2. Reading Works! 4
Textbook
Philippine Copyright 2012 by DIWA LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines
Editorial, design, and layout by University Press of First Asia
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and
retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Exclusively distributed by
DIWA LEARNING SYSTEMS INC
4/F SEDCCO 1 Bldg.
120 Thailand corner Legazpi Streets
Legaspi Village, 1229 Makati City, Philippines
Tel. No.: (632) 893-8501 * Fax: (632) 817-8700
ISBN 978-971-46-0296-0
Author
Faye Angeli D. Vitan is pursuing her master’s degree in reading at the University of the Philippines–Diliman,
where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education, major in English and minor in journalism. She
is currently a middle school teacher at Reedley International School and a language trainer at the Rarejob Online
Language Tutorial. She obtained a Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate from
the Canadian TESOL Institute. Prior to joining Reedley, Ms. Vitan served as an ESL online teacher at the Native
English Online Academy.
Consultant
Corazon Y. Delgado holds a master’s degree in education, major in English, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary
education both from the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She is presently a part-time professor of English at
Far Eastern University–Makati. Ms. Delgado was a former faculty member of the Colegio San Agustin–Makati, where
she served as the academic coordinator in reading and the head teacher for grades 4 and 5. She was a part-time college
professor of English at the De La Salle University–Manila and a full-time professor of English at the Far Eastern
University–East Asia College, where she was also a staff member of the English Resource Center.
Reviewer
Diana G. Caluag is pursuing her master’s degree in education, major in reading, at the University of the Philippines–
Diliman, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education, major in English (cum laude). She is presently
an English instructor at the University of the Philippines Integrated School. Ms. Caluag taught high school English
at St. Paul College in San Rafael, Bulacan from 2005 to 2006. She has attended and facilitated numerous academic
seminars and workshops. She was also a founding member and former chairperson of the University of the Philippines
Literacy and Language Educators Association of Diliman.
3. To the Pupils
The Reading Works! series was especially designed and created for you, the
21st century learner. It aims to make you see that reading is still an important and
enjoyable activity even in this very modern world dominated by super computers and
hi-tech gadgets. To do this, the selections were specifically written to match your
actual experiences as a family member, as a pupil, as a community member, and as
a Filipino citizen.
Each textbook is divided into four units. Unit 1 will let you get to know yourself
through your views, ideas, and feelings as a person. Unit 2 will help you develop a
deeper and more meaningful relationship with others, particularly your family, your
friends, and the people in your community. Unit 3, will help you prepare for the future
and its many challenges. Finally, Unit 4 will tell you more about your role in ensuring
a better tomorrow for yourself, your family, your community, and the world.
Each unit contains useful discussions and activities which will help you become
a critical, highly skilled, and well-rounded person.
• Connect – contains activities that will relate your stock knowledge and
previous experiences to the lessons
• Search – contains activities that will help you discover the meaning of
unfamiliar words and phrases
• Download – contains specially written stories, poems, essays, and scripts
which will engage your interest
• Click – contains comprehension questions which will measure your
understanding of the reading selection
• Link – contains discussions and exercises on important reading skills
• Upload – contains activities that will help you apply what you have learned
in each lesson
It is hoped that through this book, you will be able to learn not only a variety
of readings skills, but also important life lessons which will help you become the best
person you can possibly be.
Happy reading!
4. Table of Contents
Unit I Knowing Myself
Chapter 1 Discovering the Beauty within Me .......................................... 2
Lesson 1 Yes, I Can! ...........................................................................................2
(Using Reference Materials)
Lesson 2 Uniquely Smart ................................................................................12
(Using the Dictionary)
Lesson 3 The Goodness in Me ........................................................................22
(Identifying Parts of a Book)
Lesson 4 Afraid No More .................................................................................34
(Identifying Fiction and Nonfiction/Reality and Fantasy)
Chapter 2 Learning More about Myself .................................................... 41
Lesson 1 Creating a New Me ......................................................................... 41
(Identifying the Elements of a Short Story)
Lesson 2 I Love .................................................................................................51
(Myths/Sequencing Events)
Lesson 3 The Hero in Me ................................................................................61
(Folktales/Making Character Inferences)
Lesson 4 My Rights to Live Right ...................................................................70
(Essay/Making an Outline)
Unit Test ......................................................................................................... 81
Unit II Growing with Others
Chapter 3 Loving My Family ....................................................................... 86
Lesson 1 Ohana! ..............................................................................................86
(Using Antonyms to Unlock Meaning)
Lesson 2 The Perfect Love ...............................................................................92
(Parables/ Using Synonyms to Unlock Meaning)
Lesson 3 Connecting Lives ...........................................................................100
(Personal Narrative/Using Homonyms to Unlock Meaning)
Lesson 4 We Are Family! ..............................................................................107
(Poetry)
5. Chapter 4 Appreciating My Friends ........................................................ 115
Lesson 1 A Friend Indeed! ............................................................................115
(Skimming and Scanning)
Lesson 2 Building Friendships .....................................................................125
(Identifying Author’s Purpose/Fact or Opinion)
Lesson 3 Can We Still Be Friends? ..............................................................132
(Parts of an Essay/Identifying Main Idea and Topic Sentence)
Lesson 4 Gratitude .........................................................................................141
(Songs/Identifying Supporting Details)
Unit Test ....................................................................................................... 149
Unit III Gearing Up for Success
Chapter 5 Planning for My Future ............................................................ 154
Lesson 1 My Goals ........................................................................................154
(Simile and Metaphor/Compare-and-Contrast Essay)
Lesson 2 Shaping Up! ...................................................................................161
(Personification/Recognizing Cause and Effect)
Lesson 3 Money Matters ...............................................................................169
(How-to Essay/Analyzing Affixes)
Lesson 4 Sharpening My Skills! ...................................................................177
(Persuasive Essay/Using Compound Words to Unlock Meaning)
Chapter 6 Aiming High and Beyond! ....................................................... 182
Lesson 1 Years from Now, I Will Be .............................................................182
(Idioms/Giving Directions)
Lesson 2 Following Your Dreams .................................................................190
(Quotations/Using Quotation Marks)
Lesson 3 People in the Community ..............................................................198
(Using Speech Balloons or Thought Bubbles and Comic Strip)
Lesson 4 Do Not Give Up! .............................................................................207
(Biography, Autobiography, and Interview)
Unit Test ........................................................................................................ 215
6. Unit IV Keeping Up with the World
Chapter 7 Caring for Our World ............................................................... 220
Lesson 1 The Rich Earth ..............................................................................220
(Travel Brochure/Using Word Analogies to Unlock Meaning)
Lesson 2 Nature’s Warning ..........................................................................227
(Photo Essay/ Analyzing Parts of a Newspaper)
Lesson 3 A Cry for Help ................................................................................235
(Adaptation/Identifying Types of Lead)
Chapter 8 Celebrating Differences ........................................................... 244
Lesson 1 There Is Hope .................................................................................244
(Allegory/Identifying News Elements)
Lesson 2 A Variety of Color ..........................................................................251
(Denotation and Connotation/Using Contractions)
Lesson 3 The Words of the World .................................................................259
(Understanding Internet Language)
Lesson 4 Friends in Foreign Lands ..............................................................266
(Writing an E-mail/Friendly Letter)
Lesson 5 Hand in Hand for a Better Tomorrow ..........................................273
(Filling out Forms)
Unit Test ........................................................................................................ 279
Bibliography
7. UNIT
1
Knowing Myself
This unit is all about you. You will meet characters who will
guide you in discovering more about yourself. You will also learn about
many things that will help you reach your full potential.
8. Chapter 1
Discovering the Beauty within Me
This chapter will allow you to know and demonstrate your
abilities. You will display your talents and express your ideas. You
will also know how you can use books to learn new information. At
the end of this chapter, you are expected to be more confident in
showing the things you can do and the good things that are in you.
Lesson 1 Yes, I Can!
Connect
Have you ever joined a competition or a contest? What do you
think people should have to win competitions?
