This document provides sample test items analyzing literary works from the Philippines. It includes excerpts from short stories, poems and plays in both English and Filipino. Multiple choice questions then test the reader's understanding of elements like genre, time period, literary devices and themes addressed in the given passages.

5. Part II- ANALYZING TEST ITEMS
Read the excerpt in the box to answer the item below. Choose the letter of the
best answer.
The old people had
ordered that the dancing
should stop at ten o’clock
but it was almost midnight
before the carriages came
lining up to the front door
the servant running to and
from with torches to light
departing guest s, while
the girls who were staying
were promptly herded
upstairs in bedroom…
“May Day Eve”-Nick
Joaquin
1. What Philippines literary period is
used as context of the story?
A. American Period
B. Japanese Occupation
C. Spanish Period
D. Martial Law
Answer: C. Spanish Period

6. To say “Look what Life has done” is wrong
People and things are seldom
Done to. They mostly do.
“Inside Job” – Edith Tiempo
2. Which sentence best expresses the idea of the
line above?
A. Life is what we make it
B. Life is too short to be wasted
C. People must be responsible to others
D. People seldom do things right
Answer: A. Life is what we make it

7. 4. Which sound device is not used in the last stanza of Carlos
Angeles poem “Dusk”?
Far from the precinct of
some fatuous fire
Streaking across the
avenues like faith
Which reaffirms man’s
genius or desire
A calmly smiles , and
moves. The hour is late.
A. Alliteration C. Anaphora
B. Assonance D. Rhyme
Answer: B. Assonance

8. 3. The idea expressed in the box below belongs of what school of
thought?
A poem is not a thought but a grace.
A poem has no meaning but
loveliness.
“Poem”-Jose Garcia Villa
A. Escapist art
B. Modem art
C. Art with social consciousness
D. Art for art’s sake
Answer: A. Escapist art

9. 5. What literary device is used in the closing paragraph of
“Harvest a short story written by Loreto Paras Sulit?
He was speaking to Tinay jokingly
“Soon all your sampaguitas and
camias will be gone my dear aunt
because I shall be seeing Milia
every night…and her father.” He
watched Fabian cleansing his face
and arms why he was rubbing
them so hard as that…
A . allusion B . foreshadowing
C . irony D . sarcasm
Answer: A. allusion

10. 6 . Which figure of speech is shown in the line
below taken from Irwin Castillo’s “ Tomorrow Is a
Downhill Place” ?
The trees along the
way were ruffling their
wet feathers tensing
their green wings in
anticipation of the
coming flight.
A . personification C . simile
B . hyperbole D .
metaphor
Answer: C. simile

11. 7. The narrative below is set during the
A trio of planes roared dangerously
low. Snakiiy Lina and I dived into a
shelter where a Chinese consul and
his family crouched and biiterly they
reproached us for crowding them in
the already cramped space. Mother
had run into another hole and ran
out screaming for there was in it a
man with half his face shot off.
Outside the shelter we could hear
Boni begging Please don’t leave
me…We were scattered in all
directions
“People in the War” -Gilda
Cordero Fernando
A . EDSA uprising
B . Vietnam War
C . Japanese Occupation
D . Philippine Revolution of 1896
Answer: C. Japanese Occupation

12. 8. What is being developed in the excerpt taken from “Morning in Nagrebcan” by
Manuel Aguilar?
Ambo was almost as tall as older brother and he had a stout, husky legs. He ate
the banana without peeling it. You foolish boy. Remove the skin, “Baldo said “I
will not” Ambo said. “It’s not your banana. “He took a big bite and swallowed it
with exaggerated reflish . “But the skin is tar. It tastes bad.” “You are not eating
it. “Ambo said. The rest of the banana vanished into mouth.
A . setting C . conflict
B . characterization D . dialogue
Answer: B. characterization

13. 9. In what part of the pyramid plot structure should
the excerpt above belong?
A . exposition C . crisis
B . complication D . denouement
Answer: A. exposition

