1. Exercise 1
THE EYEBROWS
Eyebrows are part of the face which serve two purposes – for
beauty and protection.
Eyebrows make the face look more beautiful by calling attention to
the eyes. They make the eyes look healthier and brighter.
Eyebrows do not only beautify the face, but also protect the eyes
from sweat. Without the eyebrows, drops of sweat may run into the eyes
and blur the sight. Sweat itself is a waste product and should be rid off.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. The part of the body mentioned in the selection are the _______.
a. eyeglasses b. eyelids c. eyebrows
2. This part makes the face look __________.
a. beautiful b. sad c. sleepy
3. Aside from beauty, they also serve as ________.
a. communication b. conservation c. protection
4. They call attention to the ________.
a. nose b. eyes c. cheeks
5. They make them look ________.
a. uglier b. healthier c. funnier
6. They protect the eyes from ________.
a. sweat b. glare c. diseases
7. Sweat is ________.
a. sweet b. useful c. a waste product
8. Sweat can blur the ________.
a. sight b. smell c. hearing
9. Sweat should be ________.
a. conserved b. rid off c. licked
10. Eyebrows _________.
a. are useful b. should be saved c. are useless
Vocabulary:
beauty protection
sweat rid
Exercise 2
CALLA LILIES
The stately flowers that are commonly used for decorating the
church during weddings are the calla lilies. Calla lilies are also called
Baguio lilies because they are abundantly grow there.
Calla lilies singly grow on long slender stalks. They may either be
yellow or white. They are made into bridal bouquets or even wreaths.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Call lilies are commonly used for ________.
a. corsages b. garlands c. church decoration
2. They are also called ________.
a. water lilies b. roses c. Baguio lilies
3. In Baguio, these lilies grow ________.
a. abundantly b. scarcely c. singly
4. Calla lilies grow _______.
a. in clusters b. singly c. in pairs
5. The selection is about _______.
a. gumamela b. calla lilies c. sampaguita
6. Their stalks are _________.
a. slender b. stout c. wide
7. They may either be ________.
a. white or read b. red or yellow c. yellow or white
8. Brides use calla lilies in their _______.
a. wreaths b. corsage c. bouquets
9. Calla lilies are also used for _______.
a. corsage for the head
b. corsage for the dress
c. wreath for the dead
10. Calla lilies are _________.
a. stately b. fancy c. unattractive
Vocabulary:
stately abundantly
slender singly
2. Exercise 3
COUNTING THE RAIN
I love counting the rain, Mother.
As they patter and as I see.
Do not all the great men like Rizal.
Count rain, too, when still young like me?
See the numerous dropping rains
How hard it is for little brains.
And I recall the children’s riddle
About the old man’s countless canes.
How I love the fast falling rain
Like a thousand pounding pestles
And the little rushing water
Down the stream to see it nestles.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. The child is talking to his _______.
b. Father b. Mother c. Sister
2. The child loves to ________ the rain.
b. count b. drink c. catch
3. The child wants to know if counting rain has also been a part-time
activity of ________.
b. great men b. old men c. sickly
4. The rain nestles in the ________.
b. dream b. stream c. street
5. The old man’s countless canes is a ________.
b. riddle b. fiddle c. peddler
6. The water rushes to the ________.
b. brook b. stream c. street
7. In the riddle, the countless canes refer to the ________.
b. little brain b. dropping rains c. stream
8. The rain ________.
b. withers b. patters c. gathers
9. The child loves the ________ rain.
b. fast falling b. slow falling c. tumbling
10. The fast falling rain is also like _________.
b. rushing water b. big waves c. pounding pestles
Vocabulary:
patter countless
pestle nestle
Exercise 4
THE ENCHANTED DEER
Once there were two warring tribes whose kingdoms were divided only
by a wide river. The king on the land north of the river had a beautiful daughter
named, Mayumi; while the king on the land south of the river had a brave
handsome son named, Bayani.
Both kings hated each other so much that they even wanted their
children to hate each other, too.
But fate played a trick on them. Mayumi and Bayani fell so madly in
love with each other that they defied their parents’ wish. They often met
secretly in the nearby forest.
One early morning, Mayumi went to meet Bayani in the forest. She had
some enchanted power so she changed herself into a deer. She did not want
anybody to see her.
Bayani waited for her. When he saw the deer, he was attracted to it.