Rank the following from 1–5 according to importance. Write 1 as
the most important and 5 as the least important.
___ Supporters __ Experience
___ Confidence ___ Knowledge ___ Luck
2 Reading Works! 4
9. Search
Choose the best meaning of each underlined word. Encircle the
letter of your answer.
1. Since Erwin was a popular student, he did not see Julia as a
strong contender in the competition.
a. close friend b. opponent c. supporter
2. Julia was reserved and only had a few close friends.
a. boastful b. outgoing c. quiet
3. She quickly glanced at the audience and saw several banners.
a. looked b. waved c. smiled
4. The quizmaster announced Julia’s name as winner so loudly,
jolting her back to reality.
a. surprising b. freezing c. asking
5. With a thudding heart, Julia answered the question.
a. comforting b. pounding c. hurting
Download
Julia will be competing with Erwin,
a student who is known for his Let’s find out what attitude
intelligence. Most people believe that will Julia show throughout
Julia will not win against Erwin. the competition and what it
will do for her.
Knowing Myself 3
10. The Quiz Show
Faye Angeli D. Vitan
Excited and nervous at the same time, beads of sweat started
to form on Julia’s forehead.
“What is the smallest fish in the world and where can it be
found?” the quizmaster asked.
With sweaty palms, Julia reached for the buzzer. She had
been waiting for this day—the championship round of the General
Information Quiz Bee. Julia read lots of books and browsed the
Internet to search for more general information. She listened
attentively to the lectures of Mr. Montes, her social studies
teacher.
Julia can still remember the day when Mr. Montes shared his
plans to the class. “At the end of this month, we are going to have a
General Information Quiz Bee. Each class in the fourth grade will
choose a representative by class eliminations.”
“I’m sure Erwin will win. He’s so smart!” said one of Julia’s
classmates.
4 Reading Works! 4
11. “That remains to be seen. Everybody has a chance to
participate. I’m giving you two weeks to do research and study for
the class eliminations. All of you should do your best,” Mr. Montes
explained.
Although she did not say it loudly, Julia wanted to win
the contest. She always liked memorizing facts and knowing
information about all kinds of topics. Julia knew that Erwin
might not see her as a strong contender. Unlike Erwin, she was
reserved and had few close friends. She did not like performing,
too, compared to Erwin who was known to be a good dancer.
“I’m not shy. I just like being quiet,” Julia would say whenever
people would ask why she seemed to be shy. “And I don’t lack
intelligence either. I have good grades,” she would add.
True enough, Julia emerged as the top student during the
class eliminations. Most of her classmates were surprised but
not everyone was convinced that she would be able to win the
championship.
“Erwin won the eliminations in his class. He won by 15 points.
He’ll surely win the championship,” one of Julia’s classmates
exclaimed.
“I bet he will. He won the science quiz show last year,” said
another.
“Just do your best, Julia. You’ve come this far. Don’t let other
people put you down,” Mr. Montes said to Julia.
BUZZZZZZ! sounded the three buzzers almost all at the same
time.
Knowing Myself 5
12. Julia looked at the judges, hoping to be given the chance to
answer the last question for the difficult round of the contest. She
needed to answer the last question correctly to tie her score with
Erwin’s.
“Contestant number 2,” called one of the judges.
Releasing a sigh of relief, Julia held the microphone and
answered, “The smallest fish is Pandaka pygmaea and it can be
found in Lake Buhi.”
“The smallest fish is Pandaka pygmaea found in Lake Buhi.
That is correct, contestant number 2!” the quizmaster said.
“Since that’s the last question for the difficult round, may I
ask the scorer to tally the scores,” added the quizmaster.
Julia crossed her fingers, hoping she was right when she
mentally calculated the scores. She glanced at the audience and
saw several banners with Erwin’s name on them. Then she saw
her friends who also brought a banner for her.
“It doesn’t matter if I have fewer banners. I have come this
far and not everybody gets this chance,” Julia thought to herself,
remembering what Mr. Montes said.
“Here are the final scores. Contestant number 1 got 60 points,
while contestant numbers 2 and 3 both got 75 points. This means
that contestant numbers 2 and 3 will compete for the clincher
round of our General Information Quiz Bee. Thank you contestant
number 1,” the quizmaster declared.
Julia looked at Erwin. It was just the two of them left. She
heard loud cheers for both Erwin and her.
6 Reading Works! 4
13. “You can do it, Julia!” cheered voices from the crowd. She
beamed at them with a quiet confidence.
“Go Julia!” more cheering voices filled the area.
“In the Internet, what does www mean?” asked the
quizmaster.
BUZZZZZ! sounded Erwin’s buzzer.
BUZZZZZ! sounded Julia’s buzzer a second later.
Biting her lips, Julia knew that Erwin would get the answer
correctly. She pressed the buzzer too late. Erwin gave his
answer.
“I’m sorry contestant number 3, that is wrong,” said the
quizmaster, jolting Julia back to reality. “Contestant number 2,
you have the chance to answer the question correctly. If you are
right, you will be the champion of this General Information Quiz
Bee.”
Julia closed her eyes for a moment trying to remember the
answer. Images and words went through her mind. Stepping
forward with a thudding heart, Julia said, “www stands for World
Wide Web.”
“That is correct! Congratulations contestant number 2. You
are the new champion of the General Information Quiz Bee!”
announced the quizmaster.
After the announcement of the winner, Erwin walked toward
Julia. He shook her hands and smiled at her. Mr. Montes came up
the stage to give Julia the trophy. She heard the crowd cheering
her name. She heard people congratulating her. She made it. She
won the championship.
Knowing Myself 7
14. Click
1. What day was Julia waiting for? Why was she waiting for it?
2. How did Julia prepare for it?
3. Why did some students think that Erwin would win the quiz bee?
4. If you were Julia, how would you feel about it?
5. Based on the line, “I’m not shy. I just like being quiet,” what kind
of student is Julia?
6. If you were the writer of the story, how would you end it? Why?
Link
Sources of Information in the Library
Contestants in quiz competitions like Julia and Erwin are
expected to know a lot of information. Usually, the person who
knows more has better chances of winning. Even in everyday life, it
is helpful if you are knowledgeable about many things. The library
provides materials about common and relevant information. These
are called reference materials.
Basic reference materials are dictionaries, thesauri,
encyclopedia, periodicals, yearbooks, and atlases.
To find the meaning of words, use the dictionary or the
thesaurus. These materials also provide information on the
pronunciation, origin, syllabication, and part of speech of words.
To find general information on different topics, the encyclopedia
can be used. It is a set of books arranged alphabetically. It covers a
wide range of subjects from almost all branches of knowledge.
To know the current issues and events in a particular place, refer
to the periodicals. These include newspapers and magazines.
To identify the important people and events of a particular year,
a yearbook can be used. It gives information about what happened
8 Reading Works! 4
15. during a particular year, including important events in the lives of
famous and influential people.
To determine the location of a place, turn to an atlas. It
contains relevant information about places such as capital cities and
landmarks.
Activity 1
Determine the reference material you should use to answer the
follwing questions. Write only the letter of your answer on the space
provided.
a. Dictionary d. Yearbook
b. Encyclopedia e. Atlas
c. Periodical
____ 1. Who is Princess Diana?
____ 2. What is the latest in fashion?
____ 3. What is the capital of Malaysia?
____ 4. What is the meaning of the word arrogant?
____ 5. What was the strongest typhoon that hit the Philippines last
year?
Activity 2
Visit the library and find the answers to the following questions.
Write your answer to each question and the title of the reference
material that you used.
1. What is the meaning of the word abstract?
Answer __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Reference: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Knowing Myself 9
16. 2. What two movies are shown in theaters today?
Answer __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Reference: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3. What are the names of the bodies of water that surround the
Answer __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Reference: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Activity 3
Choose a partner and discuss the answers to the following
questions. Write your answers on the space provided.
1. What is the difference between a dictionary and a thesaurus?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. What is the difference between a newspaper and a magazine?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
10 Reading Works! 4
17. 3. In what way is an encyclopedia similar to an educational Web
site?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Upload
How you look at yourself should not depend on how popular you
are or how many friends you have. Just like Julia, there is something
unique about you that makes you special.
