soft music b. hooting cars c. queer noise 5. He heard a soft flapping of __. a. skirts b. wings c. leaves 6. An owl was on its way to __. a. hunt b. roost c. lay eggs 7. Tiny raindrops fell on the __. a. roof b. leaves c. treetops 8. The shower lasted for a __. a. few hours b. long time c. short time 9. Rene heard the singing of the __. a. owls b. cicades c. campers 10. To Renee, the sound of the insects was a __. a. lullaby b. serenade c. symphony VOCABULARY: tramp lullaby queer shower drowsed A WISE BUYER “I have good news today, Mother,” said Norma as she put down the big basket she was carrying. “What’s your news, Norma?” asked Mother. “Look at my basket,” said Norma excitedly. “I bought many things today: meat, sugar, fish, vegetables and fruits. She, I still have a change left.” “But why?” Asked Mother puzzled. 1. Where did Norma come from? a. playing b. the school c. the market 2. What was she carrying? a. a big bag b. a big basket c. a school bag 3. What was Norma’s news? a. bad b. good c. fair 4. How did Norma feel after coming from the market? a. tired b. angry c. excited 5. What did she show to her mother? a. things in her study table c. things she bought in the market b. b. things in her school bag 6. Why was Norma happy? a. She bought a pretty dress. b. She bought things she would use in school. c.She was able to buy many things and still had some change. 7. Which of these did Norma buy? a. dress b. meat c. ribbon 8. How did Mother feel after listening to Norma? a. sad b. happy c. puzzled 9. Why was Norma’s news good? a. She was able to save an amount from marketing. b. She found a wallet with money in the market. c.She did not pay from the goods she got from the market. 10. Why do you think was mother puzzled? a. She could not believe what Norma said. b. She knew that prices of goods were high. c.Norma had told the truth for the first time. VOCABULARY: puzzled news HOW TO PREPARE TOMATO CATCHUP Select some ripe tomatoes. Wash them thoroughly. Cut them crosswise into halves. Then separate the pulp from the seeds. cook the pulp in an enameled kettle, stirring it occasionally until the thin peelings separate and rolled up. Remove the pulp from the fire. Pass the pulp through a wire strainer and get the juice. Mix the juice with the pulp. Add some vinegar. Put onion juice, powdered cinnamon, pepper, cloves of garlic and spices in a small cloth bag and dip it into the mixture. Cook the mixture until it is thick. Take out the bag of spices. Bottle the cooked pulp and seal. 1. How is the pulp separated from the seeds? a. by squeezing the tomato b. by cutting crosswise into halves c.by cutting the tomato into small pieces 2. When is the pulp removed from the fire? a. when the pulp has hardened b. when the pulp is mixed with the peelings c.when the peelings have been separated and have rolled up 3. What was the first step in preparing catsup? a. Boil the mixture. c. Remove the mixture from the fire. b. Wash the tomatoes thoroughly. 4. What kind of tomatoes are used? a. ripe b. green c. cooked 5. What is used in cooking the pulp? a. a pot b. a pan c. an enameled kettle 6. What kind of strainer is used? a. wire strainer b. rattan strainer c. plastic strainer 7. What is wrapped in a cloth bag? a. juice b. spices c. pulp 8. When is the mixture removed from the fire? a. when it is thick b. when it is watery c. when it is smooth 9. What is added to the juice and pulp? a. flour and other c. vinegar, onion juice and others b. waters and others 10. What is the last step in preparing the catsup? a. boil until thick c. add the vinegar to the mixture b. bottle and seal VOCABULARY: enameled spices pulp seal BOOKS Those who cannot read are pitiful because they cannot enjoy books. Books tell us about the wonderful things in the world. They tell us the interesting things people do. Books can answer the “whys” and “hows” of things that puzzle us. They can take us faraway places through imagination. They can show us, too, the things happened a long time ago as well as those happening at present. Books tell us about the children in other lands. They hold the key to the greatest treasures in the world. A wise man once said that he would rather be a poor boy in a cellar surrounded with books than a prince who had no chance to read. 1. Those who do not know how to read are the _. a. most pitiful people c. most wonderful people b. most happy people 2. What do books do for us? a. make us rich b. make us unhappy c. tell us about the things in the world 3. Where can books can take us? a. nowhere b. just in our room c. to faraway places 4. What questions can books answer? a. little things not worth knowing b. the “whys” and “hows” of things c.things that cannot be remembered 5. What do books hold for their readers? a. falling leaves c. key to the greatest treasure in the world b. running water 6. What books tell us? a. nothing of importance c. things that happened long ago b. words without meaning 7. Do books tell us about the children in other places? a. Yes b. No c. Perhaps 8. Who says he would rather be in a cellar with books than in places without a single book? a. a prince b. a wise man c. a poor man 9. What do books unfold before us? a. hidden health b. hidden wealth c. hidden knowledge 10. What is preferable than a prince in a palace without the love for reading? a. a rich boy in a big house c. a boy in a beautiful house b. a poor boy in a cellar who loves books VOCABULARY: pitiful puzzle interesting THE DIVER A skillful diver can see clearly what lies underneath a vast body of water. He sees swaying seaweeds, acres of sea plants that have large, bright colored leaves. He finds countless giant crabs and lobsters. A diver also encounters sea snakes, sea horses, fierce sharks and other wild fishes. He takes delight in watching the different species of fish, splendid in their brilliant colors. To a diver, the life underworld is full of thrilling adventures. 1. What can the divers see through the clear water? a.ships b. seashores c. seaweeds 2. Are there plants in the sea? a.Yes b. No c. Maybe 3. What kind of a diver can stay in the water for a long time? a.amateurs b. untrained c. experienced 4. Do the divers find only wild fishes under the sea? a.Yes b. No c. Maybe 5. What does a diver find in the sea? a.wealth b. adventure c. sunken ships 6. What makes a seaweeds sway? a.air b. fishes c. water current 7. How does a diver feel while watching the different species of fich underwater? a.afraid b. excited c. delighted 8. How wide is the place underwater where sea plants grow? a.acres b. few feet c. few meters 9. What may possibly happen to a diver who is not skilfull? a.He may drown b.He may just float c. He may be eaten by fishes. 10.Do you think deepsea diving is safe? a.Yes b. No c. Maybe VOCABULARY: swaying acres shark THE BLIND GIRL A group of students were chatting and laughing excitedly near the sidewalk. They seemed to be talking at the same time when suddenly they became silent. They stared spellbound to a blind girl groping along the wall, and feel her way about. Though her eyes were open, they could tell that she could not see. In her right hand was a bunch of flowers which she smelled now and then. She continued walking till the end of the street. When she was out of sight the students gave a sigh of relief. Were they not lucky to have two eyes? 1. What were the students doing? a. playing and jumping c. chatting and laughing b. singing and dancing 2. Which of these statements is true? a. The students stopped talking as they stared at a blind girl. b. The students stopped talking as they stared at a lame girl. c.The students stopped talking as they stared at an old beggar. 3. How the girls move along the wall? a. She ran along. c. She groped along her way. b. She walk briskly. 