He quickly shot it with an arrow not knowing it was Mayumi.
The deer fell bleeding. Bayani ran to see his prize, but he saw Mayumi
instead. He wept and in his grief, he stabbed himself to death.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. The two kingdoms were divided by _______.
a. mountains b. seas c. river
2. Mayumi was the daughter of the king of the ________.
a. South b. North c. East
3. Bayani was the son of the king of the ________.
a. South b. North c. East
4. The kings were ________.
a. good friends b. enemies c. very old
5. Mayumi and Bayani ________.
a. hated each other b. loved each other c. envied each other
6. Mayumi and Bayani met in the forest ________.
a. openly b. secretly c. very often
7. Mayumi ________.
a. was a witch
b. was a magician
c. possessed some enchanted power
8. She could change herself into a ________.
a. dog b. horse c. deer
9. Bayani _______ the deer.
a. shot b. did not see c.ignored
10. The story ended _________.
a. happily b. sadly c. foolishly
Vocabulary:
tribes trick
defied enchanted
3. Exercise 5
MAGNETS
Magnets attract objects made of steel, iron, and other metals.
The discovery of the magnet and the many things that have been
made out of it have brought many discoveries and useful things. The
magnet makes possible the compass that was used and still being used by
travelers, pilots, sailors, boy scouts, soldiers, engineers and others. The
magnet which makes use of electricity has made all types of electronic and
industrial motors.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Magnets can attract almost all things made of _______.
a. plastic b. metals c. wood
2. The discovery of the magnet has led many _______.
a. inventions b. revolutions c. problems
3. Magnets made possible the inventions of the _______.
a. compass b. computer c. camera
4. Pilots, sailors, boy scouts, soldiers, and engineers depend much on
_____.
a. compass b. electricity c. motors
5. Magnets also make use of ________.
a. electricity b. gas c. water power
6. Electric and industrial motors became possible after the discovery
of ________.
a. electricity b. magnets c. water power
7. Compass is most useful to __________.
a. farmers b. teachers c. travelers
8. Motors make use of ________.
a. magnets b. plastic c. wood
9. These days, magnets ________.
a. are no longer being used
b. are still being used
c. has been replaced
10. Compass, too, ________.
a. are no longer being used
b. are still being used
c. has been replaced
Vocabulary:
attract discoveries
compass magnet
Exercise 6
WHY WE COOK THE FOOD WE EAT
We cook our food for three reasons – to make food palatable and
appetizing, to soften hard and tough foods, and to kill any microbe that may
happen to be in the food.
There are many ways of preparing food. Food can be fried, boiled,
broiled, roasted, baked, steamed, stewed, or sauted. They can be well
cooked or half cooked.
It is easier to digest food that is well cooked. But there are foods
that are easier to digest when half cooked than when well cooked. Meat
and liver for example, are easier to digest when half cooked. But certainly,
they taste better when well cooked.
Many vegetables are also easier to digest when well cooked, but
some are eaten raw.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. We cook our food ________.
a. for no reason at all
b. for one main reason
c. for three good reasons
2. Hard food when cooked becomes _____.
a. harder b. soft c. indigestible
3. By cooking, the microbes in the food _______.
a. multiply b. are killed c. disappear
4. Cooked food looks _______.
a. appetizing b. frozen c. rotten
5. Generally, cooked foods are more _______.
a. digestible b. indigestible c. nutritious
6. Meat and liver are easier to digest when ______.
a. Not cooked b. half cooked c. thoroughly cooked
7. Meat and pork certainly taste better when ______.
a. raw b. well-cooked c. overdone
8. Vegetables are usually easier to digest when ______.
a. raw b. half cooked c. well-cooked
9. Frying, boiling, broiling, roasting, baking, steaming, sautening, and
stewing are ways of _______.
a. preparing food b. buying food c. eating food
10. Lettuce is a vegetable that is eaten ______.
a. raw b. well-cooked c. ripe
Vocabulary:
appetizing digest
raw sauted
4. Exercise 7
THE LEGEND OF THE POINSETTIA
When the poinsettia begins to bloom, we are reminded that
Christmas is near. As such it has become a Christmas symbol. Poinsettias
begin to bloom in November until March.
The poinsettia is an odorless flower with brilliant red color. Its
flowers are actually leaves. How the poinsettia came about is an interesting
legend.