14. 10. What point-of-view is employed in the narrative excerpt below?
Miss Mijares was quite sure she had boarded the right jeepney but the driver,
hoping to beat the traffic, had detoured down a side alley, and then seeing he
was low in gas, he took still another shortcut to a filling station. After that he
rode through alien country.
“The Virgin” –Kerima
Polotan Tuvera
A . first person
B . third person limited
C . third person omniscient
D . second person
Answer: C. third person omniscient

15. 11. The narrative below belongs to what genre?
Juan dropped the axe and the robbers fled leaving their loot and their food. Then
Juan and Pedro climbed down the tree ate the food and went home with the
sacks of goods that robbers left.
A . fantastic story C . tall tale
B . folktale D . fable
Answer: B. folktale

16. 12. Which plot element is covered in the excerpt?
A . initial incident C . climax
B . rising action D .falling action
Answer: D. falling action

17. 13. What two poetic devices are used in this stanza?
Today she mourns in captivity,
Today she ails with tears falling;
Today her hands are in chains,
And all her children are enslaved.
“Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” –Aurelio Tolentino
(Lourdes Vidal, trans)
A . metonymy and apostrophe
B . allusion and assonance
C . anaphora and synecdoche
D . hyperbole and metonymy
Answer: C. anaphora and synecdoche

18. • Read the passage below to answer item 14-15.
But in itself the laughter is a good thing. In the past it
was perhaps the only way our people could get back
at the foreign ruler. For in the future it should insure
us against submission to a messianic despot.
“What
Are Filipinos Like” –Leon Ma. Guerrero
14. The excerpt belongs to what genre?
A . essay B . fiction C . memoir D . sermon
Answer: A. essay

19. Answer: D. sense of humor
15. What Filipino value is referred to in the
passage?
A . comic flair C. sobriety
B . light-heartedness D . sense of humor

20. 16. What is presented in the passage below?
With confident imagination he sees a vision of Earth
whole and entire the globe revolving on its axis
journeying around the sun through October and
December and the month of summertime. Earth he
pronounces the word to himself as if to savor it’s in his
tongue. Third planet from the sun…America Asia and
Europe westward…the cities and the towns and the
villages and all the people millions of them living now on
earth…And all the stars in the sky.
“The
Distance to Andromeda” –Gregorio Brillantes
A . scientific observation C . metaphysical theme
B . personal experience D . heavenly vision
Answer: C. metaphysical theme

21. 17. What tones is established in this story excerpt below?
The letter announcing the visitation (a yearly descent upon school by the
superintendent the district supervisors and the division supervisor for purposes
of inspection and evaluation”)had been delivered in the morning by a sleepy
janitor to the principal. The party was the attached circular revealed at a hurried
glance now at Pagkabuhay would be in Mapili by lunchtime and barring
typhoons floods volcanic eruption and other acts of God would be upon Pugad
Lawin by afternoon.
“The Visitation of the Gods” –
Gilda Cordero Fernando
A . ironic
B . humorous
C . gloomy
D . sarcastic
Answer: B. humorous

22. FLOR: Please ask her to come and I’ll buy all the tickets she wants. I
have an official photographer and he could take my picture with my
First Lady. She is such a sweet lady. Tell her I’ll buy ten tickets and sell
twenty for my friends if only she attend.
MATIL: I am sure she’ll be pleased.
FLOR: But only that condition. I’ll buy as many tickets as she wants if
she comes to my house. After all, my heart bleeds for those displaced
people in Sapang Palay. I shall go there and visit them. I shall bring my
photographers I can send the picture to the papers. But I will never
reveal my name. I shall wear a black veil covering my face and bring
them tuyo and tapa and dilis. I could buy some stale from the bakeries
and bring them too.
“Call Me Flory”-Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero
18. This play exemplifies the characteristics of a
A. romance B. satire C. tragedy D. farce
Answer: B. satire