4. What did the students notice about the girl’s eyes? a. They were open. c. They were half opened. b. They were closed. 5. What were the students sure about the girl? a. She could see. c. She could see a little. b. She could not see. 6. What was on the girl’s hand? a. a cane b. a bunch of keys c. a bunch of flowers 7. Where was the girl going? a. to a nearby store c. to the house at the street corner b. to the end of the street 8. What did the students do when they saw the girl? a. stared b. looked c. smiled 9. How did the students feel when the blind girl was out of sight? a. sorry b. afraid c. relieved 10. What were the students thankful for? a. for their feet b. for their legs c. for their good eyes VOCABULARY: excited stared spellbound groping FEEDING TIME AT THE ZOO It was time for the zookeeper to feed the animals. Judging from the noise, the beasts were hungry. The lions open their mouths and gave the people in the zoo a frightful sample of the howl of the king of beasts. The little monkey squeaked as they tumbled over each other to reach the cage bars. The monkeys shook the iron bars till they rattled, and parrots jumped up and down shrieking excitedly. 1. What time was it in the zoo? a. playing time b. feeding time c. sleeping time 2. How did the animals show that they were hungry? a. They played. b. They quarreled. c. They made noise 3. Who howled? a. the lions b. the gorillas c. the monkeys 4. What did the lions do? a. roared b. beat the bars c. opened the mouths 5. What was the zoo keeper going to do? a. beat the animals b. feed the animals c. bathe the animals 6. How did the little monkeys manage to reach the cage bars? a. by jumping over each other c. by climbing over each other b. by tumbling over each other 7. What did the little monkeys do? a. snitched b. squeaked c. screeched 8. What did the monkeys do with the iron bar? a. broke b. rattled c. loosened 9. Who jumped up and down? a. dancers b. parrots c. birds 10. How did the parrots welcome the zookeeper? a. They shouted. b. They shrieked. c. They squeaked. VOCABULARY: sample shrieking squeaked AN AIRPLANE RIDE The strangest thing about my airplane ride was that I seemed not to be moving at all since the plane assumed a certain attitude. As I looked down, the earth below seemed like a wonderful map in lovely colors. Everything was a miniature. The houses, the trees, the buildings appeared like playthings. The vast rice fields were restful to the eyes to look at. The ocean was but a shallow stream of clear, blue water. Indeed, anybody’s first plane ride is a pleasant experience. 1. On what kind of transportation was the author riding? a. a car b. a ship c. an airplane 2. How did the earth below appear to the narrator? a. a vast rice field b. a wonderful map c. an undeveloped place 3. How did the objects appear to the author? a. shadows b. reflections c. miniatures 4. What made the rice fields restful to the eyes? a. their size b. their color c. the location 5. How did the author consider his first airplane ride? a. a horrible experience c. a nauseating experience b. a pleasant experience 6. What did the author say the ocean looked like? a. long river b. shallow stream c. swimming pool 7. What was the strangest thing about the author’s first airplane ride? a. The plane flew so fast. c. The plane could not go above the clouds. b. The plane seemed not to be moving. 8. How many times has the author ridden on an airplane? a. twice b. once c. many 9. Which appeared like playthings to the author? a. buildings, trees, houses c. houses, buildings, people b. houses, people, animals 10. How did he describe the rice fields? a. restful to the eyes b. like a dense forest c. like a shallow stream VOCABULARY: assumed attitude miniature PLANT PESTS In addition to different kinds of plants diseases, there are great numbers of plant pests that can destroy or stop the growth of plants. Insects carry fungi and bacterial diseases from plant to plant. The potato beetle carries the potato rot. Some insects even eat plants. Certain grasshoppers and biting insects strip a plant of its leaves, thus killing the plant. The most destructive kinds of insects are the scale insects, mealy bugs, plant lice and leaf hoppers. They consume the sap of plant tissues thus causing the withering of the plant itself. 1. What can destroy or stop the growth of plants? a. plant food b. plant pests c. plant fertilizers 2. What else besides pests injure plants? a. fertilizers b. insecticides c. different kinds of plant diseases 3. Which carry diseases from one plant to another? a. flowers b. insects c. people 4. What causes potato rot? a. potato fungi b. potato beetle c. bacteria 5. What happen to plants where insects live and feed on? a. They grow fast b. The plants are injured b. c. The plants grow healthy 6. What another name for the grasshopper? a. flying insect b. the biting insect c. sucking insect 7. How do the grasshoppers harm the plants? a. They cut the plants. b. They strip the plants of its leaves. c. They suck the juice from the plants. 8. What happen to the plants when harmed by theses insects? a. plants grow rapidly c. plants stop growing and die afterwards b. plants become healthy 9. Which of the following insects are the most destructive? a. ants b. mites c. scale insects 10. Are all insects harmful? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe Vocabulary: pests rot withering destructive strip THE ATOMIC ENERGY With the establishment of a Nuclear Center, we will engage in the production of radio isotopes for use in agriculture, industry and medicine. This is a landmark in our scientific progress as it opens up for our youth the field of nuclear science and ultimately harness the mightiest industrial power known to man. It will greatly help fight poverty. With the use of the atomic energy, we will have the power to run more industries. 1. What was established in our country? a. a nuclear center b. a telephone center c. a telegraphic center 2. What can we engage in with the establishment of this center a. production of radio c. production of short waves b. production of radio isotopes 3. Of what use will this be? a. in business and exporting c. in sports and competitions b. in agriculture and competitions 4. What will the establishment of the Nuclear Center mean to us? a. industrial progress b. scientific progress c. agricultural progress 5. For whom is the vast field of nuclear science open? a. for the youth c. for the coming generation b. for the old people 6. What will the nuclear science harness? a. mightiest power c. mightiest submarine power b. mightiest industrial power 7. What can atomic energy offer? a. work in the land b. illness in our land c. poverty in our land 8. Of what use is atomic energy? a. in planting rice c. in running industries b. in teaching children 9. In what branch of science is the mightiest industrial power known to man? a. nuclear science b. historical science c. elementary science 10. With what area is Nuclear Center concerned? a. science b. agriculture c. entertainment VOCABULARY: landmark radio isotope progress nuclear THE DUTCH The Dutch are the people from Holland. They are considered serious and hardworking. They are the cleanest people in the world. The Dutch are fond of eating, drinking and attending parties. Have you seen a picture of a Dutch girl? She wears big wooden shoes called klompers. Men wear baggy trousers while women wear flowing skirts, white apron and starched cloth caps. Dutch children are healthy for they drink plenty of milk and take big amounts of butter. Boys are trained to steer the boat and take charge of the windmill. Water sports are popular with the Dutch children. 