It happened during the time of the Holy Wars or Crusades when the
Christian knights were fighting the Mohammedans to regain the Holy Land.
In one of the holy wars, a brave knight climbed the walls
surrounding the Holy City to open the gates so that the other Christian
soldiers could enter. A Moorish soldier saw him and shot him with an arrow.
As he fell over the wall, his blood dropped on a shrub which later bore red
flowers.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Poinsettias bloom during the ______.
a. Christmas season b. dry season c. summer months
2. Poinsettias have become a ______.
a. Christmas symbol b. bridal flower c. national flower
3. The poinsettia is ______.
a. odorous b. odorless c. fragrant
4. It begins to bloom in ______.
a. December b. March c. November
5. The brilliant red petals are actually ______.
a. leaves b. seeds c. stems
6. The poinsettia came to have red color during ______.
a. World War I
b. the Holy War
c. the Japanese-Filipino War
7. Another name for that war was the _______.
a. Civil War b. World War c. Crusades
8. The Christians were fighting against the ______.
a. pagans b. Mohammedans c. Protestants
9. A Moorish soldier shot the knight with a/an ______.
a. dart b. arrow c. gun
10. Poinsettia is a _______.
a. vine b. shrub c. tree
Vocabulary:
symbol knights
odorless brilliant
Exercise 8
AIR POLLUTION
Today, in most cities, smoke and exhaust fumes fill the air and
endanger the health and well-being of the people. Smoke and exhaust
fumes contain harmful by-products from gasoline burned in cars and from
factories.
Air pollution or smog is a serious problem in some cities. Smog
consists of smoke and exhaust fumes mixed with fog.
To control air pollution, smoke ordinances have been passed.
Smoke-belching vehicles are checked and factories are required to reduce
fumes emanating from them.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Smoke and exhaust fumes are usually abundant in _______.
a. cities b. farms c. towns
2. Pollution is not good for our _____.
a. health b. mind c. spirit
3. Smoke and exhaust fumes contain much ______.
a. oxygen b. water vapor c. harmful gas
4. Air pollution can make us ______.
a. active b. sleepy c. sick
5. When gasoline is burned, by-products are given off such as ____.
a. oxygen and nitrogen c. smoke and exhaust fumes
b. carbon dioxide and water vapor
6. When smoke and exhaust fumes are mixed with fog, we have what we
call ______.
a. clouds b. smog c. fog
7. The government is doing its best to _____.
a. totally remove air pollution c. control air pollution
b. encourage air pollution
8. To lessen air pollution, the government has passed ______.
a. fishing ordinance c. smoke ordinance
b. logging ordinance
9. Smoke-belching vehicles are banned from ______.
a. plying the streets c. loading gasoline
b. picking up passengers
10. Exhaust fumes are by-products of ______.
a. burning gasoline c. healthy people
b. plants and trees
Vocabulary:
smoke exhaust fumes
smog emanating
5. Exercise 9
THE TRICYCLE BOY
At fourteen, Joselito was one of the youngest boys among the tricycle
drivers operating near the Sta. Ana Market in Manila. His mother died when he
was ten. When his father remarried and had other children of his own, Joselito
preferred to stay with an aunt rather than join the new family.
His aunt earned their living by washing clothes. Joselito became a
tricycle driver in the morning to help earn some money. He went to school in
the afternoon.
Joselito had many customers. He was always pleasant and cheerful.
He was very helpful, too. He carried the customer’s bags. Sometimes he gave
school children a free ride on his tricycle. Through his efforts, Joselito did not
only help his aunt, but made her happy, too.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. How old was Joselito?
a. 12 b. 13 c. 14
2. How did he help his aunt?
a. by being a tricycle driver c. by selling newspapers
b. by shining shoes
3. Where did he drive his tricycle?
a. in Sta. Ana b. in Quiapo c. in Makati
4. When did his mother die?
a. when he was still a baby c. when he was ten
b. when he was five
5. What did his father do?
a. He ran away with another woman.
b. He married again.
c. He became cruel to Joselito.
6. With whom did Joselito prefer to stay?
a. with his friend c. with his aunt
b. with his father
7. How did his aunt earn a living?
a. by selling fruits c. by begging
b. by washing clothes
8. Did Joselito go to school?
a. Yes b. No c. Maybe
9. What kind of a boy was Joselito?
a. intelligent b. helpful c. proud
10. What did he do with the school children?
a. He gave them free rides.
b. He did not let them ride on his tricycle.
c. He ignored them.