In this activity, show what you can do with confidence. Think
of a talent that you have or a skill that you have learned. Show this
talent or skill in class. Tell your teacher and classmates how you
learned about this talent or skill.
Knowing Myself 11
18. Lesson 2 Uniquely Smart
Connect
Read the sentences below. Put a in the box that shows the
things you can do.
1. I can climb a tree.
2. I can sing a song well.
3. I can draw an animal quickly and neatly.
4. I can deliver lines from a poem I have learned with proper
intonation and appropriate facial expressions.
5. I can greet and make friends with other people without feeling
shy.
Why do you think you can do some of the things above? Why do
you think there are some things that you cannot do that well?
Search
Look up the meaning of the words below by using a dictionary.
Write your answers on the space provided.
1. abilities – ____________________________________________________________
2. logic – ___________________________________________________________
3. psychologist – ___________________________________________________
4. acquire – ______________________________________________________
5. prefer – ________________________________________________________
12 Reading Works! 4
19. Download
Most people often think
that being smart means But do you know that people who
getting only high grades can play basketball well, those who
in school. can sing well, and those who can
confidently talk to other people are
also considered smart? Find out why.
What Kind of a Smart Are You?
Faye Angeli D. Vitan
Have you ever wondered why some kids are good at solving
math problems but not as good as others in playing sports? Why
do you think some are good at drawing but not in writing? Why
is it that some are good at relating to people but not as good as
others in expressing themselves?
Knowing Myself 13
20. This is because people have different abilities or intelligences.
It is not true that only kids who are good at math or science are the
only ones who are smart.
If you are good at adding, subtracting, multiplying, and
dividing, you are logic smart. If you are good at playing basketball,
volleyball, dancing, or anything that uses a lot of body movements,
you are body smart. If you are good at playing musical instruments,
you are music smart.
You are picture smart if you are good at drawing, painting, or
taking pictures. You are word smart if you are good with words
whether in speaking or in writing.
People who can make friends with different kinds of people are
people smart. People who are good at expressing what they think
and feel are self smart.
An American psychologist named Howard Gardner believes
that people have the ability to acquire different types of talents,
skills, and learning. But some people prefer to focus on developing
only one or only some of these. Still, some try to develop several
abilities. How about you, what kind of a smart are you?
14 Reading Works! 4
21. Click
1. What are the different smart types or kinds of intelligences
discussed in the essay?
2. According to the essay, why do people have different abilities?
3. What is the main idea of the essay?
4. Is it possible for someone to excel in more than one intelligence?
Why or why not?
5. Why do you think some people focus on developing only one
intelligence?
6. What type of intelligence do you want to develop more? Why?
Link
The Dictionary
The words intelligence and logic are words that cannot be easily
defined. They are considered as big words. Big words are those that
can have different meanings to different people. To know the exact
meaning of words, especially of big words, you can use the dictionary.
The dictionary is used to find the meaning of words, to know
the correct pronunciation of words, and to see the correct spelling
and syllabication of words. Some dictionaries also show the origin of
words.
Knowing Myself 15
22. (•) DENOTES SYLLABLE BREAKS
PRONUNCIATION
(see first pages of a dictionary
for key)
ACCENT MARKS
(primary and secondary)
PART OF SPEECH
e
bi•as (bi’ s) n. 1. A line cutting diagonally across the grain of
fabric. 2. Preference or inclination that inhibits impartiality;
prejudice. –adv. On a diagonal; aslant. –v. –ased or assed,
–as•ing or as•sing. To cause to have a bias; prejudice [OFr.
biais, oblique].
INFLECTED FORMS
OF THE WORD
ETYMOLOGY
(word’s history)
Source: http://ykonline.yksd.com/distanceedcourses/Courses/LifeSkillsEnglish/Quarters/
firstquarter.html (accessed on 27 June 2011)
A dictionary contains many words. Even though these words
are arranged alphabetically, it can still be difficult for a reader to
find a specific word quickly. Because of this, printed dictionaries use
guide words. Guide words are words found on the top corners of the
pages. The word on the upper left corner represents the first word
written on a particular page while the word on the right represents
the last word on the page. Guide words help a reader to find words
easily.
16 Reading Works! 4
23. Sample Page of a Dictionary
Guide word Guide word
showing the showing the
first word on last word on
the page the page
Source: http://www.antimoon.com/how/cobuild-review-page2.gif (accessed on 20 May 2011)
Knowing Myself 17
24. To find words using online dictionaries, words are typed in
the search box.
Type the words
you want to
search in the
box, then click
Search or press
Enter.
Source: http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/dictionarycom.PNG
(accessed on 20 May 2011)
Dictionaries also contain stress marks to help readers pronounce
words correctly. A stress mark (´) is a mark placed above a vowel
sound to indicate emphasis on a syllable.
For example, the word record can have two different meanings
depending on where you put the stress. If you say “récord,” you are
referring to a list of items. If you say “recórd,” you are referring to
the act of writing or of noting items.
Activity 1
Choose the guide words that can help in finding the following
underlined words in a dictionary. Encircle the letter of the correct
answer.
1. People should appreciate what other people can do.
a. appraisal–apricot
b. appetite–appoint
c. apron–aquarium
d. Arabic–arc
18 Reading Works! 4
25. 2. A graceful dancer is an example of a body smart person.
a. grab–grading
b. gossip–government
c. graduate–grain
d. gram–grandfather
3. The guitar is one of the most common musical instruments that
people can play.
a. impossible–improper
b. insist–inspiration
c. instead–insult
d. intake–intelligent
4. A psychologist studies the way people feel, think, and act.
a. power–proverb
b. psychic–pub
c. prudent–psalm
d. public–puff
5. People smart are those who can easily talk and be friends with
strangers.
a. storm–strand
b. string–strong
c. study–style
d. stove–strap
Activity 2
Use a dictionary to find the meaning of the following words. Take
note of the stress for the correct meaning of each word. Then use
each word in a sentence.
1. cónduct
Meaning: ______________________________________________________
Sentence: ______________________________________________________
Knowing Myself 19
26. condúct
Meaning: ______________________________________________________
Sentence: ______________________________________________________
2. ínvite
Meaning: ______________________________________________________
Sentence: ______________________________________________________
invíte
Meaning: ______________________________________________________
Sentence: ______________________________________________________
Activity 3
Pair up and answer the following questions:
1. In what situations can a dictionary be helpful to pupils like you?
Give at least two.
2. How does a dictionary help you enrich your vocabulary?
Upload
Think about a famous person you admire. Research information
about this person on the Internet. Use two or more Web sites to get
better information. Complete the paragraph on the next page with
information you found out about this particular person. Share your
findings with the class.
20 Reading Works! 4
27. I admire ____________________________________________________.
(name of the person)
He/she is known for ________________________________________.
(field where the person excels)
He/she started his/her career when __________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
(events/situations that helped the person become famous)
I also found out that he/she __________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
(additional information that interests you)
I want to be like him/her because ____________________________
______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.
(personal reasons for admiring the person)
Knowing Myself 21
28. Lesson 3 The Goodness in Me
Connect
What are the things that come to your mind when you hear the
words thank you?
Write two to three things you would like to thank your
classmates for. In two to three minutes, move around the classroom
and show your classmates your thank-you note.
For example:
Thank you for sharing your snack with me.
1. Thank you, Abby, for sharing your...
2.
3.
From: ________________
What do you feel about your classmates’ thank-you notes to you?
22 Reading Works! 4
29. Search
Find the meaning of the underlined words by using a printed
dictionary or going online. Write your answers in your notebook.
1. Plants and vegetables bloom in Kali’s garden all-year round.
2. Gani thinks that Kali is a simple-minded person for giving out
half of his harvest to poor people.
3. A terrible storm destroyed Kali’s house.
4. It is an absurdity to write a book with nothing but salamat.
5. The Sultan ordered his guards to summon Kali.
6. “Thank you” should come from truly grateful hearts.