1. The Dutch are considered __. a. the cleanest people in the world b. the most religious people in the world c. the most industrious people in the world 2. A Dutch girl usually wears__. a. big huts b. big shirts c. big wooden shoes 3. What is the native footwear of the Dutch called? a. skirts b. windmills c. klompers 4. What do men wear? a. long trousers b. short trousers c. baggy trousers 5. Who wear the following skirts, white apron and starched caps? a. the nurses b. the women c. the children 6. The Cutch are ____. a. lazy b. not serious c. hardworking 7. Children take plenty of __. a. rice and fish b. milk and butter c. wheat and pork 8. Boys are trained to __. a. run races b. steer boats c. become soldiers 9. What is Holland known for? a. boats b. sports d. windmills 10. What is the country of the Dutch a. Holland b. England d. Switzerland VOCABULARY: baggy trained popular steer PLANT FOR LIFE Nestor looked happily at his rows of vegetable plants with their green, fresh and healthy leaves. There were rows of lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants and pechay. On one side of the yard were trellises of patola, squash and amorgoso. Nestor remembered that their backyard was once a dumping place of garbage, empty cans and trash. Then the government launched the “Plant for Life” project. With the help of his father, they cleaned the backyard and dug the stumps and roots of old trees. They cultivated the soil, got vegetable seeds from the Bureau of Plants and planted them in their backyard. Now all are ready for harvest. The vegetables are more than what they need so Nestor will take some to the market. That will be extra money for the family. 1. Where did Nestor plant the vegetable seeds? a. in the garden b. in their backyard c. in front of the house 2. What made Nestor happy? a. his row of toys c. his row of flowering plants b. b. his row of vegetables 3. Where were the climbing vegetables planted? a. in front of the backyard c. in the middle of the yard b. in one side of the yard 4. What was Nestor’s backyard before? a. a storeroom b. a playground c. a dumping place 5. What project did the government launch? a. Save a Life b. Plant for Life c. Help the Typhoon Victims 6. Who helped Nestor clean the backyard? a. his sister b. his father c. his mother 7. How did Nestor feel about his vegetable plants? a. He did not like it. c.He was sorry about it. b. He was happy about it. 8. Where did Nestor get his vegetable seeds? a. from the Bureau of Plants c. from the Bureau of Industries b. from the Bureau of Fisheries 9. Where would Nestor bring the vegetables they do not need? a. to his friends b. to the market c. to his relatives 10. What activity would increase food production? a. planting flowering plants c. planting flowering trees b. planting vegetables in the backyard VOCABULARY: trellises dumping launched THE RAT The rat belongs to the mouse family although it is larger than a mouse. It has also more scales on its tail than a mouse. There are rats of different sizes and colors. The brown Norway rat is the most destructive and powerful. Black rat can still be found and in cities with warm climate. Rats travel aboard ships and eat almost anything. If they are hungry they attach animals, even men. Rats breed rapidly, producing 20 to 50 offsprings a year. A rat can start breeding at six months old. Wild rats are special problem to man because they spread bubonic plague, rat fever and they destroy crops. 1. To what family does the rat belong? a. cat b. dog c. mouse 2. Which is the largest among the following animals? a. rat b. lizard c. house lizard 3. What part of the rat has more scales? a. its tail b. its legs c. its body 4. Which is the most powerful among the following? a. white rat b. black rat c. brown Norway rat 5. Where can black rats be found? a. near the costs b. near the woods c. near the ground 6. What do rats eat? a. roots c. grass c. almost anything 7. Why are there plenty of rats? a. They eat anything. b. They breed very rapidly. c. They are found in homes. 8. What do rats destroy most? a. tress b. crops c. houses 9. At what age does a rat start breeding? a. a year old b. sic months oldc. three months old 10. Why are rats a problem? a. They play around. b. They breed rapidly. c. They carry diseases. VOCABULARY: breed bubonic offspring THE SCHOOL LUNCH COUNTER A school canteen or lunch counter is established in every school to improve children’s eating habits and preferences. Native, nutritious dishes such as goto, pancit and lumpia are prepared by a teacher with the help of some children. Sandwiches are sold for those who prefer a light merienda. A good lunch counter as milk as a regular item for sale. Teachers encourage their pupils to include milk in their daily food intake. The canteen is part of a school. It protects from sickness by discouraging them to buy from food peddlers and unsanitary, nearby stores. Pupils are asked to patronize the canteen for their own health. The low prices of food serve as an encouragement for the children to buy the from the school canteen. 1. What does a school lunch counter serve? a. lunch b. dinner c. merienda 2. When do the majority of children buy at the lunch counters? a. after class b. before class c. during recess 3. Which of these statements is true? a. Native foods are good for light merienda. b. Recess lunch may take the place of lunch. c.Hoto, pancit and lumpia are eaten at breakfast. 4. What food should a lunch counter always have? a. rice b. milk c. cereals 5. Why is milk good for children? a. It tastes good. b. It is nice to drink. b. It supplies them with needed nutrients. 6. How do school lunch counters help children? a. They sell native food. b.They sell delicious food b. They sell nutritious food at low prices. 7. Why should children avoid buying food outside the school? a. It is cleaner. b. It is cheaper. c. It is not safe to eat. 8. Where can children buy much safer and cheaper food? a. from peddlers c. from school lunch counters b. b. from nearby stores 9. What is the aim of school lunch counters? a. to make business c. to improve the children’s health b. to make children thrifty 10. How do the lunch counter operators encourage children to buy from them? a. by offering bonus prizes c. by lowering the prices of food b. by being open the whole day VOCABULARY: light patronize realize peddlers JOSE RIZAL’S MOTHER God’s best gift to Jose Rizal was his mother, Dona Teodora Alonzo. Teodora was brought up by her mother in a home full of love and understanding. She was educated at Santa Rosa College. Her excellent education, her goodness of heart and her other virtues prepared her to be the mother of our national hero. To Jose Rizal, next to God, a mother means every- thing to a man. Dona Teodora was a devout Catholic. It was her teaching that made her son, Jose, love the Christian way of life. He was still a baby when his mother began teaching him the alphabet and the simple prayers as was the custom of the Filipino Family. Dona Teodora was fond of telling a stories of her little son, Jose. The word “story” meant something new and wonderful to Jose. He would sit down to listen, full of interest and wonder, when his mother called him for the regular story time. He loved the stories his mother told him. He remembered the moral lesson each story conveyed and made it a part of his education and training. 