Vocabulary:
remarried customers free ride
Exercise 10
PURIFYING DRINKING WATER
There are different ways of purifying water for drinking purposes.
Distillation is one. Distilled water is made by evaporating water and then
condensing the water vapor from the boiling water. Bacteria are removed
by passing water through a filter. Adding chemicals to the water also makes
it pure. But the best way of purifying water at home is by boiling it. When
water is boiled, the bacteria in it are surely killed.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. The selection is about ________ water.
a. kinds of b. sources of c. ways of purifying
2. Purified water is usually used for _______.
a. washing b. drinking c. bathing
3. The paragraph is about _______.
a. milk b. water c. bacteria
4. Distillation is one way to purify _______.
a. air b. water c. milk
5. Distilling is done by making the water ______.
a. bubble b. freeze c. evaporate
6. After evaporation, the water vapor condenses to _______.
a. water b. ice c. gas
7. When water is purified, it is _______ to drink.
a. safe b. dangerous c. not good
8. The _____ in water are killed by boiling.
a. bacteria b. wastes c. dust
9. Distilled water is used by _______ people.
a. rich b. healthy c. unhealthy
10. Water must be made _________ for drinking purposes.
a. clear b. sweet c. safe
Vocabulary:
purifying filter
condensing evaporation
6. Exercise 11
THE UNIVERSE
The sun is a huge ball of hot gases which gives us heat and light.
Around it revolves the eight planets, one of which is the Earth. The planets,
together with the meteorites and planetoids, make up the solar system.
Far beyond the planets outside the solar system are the stars which
may be even bigger than our own sun. One may be able to see a thousand
stars with the naked eye. But with the help of a powerful telescope, one
may be able to see millions of others.
The stars beyond the solar system are parts of a much larger
system that includes everything in the heavens. This system is the
universe.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. This selection is about the ______.
a. sun b. solar system c. universe
2. The ______ is the main source of light.
a. planet b. sun c. stars
3. As to size, stars are ______.
a. of the same sizes c. grouped according to their sizes
b. of different sizes
4. As to numbers, stars can be ______.
a. in hundreds b. in millions c. in thousands
5. We can see millions of stars through ______.
a. the naked eye b. the telescope c. the microscope
6. The planets that are known to man so far is ______.
a. 6 b. 8 c. 7
7. The sun, the planets with its moons, the meteors, and the meteorites
make up our ______.
a. galaxy b. universe c. solar system
8. Comparing the solar system and the universe, the solar system is
_______.
a. smaller b. just as big c. bigger
9. The universe contains everything that is found in ______.
a. our earth b. the solar system c. the heavens
10. Other stars in the heavens that are part of the universe are found
______.
a. within our solar system c. side by side with our solar system
b. beyond our solar system
Vocabulary:
beyond naked eye universe
Exercise 12
JASMIN
Jasmin flowers are small, white and fragrant like the sampaguita.
They grow in clusters and bloom throughout the year. Perfume is made
from these flowers. Perfume made from jasmine flower is among the best
and most costly. In China, jasmine flowers are also used to give tea a fine
scent. Jasmine leaves, when boiled give oil used as medicine.
The jasmine plant is a shrub which can be grown from cuttings or
by layering. In layering, a branch is covered with wet soil and kept in place
until the roots grow. The branch is then transplanted in pots or on the
ground. Porous soil is best for jasmin plants.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Jasmin, according to the selection is the name of a _____.
a. princess b. flower c. girl
2. Jasmin flowers are small, white, and fragrant like the _____.
a. gardenia b. calachuchi c. sampaguita
3. They grow _____.
a. in clusters b. in pairs c. singly
4. They bloom _____.
a. from November until March c. from January to December
b. from March until November
5. The Chinese use them in their _____.
a. meals b. hair c. tea
6. Perfume is made from its ______.
a. leaves b. flowers c. branch
7. Oil is made from their _____.
a. leaves b. flowers c. branch
8. Jasmin is ______.
a. a shrub b. a vine c. an air plant
9. The Jasmin plant grows from _____.
a. seeds b. cuttings c. spores
10. The kind of soil where Jasmin thrives best is one that is _____.
a. sandy b. porous c. clayey
Vocabulary:
clusters layering porous
7. Exercise 13
PREDICTING THE WEATHER
All by himself, the weatherman cannot tell for sure what the weather is
going to be like.