Download
You will meet two different
men in the selection you Kali and Gani both wrote books filled
are about to read. They are with the words salamat or thank you.
Kali and Gani. But when they sold them to the Sultan,
Kali’s book cost three bags of gold while
Gani’s book cost nothing. Read on to
know how this happened.
Knowing Myself 23
30. The Book of Salamat
(A Philippine folktale)
Adapted by Faye Angeli D. Vitan
Once there were two neighbors named Kali and Gani, who
earned their living by planting and selling vegetables. Even
though they were poor, both men were proud of what they do.
The soil was rich in their gardens, making different plants and
vegetables bloom all year round. But during the harvest season,
Gani would always earn more than Kali. Gani would sell all his
crops at a high price while Kali would give half of his produce
to their poor neighbors. And whenever the neighbors would say
salamat or thank you to Kali, he would write it on a blank book
where he kept all the thanks he received. These would remind
him of the times he was able to help others and this made him
happy.
“I do not understand you, Kali. Why do you keep on giving
these people your harvest? You work so hard and then you just
give it away. You’re a fool,” Gani told Kali.
“I earn enough to feed myself. I have a house to live in and
clothes to keep me warm. I am more than happy to share what
I have,” Kali reasoned out.
24 Reading Works! 4
31. “Ha! What a simple-minded person you are, Kali. As for
me, I will be able to build a bigger house next year. I will
also buy more clothes. I hope you will not regret what you
are doing,” said Gani. Kali just smiled and continued working.
He also wanted a more comfortable house but the “thanks”
that he received from other people were more precious to him.
Every night, he would read his book containing all the thanks
spoken to him. On the other hand, Gani continued working and
building his house of stone. He even hired a gardener to work
on his garden.
One night, a terrible storm came and destroyed the wooden
house of Kali while Gani’s stone house stood strong against the
winds. Kali did not have enough money to build another house.
The vegetables he planted were also destroyed. “How could I
start again?” Kali thought to himself. Then he thought of an
idea that he hoped would work. He got his book and went to the
public market to sell it.
Knowing Myself 25
32. “Salamat for sale! Salamat for sale! Who wants to buy my
Book of Salamat?” Kali shouted. People who passed by him and
heard him thought he was crazy. Who would buy a book with
nothing but salamat?
Because of the absurdity of what he was selling, word spread
across town until it reached the Sultan. The Sultan became curious
of the man selling the book. He ordered his men to summon Kali.
He wanted to see for himself what this farmer was selling.
“Show me what you are selling, Young Man,” the Sultan
ordered.
Kali showed his book to the Sultan. The Sultan opened the
book and saw the word salamat written all over its pages in
clear and honest handwriting. “This man is no fool,” the Sultan
thought.
“How much would you want for the book?” asked the
Sultan.
“I shall sell my book for
whatever it will weigh in
gold,” answered Kali.
The Sultan asked his
servants to get a piece of
gold and a weighing scale.
He placed the book on one
end of the scale and the
gold on the other. The book
was heavier. He asked his
servants to add more gold
26 Reading Works! 4
33. and still the book was heavier. And no matter how many pieces
of gold were on the other end, the book was still heavier.
The Sultan then decided to give Kali three bags of gold.
“There, Young Man, start your life anew with those bags of
gold.”
Kali built a big stone house and bought more land for planting.
Gani got jealous of Kali’s fortune and wondered how he could get
richer. When he learned how Kali became richer, he bought a
thicker and heavier book. Then he filled its pages with the word
salamat. He went to the Sultan and tried to sell the book.
The Sultan asked his servants to weigh the book with the
pieces of gold just like what he did with Kali’s. The Sultan placed
a bag of gold but the book was lighter. The Sultan took half of the
gold pieces but the book was still lighter. Finally, the Sultan just
placed some gold dust but the book was still lighter.
“How can this be? I worked long nights to fill that book and
it costs nothing?” Gani exclaimed.
“Poor man! No matter how many times you write salamat in
your book, if it doesn’t come from a really grateful heart, then it
is meaningless,” the Sultan told Gani.
Click
1. How did Kali and Gani earn their living?
2. Why was Gani earning more than Kali?
3. Why did Kali list down every salamat said to him? Why do you
think Kali had to remind himself of the good things he did?
Knowing Myself 27
34. 4. Based on the selection, what kind of person was the Sultan? How
about Kali and Gani? Explain your answer.
5. What do you think does the statement “People are essentially
good if they are given a chance to be one” mean?
Link
Parts of a Book
In the early times, books were expensive because they were
handwritten just like Kali’s Book of Salamat. But when the printing
press was invented in the 15th century, more books were made. And
because there are more books now, it is important that you know
how to choose wisely the books that you will read. Knowing the
parts of a book can help you choose which ones will best give you the
information you need.
A book has three basic parts: the front matter, the body, and the
back matter.
The front matter has the following pages:
• Title page – It contains the book title, the author, and the publisher
of the book. A book title can already give you an idea of what a
book is all about.
• Copyright page – The copyright page shows the legal rights of the
publishing company to print and sell the books.
• Preface or Introduction – This gives an overview of a book. The
author explains the purpose of the book and what the reader can
expect from the book.
• Table of contents – The table of contents gives an outline of topics
covered by the book. It presents the flow or arrangement of the
inside of the book with corresponding pages.
The content of the book is called body. It contains the ideas
and the lessons the author wants to share with the readers.
28 Reading Works! 4
35. The back matter refers to the pages after the body. It usually
has the following pages:
• Index – This part gives an alphabetical listing of topics or important
words that can be found in the book. It also provides the pages
where a particular topic or word can be found.
• Glossary – This is like a small dictionary that contains key terms
used in the book. It gives the definition of the terms based on how
they are used in the body. It may also include the pronunciation of
words.
• References or bibliography – These pages show a list of the sources
of information the author used in writing the book. By listing them
down, the author acknowledges the ideas of other people or other
writers which had helped him or her come up with the book. These
lists can also help readers find books of the same topic.
Activity 1
Study the following pages. Name the part of the book shown.
Write your answer on the space provided.
1. _______________________
Knowing Myself 29
38. Activity 2
Read the following situations. Write on the space provided the
correct part of the book to be used to find the information needed.
1. Alyssa wants to find the page of the story that she has to read
for her English class. ___________________________
2. Joey wants to find out the meaning of the word photosynthesis
which he has read about in the book. ________________________
3. Helen has to research for more information about the topic she
has read. She has to find other books of the same topic.
___________________________
4. Mino wants to read about the overview of the book.
___________________________
5. Justin needs to scan the pages where the topic matter is
discussed. ___________________________
Activity 3
Choose a partner and discuss your answers to the following
questions:
1. How do the table of contents and the index differ in arranging the
topics in a book?
2. How can a glossary help a reader?
3. What are the similarities and differences of a printed book and an
e-book?
32 Reading Works! 4
39. Upload
Sometimes, you have to be reminded of the good things you
did so that you can do more good things for others. In the Book of
Salamat, Kali wrote down the word salamat over and over again for
him to remember that he was able to help others. By keeping his
good deeds in mind, he was encouraged to continue the good acts he
had started.
Refresh your memory about the good deeds you have done for
other people. It can be as simple as sharing your school things with
a classmate or as big as sacrificing something for a friend. Use the
guide questions below to write a paragraph about your good deeds.
Write your paragraph on a sheet of paper.
1. What good deeds have you done for another person?
2. Why did you do such deeds? What encouraged you to do those
things?
3. How do you feel about doing good deeds?
Knowing Myself 33
40. Lesson 4 Afraid No More
Connect
What do you fear the most? Why are you afraid of it? List down
possible reasons.
I am afraid of __________________ because…
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________ .
Search
Identify what the arrows indicate. Choose your answer from the
given words below. Write your answers inside the box.
beak feathers prey talons
1.
2.
4. 3.
Sources of pictures:
http://patrioticcoloringpages.com/eagle/free/002-bald-eagle-drawings.gif
http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/birds/C/chicken/running_chicken.png
(Both are accessed on 27 June 2011.)