1. How did Jose Rizal consider his mother? a. his playmate b. God’s best gift c. a good story teller 2. Which word best described Doña Teodora? a. gay b. lovely c. virtuous 3. Which of the following prepared her to be the mother of our national hero? a. her book b. her goodness of heart c. her pleasant position 4. What did a mother mean to Rizal? a. Everyone’s mother is his friend. b. Next to God, a mother meant everything to a man. c.A mother is one who should teach her children how to read and pray. 5. What was Doña Teodora’s religion? a. Catholic b. Protestant c. Presbyterian 6. What made Jose love Christian way of life? a. his father’s teachings c. his teacher’s teaching b. his mother’s teaching 7. What did his mother teach him as was the custom of the Filipino family? a. reading simple stories c. the alphabet and simple prayers b. telling children’s stories 8. Did Jose believe his mother’s stories? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 9. What did the word “story” mean to Jose? a. something nice c. something new and wonderful b. something good 10. How did Jose listen to his mother’s story? a. carelessly b. attentively c. half-hearted VOCABULARY: devout custom wonder TRAVEL MADE EASY “How was your trip, Wally?” asked Grandma Wally kissed her hands. “It was fine, Grandma,” answered Wally, yawning while stretching his arms, and shaking his legs. “I slept almost throughout the way”. “Why you lazy boy!” exclaimed Grandma. “Then you didn’t see the beautiful scenery on the countryside”. “It was so nice riding on the bus,” explained Wally. “The roads now are very smooth, unlike the first time Father and I visited you after the flood. A week had passed after that visit, yet my body was still aching all over. We were like mashed fruits after our ride over those pot marked roads. “It did not take long for the government to have all the damaged roads repaired,” agreed Grandma. “Thanks to our government, things are back to normal again.” 1. Where did Wally’s Grandma live? a. in the city b. in the province c. in a city shrub 2. Why did Wally fail to see the beautiful scenery? a. He slept almost throughout the way. b. He was wearing dark glasses. c.He was not interested to the look at the scenery. 3. Where did Wally ride? a. on a bus b. on a train c. in a jeepney 4. Who was with Wally when he visited Grandma? a. his father b. his mother c. nobody 5. How did Wally try to freshen himself? a. He jumped. c. He ran and ran. b. He stretched out his arms and legs. 6. According to Grandma, what did Wally miss by sleeping all the way? a. Grandma’s house c. the beautiful scenery on the countryside b. the place where they were going 7. Why did Wally not enjoy his first visit to Grandma? a. The journey was long. c. The roads were smooth and nice. b. The roads were potmarked. 8. What did Grandma call Wally for sleeping all the way? a. lazy b. cheerful c. curious 9. Why were the roads easy to travel now? a. They were cleaned by the government. b. They were damaged by the government. c.They had been repaired by the government. 10. How was life after the flood? a. It returned to normal. c. It was much better than before. b. It was never the same again. VOCABULARY: yawn potmarked damage HOME FOR THE AGED “It will not be long from now and Tandang Sela will not go begging anymore, Mel told his sister Shiela. “Why did you say that?” asked Shiela. “Didn’t you know?” Mel asked. “The government has decided to help the beggars, young and old.” “But how?” asked Shiela, still puzzled. “There are hundreds of beggars around. “How can the government help them all?” “It is like this,” explained Mel. “The young ones will be placed in the care of their relatives if they have any. The others will be sent to the provinces where they came from. The children who do not have anybody to look after they will be placed in orphanages. The old ones who have will be housed in the Home for the Aged. They will be taken care of by the government. “How nice,” Sheila said. “It is really a pity to see these beggars, especially the old ones.” 1. What does Tandang Sela do? a. She sells. b. She begs. c. She washes clothes. 2. What news does Mel have for Sheila? a. Tandang Sela will move to another place. b. Tandang Sela will not have to beg anymore. c.Tandang Sela will not have to wash clothes anymore. 3. Whom will the government help? a. the children b. the beggars c. the poor people 4. Where will the young ones be sent? a. to their relatives c. to the orphanage b. to the social worker 5. Where will the unattended young ones be sent? a. to rich families c. to orphanages b. to the provinces where they came from 6. Who will be housed in the Home for the Aged? a. the young ones b. the very old ones c. the ones with relatives 7. Who will provide the needs of the old folk? a. their relatives b. the rich people c. the government 8. Which of these statements is true? a. The government will help the beggars. b. The government will imprison all beggars c.The government will drive the beggars away. 9. How did Sheila feel about the government’s decision? a. glad b. envious c. curious 10. How does one feel when he sees beggars especially? a. sad b. joy c. happy VOCABULARY: decide orphanage puzzled aged BEAUTY Beauty is seen In the sunlight The trees, the birds Corn growing, people working Or praying for a good harvest. Beauty is heard all around Wind sighing, Rain falling or a singing humming An old folk song. Beauty is in yourself Good deeds, happy thoughts reflected In your dreams In your work, During peaceful rest. 1. Does beauty depend upon the observer a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 2. Is there beauty anywhere? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 3. Where lies the beauty in people? a. in themselves b. in their wealth c. in their appearance 4. Is there beauty in the falling rain? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 5. When is a person peaceful? a. when he is rich b. when he has performed good deeds c.when he is intelligent 6. According to the poem, where can we find beauty? a. in flowers b. in yourself c. in the house 7. Can we hear beauty? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 8. Who are praying for the good harvest? a. rice growers b. corn growers c. coconut growers 9. Where are good deeds and happy thoughts reflected? a. at home b. in your dreams c. in other people 10. When do the happy thoughts occur? a. when praying b. during peaceful rest c.when you are with other people VOCABULARY: sighing reflected humming folk song THE ANIMAL’S WISH We beg no fancy garb To keep us cozily warm Nor softer bed to rest Though it should be less hard. We wish not our liberty For to serve is our fate We live as servants forever To work early and late To talk is a silly dream For us doomed mute to remain But we hear, see and feel Please to us be a bit kinder. Be kind a little bit more And be unkind ten times less We are poor dump creatures And we have but few needs. 1. What o the animals ask in general? a. that we make them sleep c. that we ask them to dine with us b. that we be more kind to them 2. How long do animals serve us? a. a few years b. for some time c. as long as they live 3. What do animals consider a silly dream? a. to be able to talk b. to be able to hear c. to be able to serve 4. What do the beg of us? a. shelter for them b. kindness to them c. clothing for them 5. Which of these statements is true? a. Giving food to dumb creatures is enough. b. We need to be more kind to dumb creatures. c.We must not consider dumb creatures as our friends. 6. Are they asking their master to let them free? a. Yes b. No c. Does not say 7. When do the animals work as their master’s servant? a. early and late b. non-stop c. only at night 8. How much needs do animals have? a. Many b. None c. Few 9. What are the animals doomed to remain? a. mute b. sensitive c. untrainable 10. What three things can the animals do? a. feel, hear, see b. see, hear, speak c. hear, speak, feel VOCABULARY: fancy doomed cozily mute LUNETA AND MANILA BAY Do you know that Manila Bay is the finest harbor in the Philippines? It is also famous for its beautiful sunset. Tourists observe that Manila Bay has one of the most glowing sunsets in the world. Roxas Boulevard, formerly Dewey Boulevard, runs along the shores of Manila Bay. There are many beautiful buildings along the street, mostly hotels and restaurants. Luneta, a big park with fountains and ornamental plants, faces the bay. People can be seen strolling daily and enjoying the cool breeze from the bay. On Sundays, people go to the Luneta to listen to band concerts and to view performances at the open theater. 