Every day, weathermen all over the world read barometers,
thermometers, and other weather instruments. They see what kinds of clouds
are in their area to know what the weather is going to be like.
All these facts are sent to weather experts who make maps showing
the world weather patterns. These experts know that low pressures that are
moving across the country may bring storms, high pressure, or fair weather.
The weatherman is sometimes wrong because the weather is always
changing, and scientists still do not know everything about the weather.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. The weatherman won’t be able to tell for sure what the weather will be
if ______________.
a. he is alone b. he is not in the mood c. it is dark
2. Barometers and thermometers are most useful to __________.
a. weathermen b. people all over the world c. little girls
3. Barometers and thermometers are ___________.
a. weather instruments c. musical instruments
b. clinical instruments
4. Clouds are of _________.
a. the same altitude b. the same kind c. different kinds
5. Clouds tell __________.
a. the coming of bad weather c. what the weather will be
b. the coming of good weather
6. Low pressure usually predicts ___________.
a. the coming of a storm c. the coming of an eclipse
b. the coming of a fine weather
7. High pressure foretells the coming of __________.
a. a storm b. a fine weather c. a flood
8. Weather experts make map showing _________.
a. weather patterns c. weather symbols
b. weather instruments
9. Weathermen’s predictions are ___________.
a. very accurate b. sometimes wrong c. many times wrong
10. Predictions can go wrong because __________.
a. scientists lack weather instruments
b. there are not enough scientists
c. weather is very changeable
Vocabulary:
instruments weather patterns low pressure
Exercise 14
JAM AND JELLY
There is a difference between jam and jelly. Jam contains pieces of fruit
while jelly is made from strained fruit juice only. Any fruit can be made into delicious
jam or jelly.
Jams are also made by boiling fruit with sugar. The fruit is crushed and
cooked but the fruit juice and the pulp are kept together.
Jelly is made by boiling the fruit until tender and juicy. The hot, cooked fruit
is put into cloth bag. Juice is strained off, mixed with sugar and boiled until it is
ready to jell. When it cools, the juice will stiffen into a thick jelly.
The substance that makes jelly “jell”, instead of remaining thin and syrup
when cooked, is called pectin. Pectin is found in most fruits.
Some fruits, such as apples, grapes, plums are high in natural pectin and
jell easily when cooked.
Others, such as cherries, peaches, and very ripe fruit, do not have enough
pectin to make them jell easily. It is then necessary to add pectin, made from other
fruits.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Comparing jam and jelly, they are ___________.
a. the same c. sometimes the same
b. different from one another
2. Jelly is made from the fruit’s ___________.
a. meat and pulp b. seeds c. juice
3. Jam is made from the fruit’s ___________.
a. juice b. seeds c. meat and pulp
4. An ingredient necessary for both jam and jelly is _______.
a. milk b. flavoring c. sugar
5. After boiling, the fruit is strained when making a _______.
a. jam b. jelly c. pectin
6. Pieces of the fruit are found in __________.
a. jam b. jelly c. pectin
7. Most fruits contain __________.
a. jam b. jelly c. pectin
8. When cooked, fruits high in pectin ________.
a. do not jell at all b. jell very little c. jell easily
9. Apples, grapes, and plums are _________.
a. low in pectin c. the same in pectin content
b. high in pectin
10. To make cherries, peaches, and very ripe fruits into jelly, it is necessary to
___________.
a. add pectin from other fruits c. boil them for a longer time
b. remove some of their pectin
Vocabulary:
strained tender jell
8. Exercise 15
GERMS
Men once believed that evil spirits inside the body made people sick. This
is not so. Infectious diseases are caused by many kinds of germs.
Germs are very tiny simple plants and animals; so small that they can be
seen only through a microscope.
Germs which cause diseases can live and grow very rapidly inside our
bodies. They multiply by splitting into halves. Soon there are millions of germs.
These millions of little germs may produce poisonous chemicals that
make us sick. Some bacteria germs cause diseases such as scarlet fever and
whooping cough.
Virus germs cause many common diseases, including mumps, measles,
chicken pox, and the common cold.
Every germ disease is caused by a certain kind of germ. The germ that
causes measles cannot cause chicken pox or any other kind of disease.