23. 19. Who is the persona on the poem below?
Orphaned by distance but filial to a photo-
Graph postmarked, overseas, thus did I began
My well kept boyhood in a tidy house a cozy house.
“Poems for My father”-Federico Licsi Espino
A. an OFW‘s son C. a photographer’s daughter
B. an orphaned child D. a young house keeper
Answer: A. an OFW’s son

24. 20. What sound device is employed in the excerpt below?
So a ding-dong sell and a ding-dong buy imported cars and
buses to transport the younger populace to point of
demonstration.
“Riot Song” –Tita Lacambra Ayala
A. anaphora C. consonance
B. Assonance D. onomatopoeia
Answer: D. onomatopoeia

25. 21. What rhythmical device is used in this line from The Small Key?
“…even the low square nipa house that stock in unashamed relief
against the gray green haze of grass and leaves.”
A. alliteration C. consonance
B. assonance D. anaphora
Answer: A. alliteration

26. 22. “A bamboo flute is heard far away. Once more we hear the turtle
crying.”What sense imagery is used in this description of the scene?
A. visual C. tactile
B. auditory D. olfactory
Answer: B. auditory

27. 23. “SABINA (in monotone): Outside love, nothing lives! …” What does
Sabina mean by this line?
A. Her love for Mr. George is forever.
B. Her relationship with a married man causes her humiliation and embarrassment
C. It is better for her to die than to lose Mr. George.
D. She hates Mr. George for lying to her.
Answer: A. Her love for Mr. George is forever.

28. 24. Which comic technique is used in Agana’s New Yorker inTondo?
A. mistaken identity C. reversal of fortune
B. physical blunder D. ridiculous situation
Answer: D. ridiculous situation

29. 25. What does Gonzalo mean by “a little longer” in this excerpt from Guerrero’s Three
Rats?
Adrian: (Laughing): I expect to live a little longer,Gonzalo.
Gonzalo: A little longer is right. (Adrian’s face slowly begins to getred. He feels
giddiness in his head –he presses his temple…)
A. He wants Adrian to apologize for his affair with Nita.
B. The cyanide in Adrian’s coffee is taking effect.
C. Adrian is getting drunk and incoherent.
D. His wife’s infidelity makes him suffer in silence.
Answer: B. The cyanide in Adrian’s coffee is taking effect.

30. PART III-ENHANCING TEST TAKING SKILLS
Directions : Read the excerpt question or incomplete statement from the choices
that follow. Write the letter of your answer on your answer sheet.
1. Ano ang inilalarawan sa dalawang linyang ito?
A. Bayan
B. Bahay
C. Brawnawt
D. Bilangguan
Kahit na tanghali ay tila rin gabi,
Ang iisang ilaw ay ayaw magsindi,
“Bayang Malaya” –Amado V. Hernandez
Answer: D. Bilangguan

31. 2. Alin sa mga sumusunod ang hindi totoo hinggilsa sarswela?
A. Isang dulang musical
B. Sinasaniban ng sayaw at tugtugin
C. Karaniwang paksa ang pag-aalsa
D. Unang umunlad sa Espanya noong ika- 17 dantaon
Answer: C. Karaniwang paksa ang pag-aalsa

32. 3. Ang batutian ya isang mimetiko at satinikong pagtatalong patula na may
kayarian ng isang dula. Ito ay ipinangalan sa makatang si?
A. Francisco Baltazar
B. Jose Corazon de Jesus
C. Jose de la Cruz
D. Crisostomo Sotto
Answer: C. Jose de la Cruz

33. 4. Sa anong panahon naisulat ang mga taludtod na ito?
Wala nang pamana itong Pilipinas
na layaw sa Ina kundi pawing hirap,
tiis ay pasulong, patente’y nagkalat
rekargo’t impuesto’y nagsala-salabat.
A. Panahon ng Americano
B. Panahon ng Kastila
C. Panahon ng Hapones
D. Panahon ng Batas ng Militar
Answer: B. Panahon ng Kastila