1. What is the Manila Bay noted for? a. tall buildings b. its fine harbor c. ornamental flowers 2. What is it also famous for? a. its many streets b. its beautiful sunset c. its many mountains 3. What do tourists say about sunset? a. It is red. c. It is colorful. b. It is the most glowing sunset in the world. 4. On what street is the Luneta located? a. Shaw Boulevard b. Roxas Boulevard c. Quezon Boulevard 5. What do people enjoy most at the Luneta? a. the plants b. the people c. the cool breeze 6. What is the Luneta today? a. a harbor b. a big park c. a commercial district 7. What do people do at the Luneta? a. stroll b. pray c. trade goods 8. Where is the Luneta Park located? a. facing the Manila Bay b. at the tip of the Manila Bay c.in the commercial district of Manila Bay 9. How are people entertained at the Luneta Park? a. open air movies b. by clowns and circus c.by band concerts and performances 10. Where are most performances held? a. at the open theater b. at the Chinese Garden c.near Rizal’s Monument VOCABULARY: famous glowing concerts performances BEING ON TIME Arturo was the president of the Grade Six class organization. They agreed to celebrate Arbor Day with a program and mass planting of fruit trees. “At what time will the program start?” asked Miss Diaz, their teacher. “It will start at 7:00 o’clock in the morning, Miss Diaz.” answered Arturo. “That’s good,” observed Miss Diaz. “It will not be too hot for planting of trees. I only hope it will begin on schedule.” “That’s sure, Miss Diaz,” Arturo said. “It will be a new Filipino time concept.” “I admire you, Arturo, for saying ‘Filipino time’, which means on time,” Said Miss Diaz laughing. “It is really time for us to observed punctuality,” explained Arturo. “So instead of saying being on time is ‘American time’, we shall call it ‘Filipino time’” 11. What position did Arturo have in the class organization? a. secretary b. treasurer c. president 12. What did the class organization decide to celebrate? a. Arbor Fiesta b. Town Fiesta c. Parents Day 13. Aside from the program, what other activity was scheduled? a. planting of shrubs c. planting of flowering trees b. planting of fruit trees 14. At what time was the program supposed to start? a. 8:00 o’clock in the morning b. 7:00 o’clock in the morning c.2:00 o’clock in the afternoon 15. Who was in doubt whether it would start on time? a. Arturo’s mother b. Arturo’s teacher c. Arturo’s classmates 16. What do we usually say when punctuality is observed in any activity? a. Filipino time b. Spanish time c. American time 17. How did Arturo call punctuality? a. Filipino time b. Spanish time c. American time 18. What did Arturo’s class agree on? a. starting late b. adopting American time c.changing the concept of Filipino time 19. Did Arturo’s class agree with it? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 20. Who admired Arturo’s leadership? a. the teacher b. the parents c. the principal VOCABULARY: concept admire punctuality THE TRUE FILIPINO President Quezon’s counsel to the Filipino was: “Make the Filipinos true citizens of the Philippines. They should be made aware of things connected with their country and people including their culture and civilizations.” What did President Quezon want to convey to his countrymen? In his opinion, we deserved to be called a true Filipino if we have our country’s welfare at heart. Knowledge and appreciation of our country’s history, civilization and culture are to be required from each individual. Every citizen must be concerned with the progress of the nation, in making the country known to other parts of the world and in achieving peace for the land of his birth. 1.What did President Quezon wish for the Philippines? a.fame b. wealth c. loyal sons and daughters 2.Who deserves to be called a true Filipino? a.somebody working in a foreign firm b.somebody working in the government c. somebody working for his country’s progress 3.What should every Filipino strive to achieve for his country? a.progress b. culture c. machineries 4.In what should a Filipino feel proud of? a.his country’ name b.his country’s culture c. his country’s location 5.To whom was President Quezon’s counsel addressed? a.to the soldiers c. to all citizens b.to the government officials 6.Which of the following did Quezon want the Filipinos to be? a.true citizens of the Philippines b.good soldiers of the Philippines c. good speakers of the Filipino language 7.In Quezon’s opinion, when do we deserve to be called a true Filipino? a.when we can speak Filipino fluently b.when we know our national anthem at heart c. when we have our country’s welfare at heart 8.What did Quezon want every individual to know? a.the country’s history, civilization and culture b.the symbols of our country and their meanings c. the different provinces that comprises our country 9.To whom did Quezon want our country be known? a.to all Filipino citizens c. to other parts of the world b.to all the people of Asia 10. One of the following was not mentioned among those which Quezon wanted every individual to achieve? a.power b. peace c. progress VOCABULARY: aware civilization culture convey OUR MALAYAN BROTHERS In some ways we, Filipinos, are similar to our Malayan brothers. This is so because our ancestors include the Malays and the Indonesians. the Malays and the Filipinos are similar in height, in complexion and in looks. Philippines aborigines such as the Ifugaos, Subanuns and Tagbanuas live in much the same way as the Malaysians and Indonesians. The clothes, the houses, weapons and art of the Filipino Muslims are similar to those of the Malaysians and Indonesians. The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have the same industries and products. The languages used in the Philippines include many Malayan words. Like the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia were former territories of western countries. Like the Filipinos, the people of Malaysia and Indonesia struggled hard also for independence. The former MAPHILINDO composed of Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia was organized for mutual protection against belligerent countries. 1.The selection tells us___. a.how the Filipinos dress b.how the Indonesians dress c. how similar we are to our Malayan brothers 2.To whom are the Filipinos similar in some ways? a.to their Malayan brothers c. to their American brothers b.to their European brothers 3.Who of the following are among our ancestors? a.Europeans b. American Indians c. Malays and Indonesians 4.Who live in the same way as the Malayans and Indonesians? a.Arabs and Egyptians c. Igorots, Ifugaos, Subanuns, Tagbanuas b.Indians, Polynesians, Hawwaiians 5.Who believe in the Islam faith like the Indonesians and Malayans? a.lowlanders b. Filipino Muslims c. mountain people 6.What do the languages in the Philippines include? a.many English words c. many Japanese words b.many Malayan words 7.What things are similar in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia? a.religion b. languages c. products and industries 8.Which of these countries were former territories of Western countries like the Philippines? a.Japan and China c. Malaysia and Indonesia b.Taipei and Cambodia 9.People struggled hard to __. a.get their independence b.get their countries started c. get their people to cooperate 10. What was the former MAPHILINDO? a.organization composed of Singapore, Hongkong, and Taiwan b.organization composed of Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia c. organization composed of China, Japan and Cambodia VOCABULARY: territories belligerent ancestors TWO PAINTERS When Jose Rizal and Juan Luna studying in Madrid, they live together in boarding house. They used to play jokes on one another. Juan Luna woke up early one morning and saw Rizal was still asleep. He hid one of Rizal’s slippers and drew exactly one like it on a card, board. When Jose woke up, he tried to put on his slippers but he found out that one was made out of cardboard. “I know who painted this. It is nicely done,” he said. One day, Juan Luna went out with his friends. Jose decided to draw the contents of Juan’s room on the closed door with the permission of their landlady. When Luna arrived, he went directly to his room. He bumped his head on the closed door. “You are a good painter,” Juan Luna told Rizal. 