34 Reading Works! 4
41. Download
Eagles are considered as the king
of all birds. They are birds that rise Ellie is a 40-year-old eagle who has
above storms. Let me introduce you to face a painful process in his life.
to Ellie the Eagle. Find out why he has to overcome
his fears and go through the
changes in his life.
The Brave Eagle
Faye Angeli D. Vitan
I am forty years old and yet I am still
afraid. But even if I feel scared, I believe
that I am ready to take on this special yet
painful stage of my life.
I am Ellie the Eagle. Eagles like me
can live up to seventy years old. No other
bird can reach that age. But now after
living my life for forty years, my talons
can no longer grab a prey. They are not as strong and sharp as
Knowing Myself 35
42. they used to be. If I cannot grab a prey, I will have no food. I will
go hungry and I will eventually die. I am a carnivore, you see.
I only eat meat. If only I can eat plants, I would live longer but
I am not created that way.
My beak that used to look strong and fierce is now bent.
I look old and weak with my bent beak. And oh, my majestic
wings! The feathers that used to look so good on me are now
old, too. They are now stuck on my chest. Because of this, I am
having a hard time flying when flying had been so easy for me
before.
I have to make a difficult decision. I have to face a painful
process of change. I have to face my fears so I can live for
thirty more years.
Tomorrow at daybreak, I will leave my nest and my old
life just like other eagles that
have lived before me. I will fly to
the top of the mountain and live
there for 150 days. I will knock
my bent beak on a wood until
it plucks out. Can you imagine
yourself knocking your lips on
something hard? It will bleed.
It will surely hurt me. But I just have to do it because after
my old beak is knocked out, a new one will grow. I will have a
strong and fierce beak once again.
But the pain does not stop there. The new beak that I will
have will help me pluck out the old talons I have now. It will be
36 Reading Works! 4
43. like losing one’s hands. I can just imagine the agony that I will go
through. But again, I just have to do it. Like my beak, new talons
will grow. My new talons will help me grip my prey better.
The last stage of this process is the most painful one. With
my new talons, I will have to pluck out my feathers one by one. It
will feel terrible. Perhaps, I will cry or shout in pain. But if I do
not do this, I will not be able to fly as high as I did before.
I am scared. But I have to overcome my fear if I want to live
for thirty more years. Tomorrow, I will face my fear so I can soar
high again.
Click
1. What was Ellie the Eagle afraid of?
2. Why was he afraid of the process of change that he has to undergo?
3. What should Ellie do to live for thirty more years?
4. What would happen if Ellie would not undergo the process of
change?
5. If you were Ellie, would you be willing to go through the same
process? Why or why not?
6. What is the message of Ellie’s story?
Link
Ellie’s story is a real story of how eagles live, but Ellie, the character,
is fiction. Stories can either be fiction or nonfiction.
Knowing Myself 37
44. Fiction
Fictional texts are writings that are imaginary. Some fiction
writings use real people and real events as their bases. Examples of
fiction writings are short stories, fairy tales, myths, parables, and fables.
Fiction writings are usually written for entertainment purposes.
Nonfiction
Nonfictional texts are writings based on real events. Writings
that focus on facts and information are nonfiction. Examples
of nonfiction writings are news stories, biographies, historical
accounts, and references. Nonfiction writings are usually written to share
information.
Texts are also classified as fiction and nonfiction based on the
context of reality and fantasy. Reality refers to events that happen
and that can happen in real life. It refers to things that are highly
possible to happen. Nonfictional texts are all about reality.
Fantasy refers to events that usually include magic and unusual
things. It can also refer to people and events that are unbelievable.
Fictional texts are rich in fantasies.
Activity 1
A. Tell whether the following titles are fiction or nonfiction. Write
F if it is fiction and NF if nonfiction. Write your answer on the
space provided before each number.
_____ 1. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”
_____ 2. “The Hare and the Tortoise”
_____ 3. “The Life of Rizal”
38 Reading Works! 4
45. _____ 4. Philippine History
_____ 5. “How to Prepare Desserts”
B. Tell whether the following situations are fantasy or reality. Write
F for fantasy and R for reality. Write your answer on the space
provided before each number.
_____ 1. A frog turns into a prince after a beautiful lady kisses
him.
_____ 2. An explorer from Europe goes to China and shares
stories about his experiences.
_____ 3. An inventor makes a time machine and visits different
periods of history.
_____ 4. A girl shares her excitement about the arrival of her
baby brother.
_____ 5. A boy enrolls in a school of wizardry to defeat a wicked
witch.
C. Visit your school library. Browse through the books. Find two
books: a fiction book and a nonfiction. Share with your classmates
how the two books are different from each other. Also, prove why
the book is fiction and the other nonfiction.
Activity 2
Discuss with a partner the following questions:
1. Why do you think fairy tales are considered fiction?
2. What do you think is the purpose of fiction writing? How about
nonfiction?
Knowing Myself 39
46. Upload
Think about your favorite book. Tell what it is about and why you
like it. Say whether it is fiction or nonfiction. Share with the class all
about your favorite book using the following guide questions:
1. What is the title of the book? Who is the author?
2. Is it fiction or nonfiction?
3. What is the theme or the message of the book?
4. What part of the book interests you the most? Why?
40 Reading Works! 4
47. Chapter 2
Learning More about Myself
In this chapter, you will meet more characters who will help
you know more about yourself. Through them, you will be given the
chance to think about the things you love, the things you should
change about yourself, and the things that you can do for other
people. This chapter will also help you to be more aware of your
rights as a child. So continue the journey of learning more about
yourself.
Lesson 1 Creating a New Me
Connect
With a partner, discuss your answers to the following questions
and be ready to share it with the class:
1. Have you ever lied before?
2. Why do you think people lie sometimes?
3. What will you feel if somebody lies to you?
Search
Read the given statements on the next page. Tell the meaning
of the underlined word in each statement. Choose your answer from
the words in the box below. Write your answer on the space provided
before each number.
angrily pleasantly spread out
entertain countryside group of sheep
Knowing Myself 41
48. _____________ 1. Ali lives in a rural village where he takes care of
his sheep.
_____________ 2. The shepherd boy tricked the villagers to amuse
himself.
_____________ 3. Ali shouted that a wolf was chasing his flock.
_____________ 4. The villagers talked crossly at Ali for tricking
them.
_____________ 5. The sheep were scattered when the wolf attacked
them.
Download
Maybe you have heard of
the saying, “Honesty is the Find out in the story
best policy.” Lying, even you are about to read
just for fun, is not a good what will happen if you
thing to do. consistently lie and make
fun of people.
42 Reading Works! 4
49. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
One hot day, on the grassy hillside of a rural village, a
shepherd boy named Ali felt so bored. He wanted to go home
and play, but his father ordered him to take care of their flock.
Then an idea came to his mind to amuse himself.
“Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is coming to eat our sheep. Help! Help!”
Ali shouted.
The villagers hurriedly ran to where Ali and his flock were.
They armed themselves with weapons to kill the wolf. But when
they reached the hillside, there was no wolf. What they saw was
a boy, laughing his heart out at them.
“Hahaha! Hahaha! I got you there! Hahaha!” laughed Ali.
“Don’t cry ‘wolf’ when there’s no wolf!” the villagers angrily
told him while they went back to the village.
Later, Ali decided to pull his trick once again. “Help! Help! A
big bad wolf is chasing the sheep. Please help me!” Ali yelled.
Knowing Myself 43
50. Once again, the villagers ran to help Ali. But once again, a
wolf was nowhere to be found. Instead, they found Ali rolling on
the grass, laughing.
“Why do you keep on shouting ‘wolf’? You’re just making fun
of us,” the villagers said crossly at Ali. They went back to the
village grumbling at how Ali made fun of them.
After an hour, a real wolf came to attack Ali’s sheep. Ali
quickly got up and loudly cried, “Wolf! A real wolf is attacking
our sheep! Help me! Please help me! Please! Help!”
Ali kept on crying for help but no one came. The villagers
who heard Ali thought he was tricking them again.