34. 5. Mula sa anong mga mamamayan ang tulang ito?
A. Tagalog
B. Mangyan
C. Ivatan
D. Ilicano
Alam natin ang katotohanan, tayo man ay nasaan:
pagsapit ng hapon, lumulubog ang araw.
“Amabahan Tungkol sa Paggawa”
Answer: B. Mangyan

35. 6. Basahin ang mga linyang sumusunod.
Huwag ninyo akong alukin
ng mga taludtod
kung ang tula ay isa lamang
pumpon ng mga salita
“Kung ang Tulay Ay Isa Lamang” – Jesus Manuel Santiago
Ang “ninyo” sa unang linya ay tumutukoy sa mga
A. manunulat
B. mambibigkas
C. manlilimbag
D. makata
Answer: D.makata

36. 7. Alin ang pinaka-angkop na buod ng halaw?
Ang pinakamabisang paraan ng paglupig sa isang bansa ay pagbihag
Sa kanyang kaisipan. Ang tagumnay ng militar ay hindi nangangahulugan
ay pagsikapang bansa
“Ang Maling Edukasyon ng mga Filipino” – Renato Constantino
A. Mas matindi ang pagkalupig ng isipan kaysa pagsakop sa teritoryo ng bansa.
B. Ganap ang pagsakop kung nagapi ng mga militar ang mamamayan.
C. Walang saysay ang lakas ng militar sa tatag ng kultura ng bansa .
D. Nararapat nalabanan ang lahat ng uri ng pananakop ng mga dayuhan.
Answer: A. Mas matindi ang pagkalupig ng isipan kaysa pagsakop sa teritoryo ng
bansa.

37. 8. Anong kaisipan ang ipinapahiwatig ng dalawang linyang ito?
Sa gitna ng salon, ang boses ng tanso ay tumataginting.
Sinusundan-sundan ng apat na pang salit kung maglambing.
“Three O’clock in the Morning” – Cirio H. Panganiban
A. pagbabalatkayo
B. pababakasakali
C. pagtataksil
D. pagmamahalan
Answer: A. pagbabalatkayo

38. 9. Sagutin ang bugtong.
Nang bata pa’y paruparo
Nang tumanda ay latigo.
A. saging C. singkamas
B. sinturon D. sitaw
Answer: D. sitaw

39. Basahin ang bahagi ng nobela at sagutan ang tanong 10 at 11..Basahin ang bahagi ng nobela at sagutan ang tanong 10 at 11..
Nang mag-aalas singko ay hindi makalakad si Atong kahit walang dala.
Hindi niya maitapak ang kaliwang paa niya nang dala ang buong bigat ng
Kanyang katawan.
____Pa’no kaya akong makakauwi nito?
____Ihahatid kita, kung gusto mo, ____sabi ni Julio.
____Sige na nga, pakisuyo. Sa bahay ka na tuloy tsumitsa.
Sa Mga Kuko ng Lawin – Edgardo M. Reyes
10. Alin ang tumutukoy nang tama sa mga tauhan at tagpuan?
A. manggagawa sa lungsod
B. tambay sa kanto
C. puno ng tanggapan
D. magsasaka sa nayon
Answer: A. manggawa sa lungsod

40. 11. Ano ang ibig sabihin ng huling salitang ginamit?
A. magoahinga
B. kumain
C. matulog
D. maghintay
Answer: B. kumain

41. 12. Anong kaugalian o paniniwala ang nilalaman ng awiting-bayan ito?
Sitsiritsit, alibangbang
Salaginto,salagubang
Ang babae sa lansangan
Kung gumiling parang tandang.
A. ang mga Filipina ay parang mga paruparo.
B. ang mabuting babae ay dapat nasa lansangan.
C. nasa loob dapat ng bahay ang kababaihan.
D. ang nasa labas ng bahay ay haliparot
Answer: C. nasa loob dapat ng bahay ang kababaihan.