1. Who studied in Madrid? a. Andres Bonifacio b. Apolinario Mabini c. Juna Luna and Jose Rizal 2. Where did they live in Madrid? a. in a hotel b. in a Filipino home c. in a boarding house 3. What did they usually do when they entertain themselves? a. play sipa b. play jokes c. play chess 4. What did Luna hide? a. one of Jose’s pets b. one of Jose’s books c. one of Jose’s slippers 5. Why did Jose think it was his real slippers? a. It was large. c. It was realistically painted. b. It was just right for him. 6. Where did Rizal paint the contents of the room? a. on the wall c. on the window pane b. on the closed door 7. Why did Luna enter the room directly? a. It was his room. b. He thought the door was open. c.He thought the door had been removed 8. What did Luna think of Rizal’s painting? a. It was not right. c. It was beautifully done. b. It was just a view. 9. For what was Luna known? a. being a good writer c. being a good painter b. being a good soldier 10. How will you describe Luna and Rizal’s sense of humor? a. dull b. keen c. neither a nor b VOCABULARY: boarding exactly THE FLOWER OF LOVE Once there lived a chieftain who had a beautiful daughter named Liwayway. One day Liwayway went into the woods to gather fruits and flowers but unfortunately lost her way. She became unconscious when a wild beast ran after her. He was the son of another chieftain. When they parted, each one knew they were in love with each other. One day the young man was going away to fight the white men who had invaded their land. The lovers promised never to forget each other saying “Sumpa kita.” but the warrior never came back. In sorrow, the maiden killed herself. Sometime later, shrubs with fragrant flowers grew on her grave. People believed that Liwayway’s love grew and bloomed. It became a custom for young lovers taken of their faithful love. They whispered “I promise” (Sumpa kita) to each other. In time, the flowers became known as sampaguita. It is adopted as our national flower because of its fragrance and simplicity. 1. Who was Liwayway? a. She was a mermaid. c. She was the daughter of a chieftain. b. She was a goddess of dawn. 2. Why did she go to the woods? a. to chase birds b. to take a bath c. together fruits and flowers 3. What happened when a wild beast ran after her? a. She played with it. c. She became unconscious. b. She climbed a tree. 4. What did she see when she regained consciousness? a. a fairy bending over her c. a young man bending over her b. a wild beast bending over her 5. Who was the young man the maiden saw? a. a hunter b. a warrior c. son of another chieftain 6. Why did the young man leave? a. to go with his father c. to live in another land b. to fight the invaders 7. What did they promise each other? a. to write each other c. never to forget each other 8. to love each other forever Who killed herself? a. the fairy b. Liwayway c. the maiden 9. What grew on her grave? a. shrubs with fragrant flowers c. shrubs with yellow flowers b. shrubs with thick leaves 10. What does the sampaguita symbolize? a. loyalty b. bravery c. honesty VOCABULARY: consciousness bloomed invaded garlands FOOD AND DRINKS OF THE ANCIENT FILIPINOS Rice was the staple food of the ancient Filipinos. They cooked it in pots and in bamboos. Our forefathers’ diet included also various species of fish caught in rivers and lakes; meat from carabaos, deer, hogs, chickens and edible birds; vegetables, tubers like sweet potato, spices like pepper and garlic; and fruits like bananas, oranges, guavas and mangoes. There were also many kinds of wine and drinks on the islands. The tuba which was taken from the coconut palms was the champagne of the early Filipinos. Among the popular wines were the Visayan pangasi, fermented from rice; the Visayan gauilang distilled from sugar cane and the igorot tapuy, taken from rice. Although the early Filipinos were heavy drinkers, they seldom lost their senses when drunk. They only became lively, talkative and witty when intoxicated. Even after a heavy drink, their hands never trembled and they could manage to weigh their gold correct! 1. The story tells about food and drinks of __. a. the ancient Filipinos c. the mountain people b. the modern Filipinos 2. Where did they cook rice? a. in jars and pots b. in pots and bamboos c. in kettles and pots 3. What other things were used as food? a. grasses and roots c. leaves and branches b. various species of fish 4. Which was considered the champagne of the ancient Filipinos? a. rice b. tuba c. coconut juice 5. What was the Visayan pangasi? a. wine fermented from rice c. wine extracted from the coconut palms b. wine extracted from sugar cane 6. What wine was distilled from sugar cane? a. Ilocano basi b. Visayan gauilang c.Visayan tapuy 7. What was the Igorot tapuy? a. wine taken from rice c. wine taken from coconut palm b. wine taken from sugar cane 8. Although the Filipinos were heavy drinkers what did they seldom lose? a. their drinks b. their clothes c. their senses 9. What happened to them when they got drunk? a. They could not go home. b. They become talkative and lively. c.They trembled and became nervous. 10. What was the staple food of the ancient Filipinos? a. rice b. wine c. roots VOCABULARY: species fermented distilled intoxicated SUPERSTITIONS “Please tell us about some of our superstitious beliefs, Grandmother,” pleaded Elvi as she saw the old woman sitting by the window.”We will discuss them in the class tomorrow.” “Listen and I will tell you about man’s three friends. These are three superstitious beliefs about animals,” Grandma answered, putting down the shorts she was mending. “Tell us about them,” said Elvi excitedly. “One of them is the rooster who is up before dawn and crows on the rooftops,” said Grandmother. “It is the biddings its master to get up and go forth to earn his living. “The second one is the cat who announces the coming of visitor by washing its face so it may look presentable to its master’s guests.” “And the third is the dog that can smell danger and death. It barks to warn its master of the presence of any stranger who might do him harm. When a dog howls with sorrow it is said that it smells death coming its master’s way. 1. What is the selection about? a. a legend b. a fairy tale c. three superstitions 2. Which word describes superstitions? a. true b. good c. beliefs 3. About what are the superstitions in the selection? a. food b. animals c. weather 4. Why does the rooster crow from the rooftops before dawn? a. to tell its master to get up b. to tell its master to feed it c. to make its master sleep soundly 5. Why does the rooster wake its master up before the dawn? a. to be given corn c. to tell its master to earn a living b. to take it from the roof 6. How do cats announce the coming of visitors? a. by turning around c. by washing their faces b. by waving their tails 7. What do dogs smell? a. food b. other animals c. danger and death 8. How do dogs warn their master of a coming danger? a. by barking b. by howling c. by wagging their tails 9. When does a dog howl with sorrow? a. when he smells food c. when he smells death for its master b. when he likes to sleep 10. Are superstitions to be believed? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe VOCABULARY: howls pleaded mending belief excited warn TELL THE TRUTH Don’t be afraid, Little Johnny, my boy, Open the door and go in; The longer you wait before telling your fault The harder it is to begin. No wonder you stand with a pitiful face And fear the confession to make; For you know when you’re naughty the worst of it all Is making your mother’s heart ache. Have courage, dear boy, never mind if your shoes Are muddy and wet, and all that; Never mind if your clothes have been terribly torn And you have ruined your pretty new hat. Go in like man, and tell Mother the truth Like a brave little lad, and you’ll see How happy a boy who confesses his fault, And is truthful and honest as can be. 1. What was the author’s advice to Johnny? a. not to play c. not to be afraid to confess the truth b. not to enter the house 2. What happens if one waits longer? a. it will be hard to begin c. it will be foolish to begin b. it will be easy to begin 3. How does a boy appear if he has a confession to make? a. He has a pitiful face. c. He has a happy face. b. He has a brave face. 4. How does a mother feel when her little boy has been naughty? a. She is sad. b. She is proud. c. She is very happy. 5. What will you do when you have something to confess? a. Try to hide it. b. Try to forget it. c. Face the truth like a man. 6. Will you be afraid to tell what you have done if you have ruined your clothes? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 7. What does one need to tell the truth? a. fear b. courage c. shyness 8. How does one feel if he confesses the truth? a. happy b. afraid c. timid 9. Is it easy to tell the truth? a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 10. What is the best trait one must possess to be able to confess? a. fear b. pride c. courage VOCABULARY: fault lad pitiful ruined confess terribly THE LEGEND OF LAKE BUHI Grandmother was relating the story of Lake Buhi to her grandchildren. According to her, Buhi was a town at bottom of the lake. Once upon a time the people of this enchanted town lived in abundance. But as the people became wealthy they forgot all the about God and so God punished them. Their town sank beneath the earth overnight and in its place there rose a beautiful lake. When the weather was warm and clear as a mirror, it is said that one can look down into the bottom of the lake. The people can be seen doing their everyday tasks. Some are cultivating their lands, others are building houses and smoke can be seen coming from the kitchen as woman cook the family meals. It is also said that the tiniest fish in the world, found in Lake Buhi, are trimmings of abaca fiber as the people in the Lake continue to make hats out of abaca for which the town was once famous. 1. What is the selection about? a. a sea b. a lake c. a stream 2. What type of literature is the selection? a. fable b. legend c. fairy tale 3. What was Buhi before? a. lake b. town c. people 4. How does the surface of the lake look when the weather is calm and clear? a. muddy b. gloomy c. clear as mirror 5. Why did God punish the people? a. They were lazy. c. They were selfish. b. They forgot God. 6. What appeared in place of their town? a. a city b. a lake c. a forest 7. What kind of fish is found in Lake Buhi? a. the tiniest fish in the world b. the wildest fish in the world c.the most beautiful fish in the world 8. What was believed to be seen down the lake when the weather is clear? a. ruins of buildings and houses b. people doing their everyday tasks c.school of fishes converging on the lake floor 9. What do people say about the fish found in Lake Buhi? a. They are pieces of thread. b. They are trimmings fro abaca fiber. c.They are roots of plants under the lake. 10. What do people believe about the lake? a. It is big. b. it is beautiful c. It is enchanted VOCABULARY: enchanted tiniest overnight famous DAY OF FREEDOM For more than three hundred years, Spain ruled our land. The Spanish flag flew in our and to show that the Philippines was Spain’s territory. Then, the Americans came. They freed us from Spanish rule. For fifty years we were governed by the Americans. Our flag was allowed to fly side by side with the American flag. We were permitted to establish our own government but under the control and supervision of the Americans. In 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. Under the Japanese, we suffered three years of hunger, fear and misery. With the help of the Americans, our country was freed from the Japanese invaders. Once more, peace came to our country. The fourth of July, now known as the Fil-American Friendship Day, marked the completion of Philippine Independence from foreign rule. It was on the fourth of July that we were granted total freedom. 1. For three hundred years, the Philippines was under ___. a. Spain b. Japan c. the United States 2. The Spanish flag flew on ___. a. Spain b. our land c. United States 3. Our land was freed from the Spaniards by the __. a. Spaniards b. Japanese c. Americans 4. The United States ruled our land for __. a. fifty years c. one hundred years b. two hundred years 5. They allowed our flag to fly___. a. alone b. below theirs c. side by side with theirs 6. We were permitted to establish our own__. a. religion b. schools c. government 7. In 1941, our country was invaded by__. a. Spain b. Japan c. United States 8. Under the Japanese occupation, the Filipinos__. a. were happy c. suffered hunger, fear and misery b. were prosecuted 9. The Americans helped the Filipino guerillas to __. a. enrich our country c. beautify our country b. liberate our country 10. The fourth of July means__. a. misery for the Filipinos b. slavery for the Filipinos c.freedom for the Filipinos VOCABULARY: governed territory AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN An American soldier called Gregorio del Pilar was an officer and a gentleman. Del Pilar was the youngest general of the Philippine revolution. When the revolution broke out he was only seve nteen. He was brave and gallant soldier. He was only twenty four years old when he died fighting at Tirad Pass. Gregorio del Pilar was born in Bulacan, Bulacan. He was a nephew of Marcelo H. del Pilar. He became the favorite of General Emilio Aguinaldo who took the very young soldier with him wherever he went. When the fighting between the Americans and the Filipinos became intense, General Emilio Aguinaldo had to retreat to the mountains. General del Pilar and his sixty men stood at Tirad Pass to cover the retreat. The narrow pass was in Palanan, Isabela. Three hundred American soldiers fought against del Pilar’s sixty men. But del Pilar and his men fought bravely until a bullet stuck him dead. 1. Who called General del Pilar an officer and a gentleman? a. the English b. the Filipinos c. an American soldier 2. Which word describes Gregorio del Pilar as a General? a. oldest b. youngest c. middle- aged 3. How old was he when the revolution broke out? a. nineteen b. eighteen c. seventeen 4. How was he related to Marcelo del Pilar? a. He was his aid. c. He was his nephew. b. He was his cousin. 