At sunset, the villagers searched for Ali because he did not
return home. On the hillside, they saw a boy crying quietly on the
grass.
“A wolf really came. The sheep were scattered and I didn’t
know where they were. I cried for help but nobody came,” Ali said
while weeping.
“If you did not trick us before, we would have come to help
you. Nobody believes in a liar even if he is telling the truth,” one
of the villagers said.
Click
1. What was Ali doing on the hillside?
2. Why did Ali trick the villagers? If you were one of the villagers,
how would you feel about Ali’s act? Why?
3. Based on the selection, what kind of a boy was Ali?
44 Reading Works! 4
51. 4. What do you think will happen when Ali gets home after losing his
sheep?
5. Explain this statement: “Nobody believes in a liar even if he is
telling the truth.”
Link
Elements of a Short Story
“The Boy Who Cried Wolf ” is a well-known story throughout the
world. It has been adapted in different languages and in different
forms.
A short story is generally a tale with a single plot and is meant
to be read in one sitting. The selection “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”
is an example of a short story. Short stories are made up of several
components called elements. These include the setting, characters,
plot, conflict, point of view, and theme.
Setting refers to the time and place in which a story occurs.
It answers the questions where and when a story happened. Some
stories do not directly tell the setting. You just have to make good
guesses or infer based on other details that are mentioned in the
story.
People, animals, and things that can move, speak, feel, and think
in a story are called characters.
A story has three basic parts: the beginning, the climax or
turning point, and the ending or resolution. These basic parts make
up the plot of a story. The plot is the sequence of events in a story.
The problem in a story is called the conflict.
The point of view of a story refers to who is telling the story.
If the narrator is not part of the story, it is told from a third-person
point of view. If the narrator is a character in a story, it is told from a
first-person point of view.
Most stories have messages or lessons. We call them the theme
of the story. It answers the question, “What is the story about?”
Knowing Myself 45
52. Here are the short story elements of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”:
Title: The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Setting: One hot day on a grassy hillside of a rural village
Characters: Ali, villagers, Ali’s father, flock of sheep, and
wolf
Plot: Ali, a shepherd boy, tricked the villagers into thinking
that his flock of sheep was being attacked by a wolf
twice. So when a real wolf came to eat his sheep, nobody
responded when he called for help because the villagers
thought Ali was still tricking them.
Conflict: The villagers did not believe Ali when he called for
help.
Point of view: Third-person point of view
Theme: Nobody believes in a liar even if he is telling the
truth.
Pointing out these elements means that you have understood the
story you have read. Identifying these elements can also help you in
retelling or summarizing the story.
A summary is a shortened version of a story. It recounts the
main events without changing the message of the story. People
usually summarize stories when they retell them to another person.
For example, when you want to share a movie that you have watched
to a friend, you are going to retell the important events in that movie.
In a way, you are already summarizing.
A good summary of a story presents the elements of a short
story, and it does not mean that you have to include everything.
When you make a summary, focus on the important details. The
third-person point of view is used in making a summary.
46 Reading Works! 4
53. Here is a sample summary of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
One hot day, a shepherd boy named Ali tricked the villagers.
He called for help and said that a wolf was attacking his sheep.
The villagers immediately arrived to help him but they found
out that Ali was just tricking them. Later in the afternoon, Ali
tricked the villagers one more time by calling out that a wolf
was attacking his flock. Once again, the villagers went to help
him but they found out that Ali was just making fun of them.
After an hour, a real wolf came to attack Ali’s sheep. He cried
out for help but nobody came because the villagers thought that
he was tricking them again.
Activity 1
Think of a short story that you have read before. Point out the
elements of that story by answering the questions below.
Title: __________________________________________________________
Setting:
Where did the story happen? ___________________________________________
When did the story happen? ____________________________________________
Characters:
Who was the main character? __________________________________________
Who were the supporting characters? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Plot:
What was the beginning of the story? _________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Knowing Myself 47
54. What was the turning point of the story?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
What was the ending of the story?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Conflict:
What was the problem of the main character?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Point of View:
Who was telling the story?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Theme:
What was the message of the story?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
48 Reading Works! 4
55. Activity 2
Summarize the story you used in activity 1 by making a comic
strip. Draw only the main events in the story and then write three to
four sentences describing your drawing.
Activity 3
Listen to the story that your teacher will read to you. Identify
the elements of the story. Then write a summary of it below. Limit
your summary to two paragraphs with four to six sentences each.
Knowing Myself 49
56. Upload
Everyone has bad traits or habits that need to be improved or
changed. As the popular saying goes, “Nobody is perfect.” Just like
Ali, there are things about you that you should change. No matter
how easy or difficult it would be, it is never too late to change.
Think of one habit or trait that you think you should change so
you can become a better person. Write a short essay about this. Give
ways on how you can change or avoid that bad habit.
50 Reading Works! 4
57. Lesson 2 I Love…
Connect
Rank the following from 1 to 5 according to how important they
are to you, with number 1 being the most important and number 5
being the least important. Write your rankings in the circles.
family health love wealth power
Why is number 1 the most important to you? Why is number 5
the least important? Explain your answers below.
Knowing Myself 51
58. Search
Use each word in a sentence. Write your sentence on the space
provided.
1. gold: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. family: ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. happiness: ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4. important: ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Download
It is common for people to
think that riches and money Sure, having money may have its
can make them happy. They benefits. But riches are not only
can buy anything they need about money. Riches can also
and want. They can go to come in the form of people—the
places and can easily have people who love us. In this story,
friends. find out what a greedy king
learned about riches.
52 Reading Works! 4
59. King Midas and the Golden Touch
(A myth)
Many years ago, there lived a king named Midas. His kingdom
was one of the biggest in the land and his army was one of the
strongest. King Midas also had the largest number of gold in the
entire land. It was said that there was a big room in his palace
where he stored all of his gold. He loved gold so much that he spent
a lot of his time in this room counting his gold.
“One hundred and two, one hundred and three, one hundred
and four…” King Midas counted. “Haha! I am the richest man in
the world. I have all of these gold things with me. But I need to
have more,” added the king.
While the king was busy counting his gold, his daughter,
named Marigold, went inside the room.
“Papa! Can we play in the garden? I want to breathe some
fresh air,” Marigold said.
Knowing Myself 53
60. “My princess, why don’t you ask a servant to play with
you? I am quite busy here,” King Midas explained.
“Papa, you can count your gold later. I want to play with
you and not with the servants,” Marigold insisted.
“Marigold, just play with someone else. I am very busy
here. Do I need to be angry with you for you to obey me?” the
king said loudly.
“Okay, Papa.” Marigold said in a small voice before walking
away.
King Midas continued counting his gold. Deep in his heart,
he wished that he could have more and more gold.
Suddenly, a god appeared in front of him.
“Midas, you are very rich. There is no other king that has
more gold than you,” the god said.
“That could be true. But I wish that I could have more
gold,” King Midas said.
“If you think there is nothing that could make you happier
than gold, I will give you the golden touch,” said the god.
“Oh, there’s nothing that I want more than gold. What do
you mean by the golden touch?” the king asked eagerly.
“Whoever has the golden touch will turn everything into
gold with his touch. Since you said that gold can make you
happy, you will have the golden touch beginning tomorrow,”
the god said before vanishing.
King Midas was so happy that he could hardly sleep that
night. He woke up very early the next day to test what he just
learned from the god. He wanted to know if what the god said
was true. King Midas tried to touch the things around him—
54 Reading Works! 4
61. his bed, pillow, table, vases, and many more. True enough, all
the things he touched turned into gold. What the god had said
was true!
King Midas spent the entire morning turning things into
gold. He was very happy until it was time for him to eat. When
he touched his food, it turned into gold. When he touched his
drink, it also turned into gold. He was very hungry already but
he could neither eat nor drink because everything he touched
turned into gold.
Then Marigold came in bringing some flowers for her
father.