42. Basahin ang halaw upang masagot ang 13 – 14.
Ang karangalan, sa karaniwan, ay may kalangkap na
mabigat na Katungkulan, kaya bago pahikayat ang loob
ng tao sa pagnanasa ng
Karangalan, ay ilingap muna ang mata sa katungkulan,
at pagtimbang-
timbangin kung makakayang pasanin.
Urban at Felisa – P. Modesto de Castro
13. Ang karangalan na binabanggit ay tumutukoy sa
A. pag-uugali C. kapangyarihan
B. karunungan D. pinag-aralan
Answer: D. en medias res

43. 14 . Aling pelikula ang may katumbas o katulad na tema?
A. batman C. zsa-zsa saturna
B. superman D. spiderman
Answer: D. spiderman

44. 15. Saan nag mula ang halaw na ito?
Nakatagpo ni Baltog ang mga buwayang
lumilipad sa Bicol at mga
Baboy-ramong kasinlaki ng mga elepante.
Pinagpapatay niya ang mga Ito.
A. epiko
B. korido
C. kuwentong-bayan
D. kuwento ng kababalaghan
Answer: A. epiko

45. Basahin ang halaw at sagutin ang huling tanong.
Sa mga epiko nati’y wala ang phenomenon ng himagsikan. Ngunit kung
hindi tayo tutuloy nang malakas, kung hindi natin itataas ang ating mga
boses,
kung hindi natin mauunawaan na ang salitang reconciliation ay matagal
nang
patay at ang salita daoat natin ay registration, baka lumihis ang landas
ng ating bayan. Baka mawala sa ating morpolohiya an gating kasaysayan.
Sa halip na mapatay natin ang kontrabidang pamahalaan ay baka tayo
ang
mapatay ng mga mahihirap. Sa kanila nanggaling an gating mga epiko’t
maaari
rin nilang baguhin ang morpolohiya, balarila, at gramatika ng mga ito.
“Si Lam-Ang, si Fernando Poe Jr, at si Aquino : Ilang Kuro-kuro
Tungkol sa Epikong Filipino” –Isagani R. Cruz

46. 20. Ano ang implikasyon ng kinatatakutan ng may-akdang kritiko?
A. ang masa ay karaniwang naaakit sa himagsikan.
B. ang mga epiko ay sandata sa paglaban ng mamamayan.
C. ang lipunan ay dapat sunod-sunuran sa mga epiko.
D. ang mga mahihirap ang mapagpasyang uri sa lipunan.
Answer: D. ang mga mahihirap ang mapagpasyang uri sa lipunan.

47. He was my uncle because he was married my aunt (even if he ha
not come home to her these past ten years), so when the papers brought
the news of his death, I felt that some part of me had died too.
“The Chieftest Mourner” Aida Rivera Ford
21. If this is the opening paragraph of the story, what type of plot is used?
A. plot less C. circular
B. linear D. en medias res
Answer: D. en medias res

48. 22. In the traditional pyramid plot structure, the news of the death of the
Uncle could have been the?
A. exposition
B. initial incident
C. climax
D. denouncement
Answer: B. initial incident

49. 23. Which point of view is used?
A. first person participant
B. first person limited
C. third person omniscient
D. third person objective
Answer: A. first person participant

50. it should require
some sort of guile
some genius
to subsist on sun
some lake sand
(have both for free)
“Cactus, “Tita lacambra Ayala
24. Which sound device is not used in the excerpt?
A. alliteration
B. assonance
C. anaphora
D. rhyme
Answer: D. rhyme

51. The ground was not towed. In his house, Tarang struck a tree stump with his big to
and the hurt was not half as keen as it might have been, not half as sharp as his
hunger for knowing, for seeing with his own eyes how life emerged from this dark
womb of the land at this time of night.
“Children of the Ash covered Loam “N.V.M. Gonzales
25. Aside from sense of sight, which sense impression is employed?
A. smell C. touch
B. taste D. sound
Answer: C. touch

52. 26.Which part of the plot is shown?
A. start C. climax
B. end D. crisis
Answer: B. end