5. Where did General Aguinaldo retreat when the Americans pursued him? a. to Palanan b. to Bulacan c. to Pangasinan 6. Who were assigned to guard the pass where the Americans would pass? a. General Aguinaldo’s soldiers c. Marcelo H. del Pilar and his men b. Gregorio del Pilar and his men 7. How many soldiers defended Tirad Pass with General del Pilar? a. sixty men b. three hundred c. six hundred men 8. Where was Tirad Pass? a. in Isabela b. in Nueva Ecija c. in Nueva Vizcaya 9. What happened to Gen. del Pilar during the battle? a. He died. b. He retreated. c. He surrendered. 10. How old was he when he died? a. twenty b. seventeen c. twenty four VOCABULARY: favorite gallant retreat intense . ABELENS, A NEW MOUNTAIN TRIBE The Abelens are small people, almost of pygmy size. The average height of a grown up girls is four feet and a young man about four feet and eight inches. They are entirely different from the Negritoes among whom they have lived for thousands of years. Abelens have long straight hair, not curly like that of the Negritoes. Their complexion is light brown much lighter than the dark distinct red tint on their hair. Their eyes are brown. Their features are fine. They are quite a savage people. They used to make drinking cups from skulls of their enemies. Although they know the Negrito language, the Abelens have a language of their own. 1.What is this selection about? a.small islanders c. small mountain group b.small minority groups 2.What is the new tribe described in the selection called? a.Ifugaos b. Abelens c. Negritoes 3.How tall is an average Abelen girl? a.4 feet b. 3 feet c. 4 feet and 8 inches 4.How tall is an Abelen man? a.5 feet b. 4 feet c. 4 feet and 8 inches 5.From whom is the Abelen tribe distinctly different? a.Ifugaos b. Ibanags c. Negritoes 6.How does their hair look? a.curly b. wavy c. straight 7.What is the color of their complexion? a.black b. light brown c. dark brown 8.How are the Abelens described? a.gentle b. savage c. intelligent 9.What do they use as drinking cups? a.big leaves b. bamboo joints c. skulls of their enemies 10. What is their language? a.Ifugao dialect b.a language of their own c. a borrowed language from some mountain tribe VOCABULARY: pygmy distinct features savage THE HOMING PIGEONS During the first World War, both the army and the navy felt a great need for some way to send messages back to their headquarters. Sometimes a tornadoed ship needed to send wireless message to land. Men in a sinking ship were lost unless a passing ship chanced upon them. Batallions sent out on scouting trips were sometimes gunned down by enemies. A soldier sent with a message for help was oftentimes caught. Even messengers in airplanes were not safe. The enemy usually shot the planes and kept the messengers as prisoners. So, pigeons were trained as messengers. They have strong love for their homes. Most of the birds move from one home to another but the pigeons have one home to which they always return. Pigeons even when taken away far from home, always fly swiftly back to their habitations. 1. Who have a strong love for their homes? a. mayas b. pigeons c. love birds 2. What do they do even when taken away from home? a. They are usually lost. c. they fly swiftly back home. b. They never came back. 3. Pigeons were trained as_. a. nurses b. soldiers c. messengers 4. What often happened to men sent as messengers in airplanes? a. They were often lost in their way. b. They were often shot down by enemy guns. c.They carried messages safely to the headquarters. 5. Who felt a great need for a way to send messages to the headquarters? a. the police b. the constabulary c. the army and the navy 6. During the First World War, how did the distressed ships ask for help? a. through the radio c. through underground channels b. through the messenger-pigeons 7. Who were sometimes lost and kept as prisoners by enemies? a. battalions b. messenger on planes c. messenger in ships 8. When is the safe delivery of messages very important? a. during travel b. during World War c. during field trips 9. What is the common characteristic of most birds? a. They build homes. b. They stay in one home. c. They move from one home to another. 10. Why do pigeons make good messengers? a. They always fly steadily back home. b. They change their homes very often. c.They move from one place to another. VOCABULARY: torpedoed habitation distress steadily homing constabulary THE LOBSTER AND THE CRAB One day Lobster and Crab met. “I have ten claws,” boasted Crab. “I am the great Crab which the land people like best to eat. We, crabs are covered with head shield. “We are knight belonging to the Order of the Crustacea,” cried lobster. “What does that mean?” asked Crab. “Crustacea means covered with a crust or shell,” explained Lobster. “It is the same with us” said Crab. “Our claws and bodies are made of rings of shell joined together by sockets. We use our claws for walking and for tearing our food.” “Land people like to eat us,” said Lobster. “When we are cooked, we turn into a bright red color but in the water, we are green. 1. Lobsters and Crabs are __. a. birds b. fishes c. crustaceans 2. The crustaceans are like knights because__. a. they have claws b. they have nippers c.their bodies are all covered with shields 3. Crustacea means__. a. covered with hair c. covered with scales b. covered with shell 4. Land people like to __. a. eat the crustaceans c. make pets of the crustaceans b. play with the crustaceans 5. What color do the crab and lobster have when they are in the water? a. green b. orange c. bright red 6. Both Crabs and Lobsters are kinds of __. a. seafood b. flying insects c. land animals 7. Which of them can walk on the land? a. Both b. Crab c. Lobster 8. Are crabs and lobsters eaten by people too? Draw a crab if your answer is NO; a lobster if your answer is YES. 9. Crustaceans have__. a. fur b. shells c. scales 10. This kind of story is __. a. fairy tale b. legend c. fable VOCABLARY: crust sockets A LETTER OF INVITATION 26 del Pilar Street Sampaloc, Manila March 15, 2004 Dear Nina, My parents are going to give a party on the evening of my graduation, March 29. It will be held in our house on del Pilar Street. Please come and bring along your brother, Milo, and your sister, Ester. My father has prepared some very exciting parlor games which I am sure you and your sister and brother will enjoy. There will be also a program prepared by my elder sister, Nora. The party starts at six o’clock. You can go home at nine so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the party. We are hoping to see you all. Your friend, Gina 1. Where did Wally’s Grandma live? a. in the city b. in the province c. in city suburb 2. Why did Wally fail to see the beautiful scenery? a. He slept almost throughout the way b. He was wearing dark glasses c. He was not interested to look at the sceneries 3. Where did Wally ride? a. on a bus b. on a train c. in a jeepney 4. Who was with Wally when he visited Grandma? a. his father b. his mother c. nobody 5. How did Wally try to freshen himself? a. He jumped b. He ran and ran c. He stretched out his arms 6. According to Grandma, what did Wally miss by sleeping all the way? a. Grandma’s house b. the place where they were going c. the beautiful scenery on the countryside 7. Why did Wally not enjoy his first visit to Grandma? a. The journey was long b. The road were potmarked c. The roads were smooth and nice 8. What did Grandma call Wally for sleeping all the way? a. lazy b. cheerful c. curious 9. Why were the roads easy to travel on now? a. They were cleaned by the government b. They were damaged by the government c. They had been repaired by the government 10. How was life after the flood? a .It returned to normal b. It was never the same again c. It was much better than before VOCABULARY yawn potmarked damage