“Papa, Papa! Here are some golden flowers I saw in our
garden. I’ve brought them for…” Marigold had not finished what
she was saying when King Midas embraced her. The King was
happy to see his daughter, but forgot that he has the golden touch.
Upon touching his daughter, Marigold turned into
a golden statue.
“Marigold! Oh no! Not you…” King
Midas cried.
The king cried because
he lost everything that
was dear to him. He called
out to the god, hoping that
the golden touch would be
taken away from him.
“Oh, god! Please take
away this golden touch.
Knowing Myself 55
62. This is not a gift! This is a curse! Please! Help me!” King Midas
cried loudly.
“Why are you crying, Midas? I thought gold makes you
happy,” said the god who appeared before the king.
“I thought gold would make me happy but I was wrong. I
cannot eat nor drink. And now Marigold has turned into gold,
too. I cannot be happy without my daughter. She is the only
family I have,” King Midas said.
“So you don’t think that gold is the most important thing
in the world?” the god asked.
“No, not anymore. There are more important things than
gold,” King Midas explained.
The god instructed the king to get a pitcher of water from
the spring in their garden.
“Sprinkle that water on the things you have turned into
gold. They will return to their original state,” the god said.
King Midas hurriedly sprinkled water on Marigold and
then on the food that turned into gold. He also sprinkled water
on all the things he touched that morning. He learned to be
contented with the gold he had and learned to give importance
to what truly mattered to him—his daughter, Marigold.
Click
1. What was the most important thing for King Midas at the beginning
of the story?
2. Based on the selection, what kind of a father was King Midas
before he got the golden touch?
56 Reading Works! 4
63. 3. What is the golden touch?
4. How did King Midas learn that gold is not the most important
thing in the world?
5. If you were the god, would you give King Midas another chance?
Why or why not?
6. Is the golden touch a gift or a curse? Explain.
Link
Myths
Myths are examples of short fiction. The story “King Midas and
the Golden Touch” is a myth.
Myths are stories that show situations involving gods and
goddesses. These gods and goddesses are fictional. They are created
to show how people can be rewarded when they do something good
and how people can be punished when they do something bad. They
are also created to explain why certain things happen.
Most myths are told in chronological order. This means that the
story is told according to the time that the events happened. A good
way to understand stories is by sequencing events in chronological
order.
Sequencing Events
To sequence means to arrange in a series or to put in order. In
stories, sequencing means arranging the events in a story based on
time. For example, if you are going to arrange the story of your life,
you would start it when you were a baby because that happened first.
Then it would be followed by the time when you were a toddler. Next
Knowing Myself 57
64. would be when you were in preschool and finally now that you are in
the fourth grade.
Knowing how to sequence events is a way of understanding a
story better. It also helps in identifying the most important events
and the least important ones that happen in the story.
Activity 1
A. Use the numbers 1–5 to arrange the sequence of events of the
story “King Midas and the Golden Touch.” Write your answers on
the space provided.
_____ A god appeared before King Midas and gave him the golden
touch.
_____ King Midas spent his days in a room counting gold and had
no time for his daughter.
_____ The king sprinkled water on Marigold and all the things he
had turned into gold.
_____ The food and Marigold all turned into gold.
_____ King Midas cried to the god and asked that the golden touch
be taken away from him.
B. Read the sentences below. Arrange them in a logical order to
complete the story of “Icarus and Daedalus.” Write numbers 1–7
on the space provided. Number 1 was done for you.
_____ With broken wings, Icarus fell from the sky to the ocean
deep.
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65. _____ Once there was king who ordered Daedalus to build a maze
1
for the Minotaur so that it cannot escape.
_____ The king did not want anybody to know about the maze and
the Minotaur, so he ordered that Daedalus and his son Icarus
should be imprisoned in a high tower.
_____ Icarus flew so high that the sun melted the wax in his wings
and the wind blew his feathers away.
_____ Using the feathers from the birds that fly outside the prison,
Daedalus made some wings.
_____ Daedalus and Icarus escaped by flying out the window of
their prison.
_____ With his skill, Daedalus finished the maze in no time.
Activity 2
Using the Internet, look for a myth that interests you and then
read about it. Write five to seven sentences that sequence the main
events of the myth you have read.
Title: __________________________________
Event 1: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Event 2: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Knowing Myself 59
66. Event 3: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Event 4: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Event 5: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Event 6: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Event 7: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Upload
The story “King Midas and the Golden Touch” shows how people
sometimes forget the more valuable things in life such as family and
friends. Think of five people you value most in life. Then prepare
pictures or drawings of these people.
Make a short PowerPoint presentation using the pictures or
illustrations you collected. Under each picture or illustration, write
one to two sentences explaining why you value the person.
60 Reading Works! 4
67. Lesson 3 The Hero in Me
Connect
List the things that come into your mind when you see or hear
the word hero. Write your answers inside the sun rays.
hero
Knowing Myself 61
68. Search
Find the words listed on the left from the grid below. The words
are all related to dike. Encircle these words.
barrier drainage
block wall
dam waterway
ditch
D I T C H A B I
A T R O E C L V
M N L R E A O L
S G I U C H C L
R H M O I E K A
Y A W R E T A W
A B A R R I E R
D R A I N A G E
Download
The story that you will read is
about an ordinary boy doing Read on and find out
an extraordinary thing on an how his heroic act
ordinary school day. saved his country.
62 Reading Works! 4
69. The Little Dutch Boy
(A folktale)
In a Dutch neighborhood, classes for that day had just ended.
George, a fourth grade pupil, had just said goodbye to his friends.
Carrying his school bag on his back, he started walking home.
George walked on a road beside the sea every single school
day. But instead of walking on sand on the shores, George walked
along the dikes. Dikes are barriers preventing passage of water to
low-lying areas.
On his way home that day, George felt small drops of rain
beginning to trickle down from the sky. He looked up and saw
dark clouds gathering above his head, ready to pour heavy rain.
George walked faster. While walking, George heard a soft gushing
sound before him.
After several steps, George saw a thin line of water flowing
out from the dike. He rushed to see why water was flowing out
and found out that there was a small hole on the dike. He looked
around him hoping that someone older can help him fix the
hole.
George knew how important the dikes were. They protect
their country from being submerged in water.
George shouted for help hoping that somebody would hear
and help him. Unfortunately, the rain poured harder, the winds
got stronger, the waves crashed harder, and the skies got darker.
The hole on the dike got bigger. George scrambled to look for
something in his bag that could fit the hole to stop the water.
Knowing Myself 63
70. He tried to put a pen.
It stayed for a while but the
crashing waves sucked it
through the hole. He tried to
roll his handkerchief and fit it in
the hole. The handkerchief got
soaked and water still gushed
out. Finally, George decided to
try plugging the hole with his
point finger and it fit just right.
Throughout the long rainy
night, George stood there with
his finger plugged to the hole.
He can feel the coldness of
the seawater and the chill of the night wind. George wanted to go
home because he was hungry and tired. He hoped for somebody
to come along and help him. But it was too rainy and too dark;
nobody came to help him.
The next morning, people discovered a lifeless boy lying near
the dike with his finger still in the hole of the dike. They knew
that the little Dutch boy saved them and that without him their
country would have been flooded with the seawater.
Click
1. Why are dikes important? What can they do?
2. What happened to the dike in George’s place?
3. What did George do?
64 Reading Works! 4
71. 4. What happened to George at the end of the story?
5. If George did not do what he did, what do you think would have
happened? Would you do the same thing he did?
6. Do you consider George a hero? Why or why not?
Link
Folktales
Folktales are stories popularized in a particular place. These
stories are usually about the heroic deeds of a person in that place,
tragic events, or grand celebrations. Fables, fairy tales, and old
legends are considered as folktales. Folktales may vary in the way
they are told since they have been passed on from one generation to
another and from one place to another.
Folktales are rich in characters, both good and bad ones. One
way to decide whether a character in a story is good or bad is by ma
king character inferences.
Character Inferences
Character inferences are conclusions or judgments that are
based on a character’s actions, feelings, and thoughts. Inferences are
not directly written in a text. They are the reader’s own judgment
based on what is written.
In the story “The Little Dutch Boy,” you can infer that George
is a hero because his act of putting his finger in the hole of the dike
saved his people.
Knowing Myself 65
72. Activity 1
A. Read the following sentences and make inferences on the given
characters. Choose from the words below. Write the letter of your
answer on the space provided.
a. adventurous b. charitable c. courageous
d. greedy e. lazy f. naughty
______ 1. Andres Bonifacio led the Filipino people to fight for
freedom against the Spaniards.
______ 2. Juan Tamad would lie down under the guava tree and
wait for the ripe fruits to fall to the ground so he can
eat them.
______ 3. King Midas wanted more gold even if he already had
so much.
______ 4. Mother Teresa gave food and provided shelter to the
poor people in India.
______ 5. Christopher Columbus traveled to the Americas to look
for new land.
B. Read the story below and then answer the questions that follow.
Encircle the letter of your answer.
Once there was a hare who always talked about how fast
he could run. He would ask anyone to compete with him in a
race. The hare won every time, so he talked even more of how
fast he was as a runner. Then a turtle decided that he had
enough of the hare’s bragging. So when the hare asked the
turtle to compete with him, the turtle agreed.
The hare and the turtle started the race. The hare ran
fast leaving the turtle behind.
The hare saw that the turtle is still far from him so he
decided to rest for a while. But the hare fell asleep. The turtle
passed by the sleeping hare and continued to walk slowly to
66 Reading Works! 4
73. the finish line. When the hare finally woke up, the turtle was
almost at the finish line. He tried to run fast to overtake the
turtle but he failed; the turtle got to the finish line first. For
the first time in his life, the fast hare was beaten by a slow
turtle.
1. Which of the following shows that the hare was boastful?
a. The hare always won the races.
b. The hare always talked about how fast he was.
c. The hare asked everyone to compete with him.
d. The hare asked the turtle to compete with him.
2. What could be on the hare’s mind when he stopped to rest?
a. The hare was already very tired.
b. The hare saw something that interested him.
c. The hare was confident that he could win the race.
d. The hare wanted to see how slow the turtle was.
3. Based on the selection, what could best describe the turtle?
a. The turtle was determined to finish the race.
b. The turtle was angry for being looked down upon.
c. The turtle was annoyed with the hare because he was so
boastful.
d. The turtle wanted to prove himself to the hare.
C. Read the story below and then answer the questions that follow.
Encircle the letter of your answer.
There was once a girl named Pina who lived with her sick
mother. One stormy night, the lights went out and Pina’s mother
was having a hard time because of her sickness. The mother
asked Pina to look for her medicine and to give her some clean
clothes. Pina got annoyed every time she was disturbed from
Knowing Myself 67
74. her sleep. So, she was just lazily searching for the things that
her mother needed. Because she was too sleepy to move, Pina
kept on asking her mom where she can find the medicine and
clothes. Finally, her mother got angry and said, “Oh, goodness!
I hope you’ll have lots of eyes so you can see well and find what
you are looking for!”
The next morning, the mother searched for Pina, but Pina
was nowhere to be found. What the mother found instead
was a newly grown fruit in their garden with many eyes—the
pineapple, which is known in Filipino as pinya.
1. Which of the following showed that Pina was uncaring of her
mother?
a. She was not in a hurry to find the things that her
mother needed.
b. She kept on asking her mother where the things can be
found.
c. She decided to transform herself into a pineapple.
d. She did not want to be disturbed from her sleep.
2. What feeling did Pina’s mother show in these lines: “Oh,
goodness! I hope you’ll have lots of eyes so you can see well
and find what you are looking for!”
a. Pina’s mother was understanding of her daughter.
b. Pina’s mother was annoyed.
c. Pina’s mother hated Pina for not finding things.
d. Pina’s mother liked to tease her.
3. What do you think the mother felt when she realized that
what she said to Pina came true?
a. The mother was happy that her wish for Pina came true.
b. The mother was curious how her wish for Pina came
true.
c. The mother was sorry that her wish for Pina came true.
d. The mother was angry at Pina for making her wish come
true.
68 Reading Works! 4
75. Activity 2
Find a folktale in the library or from the Internet. Make
inferences on the characters’ traits based on your notes. Use the
following guide.
Title: ___________________________________________
Character 1: _____________________________________________________
Trait(s): __________________________________________________________
Bases: ____________________________________________________
Character 2: ______________________________________________
Trait(s): __________________________________________________
Bases: ____________________________________________________
Upload
Heroes are people who think about helping or saving other
people even if it means risking their lives and sacrificing their own
comforts. For the Dutch, George was a hero for saving their country
from floods. George was an ordinary boy who did an extraordinary
thing.
You can also be a hero in your own way. By helping an old lady
cross the street or by helping your parent take care of your younger
brothers or sisters, you are already doing a simple heroic act.
Act out a situation in which a fourth grader like you can be a
hero. Do this with a group of four or five members. Role-play it in
class.
Knowing Myself 69
76. Lesson 4 My Rights to Live Right
Connect
Write below three to five things you think you need to live a good
life. Share and explain your answers with a partner.
Search
Using a printed or an online dictionary, find the meaning of
the following underlined words. Write your answers on the space
provided.
1. The United Nations listed down children’s rights to help protect
them and to provide them with a good life.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
70 Reading Works! 4
77. 2. These rights were laid out during the Declaration of Children’s
Rights.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. Children can ask for help from different social organizations.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. Social organizations believe that children should stand up for
their rights.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Download
Do you know that being Do you also know that to study
able to play and have in a school is also your right?
fun is your right? Learn more about your rights
in the following selection.
Knowing Myself 71
78. The Rights of a Child
(Based on the Declaration of the Rights of the Child)
Children are young members of a community. Because
they are still young, children are usually unable to protect
themselves. Because of this, some children are unaware or
helpless when other people abuse them. To stop this from
happening, the United Nations came up with a list of children’s
rights which should be followed by all countries in the world.
On 23 February 1923, leaders from all over the world
gathered in Geneva, Switzerland to talk about the rights of
children. These brought about the writing of five basic children’s
rights. In 1959, leaders from different countries met again to
review the basic rights of children. This event was called the
Declaration of the Rights of the Child which listed 12 basic
rights.
72 Reading Works! 4
79. Based on the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, here are
the rights of a child:
1. A child has the right to be born.
2. A child has the right to be given a name.
3. A child has the right to eat, to become healthy and strong.
4. A child has the right to have clothing.
5. A child has the right to have a shelter.
6. A child has the right to grow with values.
7. A child has the right to a formal education.
8. A child has the right to grow in a clean environment.
9. A child has the right to live in a peaceful place.
10. A child has the right to play and enjoy.
11. A child has the right to develop and improve his or
her abilities and talents.
12. A child has the right to medical care.
These are the things that parents and adults should give a
child regardless of whether he or she is rich or poor, weak or strong,
boy or girl. When one or more of these rights are violated or not
followed, the child can ask help from an adult he or she trusts. The
child can also go to government offices and social organizations to
seek protection.
In the Philippines, children who need safety can stay in the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). There
are also social organizations that help the government protect
young children such as Bantay Bata, CRIBS Foundation, Home
for Good Foundation, and Philippine Children’s Fund. All these
organizations believe in one thing—for children to stand up for
their rights!
Knowing Myself 73
80. Click
1. What world organization came up with the list of the rights of
children?
2. Why did leaders from all over the world decide to identify
children’s rights?
3. In the Philippines, which organizations fight for children’s
rights?
4. What children’s rights are violated when chilren are left to live
on the streets and are forced to ask for alms?
5. Based on the selection, what does “stand up for your rights”
mean?
Link
“The Rights of a Child” is an example of an essay meant to
inform and explain children’s rights.
Essay
An essay is a nonfiction text that is written to inform, explain,
describe, or convince. An essay has three major parts: introduction,
body, and conclusion.
The introduction is the first paragraph and presents the topic
of the essay. The body explains the topic further. The conclusion
ends the discussion of the topic. To easily understand an essay, you
can make an outline.
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