Wonder drugs have been discovered to keep some kinds of germs from
harming us. Our bodies manufacture chemicals, too, that can kill many kinds of
germs.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Man used to believe that sickness is caused by _________.
a. evil man b. evil spirits c. disease germs
2. Infectious diseases are caused by _________.
a. bad weather b. germs c. evil spirits
3. tiny simple plants and animals that cannot be seen by the naked eye are
called ___________.
a. chemicals b. germs c. spirits
4. Some germs make us _________.
a. active b. healthy c. sick
5. Germs produce ___________.
a. antibodies b. poisonous chemicals c. red blood cells
6. Germs multiply rapidly by __________.
a. laying millions of eggs c. changing our blood into germ
b. splitting into halves
7. Very small germs that cause mumps, measles, chicken pox and common
cold are ____________.
a. bacteria b. drugs c. virus
8. A certain illness is produced by _____________.
a. different kinds of germs c. a certain kind of germ
b. the same kind of germ
9. Our bodies can manufacture chemicals that __________.
a. kill germs b. help germs multiply c. make us strong
10. Germs in our bodies are destroyed by the so called ___________.
a. bacteria b. microbes c. wonder drugs
Vocabulary:
infectious virus rapidly drugs
Exercise 16
WHERE DOES DUST COME FROM?
Dust can be tiny specks of dirt and bits of rock worn off by rain and
wind. It can also be tiny pieces of plants, such as pollen grains and spores.
It can be small pieces of salt from a faraway sea or cinders and soot
from chimneys. If you look at dust through a microscope, you will see that it is
a mixture of many things.
Dust is usually picked up by the wind and finally settles because of
gravity or washed down by the rain. The tiny specks may be picked up again
and may end up thousands of miles from their starting place.
Dust, in the form of pollution, may cause a very serious health problem.
In a dustless world, there would be no clouds and rain. Water vapor
collects the tiny bits of dust to form water droplets. These form the clouds from
which rain and snow fall.
Do you know that dust helps make the sky look blue? When sunlight
hits the small bits of dust in the air, the blue light waves are scattered and the
sky looks blue.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Dust in a mixture of ____________.
a. gases b. many things c. dirty things
2. It is usually carried by __________.
a. the wind b. people c. bids
3. If there is too much dust in a place, the air is likely to be _________.
a. clean b. pure c. polluted
4. Dust may settle down because of ____________.
a. air pressure b. gravity c.
weightlessness
5. Dust may be washed away by ____________.
a. rain b. tears c. rivers
6. In forming rain, dust is ___________.
a. useful b. useless c. harmful
7. Dust in the air makes the sky look _________.
a. blue b. bright c. dark
8. Dust helps to form __________.
a. clouds b. rainbow c. fog
9. Sunlight hitting the small bits of dust becomes _________.
a. scattered b. dimmed c. brighter
10. The more dust there is in the air, the more _______.
a. the sky will look blue c. rain there will be
b. there will be clouds
Vocabulary:
specks soot chimney pollution
9. Exercise 17
FOOL’S GOLD
Many miners have found what they thought was gold, only to
discover later that they have been fooled by a bright yellow mineral called
pyrite.
Iron pyrite got the nickname, “fool’s gold”.
Fool’s gold is easy to find, and sometimes found near real gold
itself.
Real gold is hard to find. It usually doesn’t shine as brightly as fool’s
gold.
Fool’s gold emits sparks when struck by a piece of metal. It is used
in building fire.
Miners test the “gold” by holding it over a fire. If the “gold” is iron
pyrite, it will sizzle, smoke, and smell bad. Real gold will not change.
Though not as precious as gold, iron pyrite does have value. It is a
combination of iron and sulfur, and often contains small amounts of other
elements, such as copper and nickel, which can be refined. Sulfur is used
in making sulfuric acid, refrigerator fluid, and fertilizer.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Fool’s gold is actually __________.
a. iron pyrite b. a small bit of real gold c. copper
2. Fool’s gold is __________ to find.
a. easy b. hard c. difficult
3. Miners test gold by _________.
a. rubbing it against a rock. c. emerging it in hot water
b. holding it over a fire.
4. Compared with real gold, fool’s gold is __________.
a. more expensive b. cheaper c. of the same value
5. When struck by a piece of metal, it emits ____________.
a. smoke b. sparks c. gases
6. Fool’s gold will sizzle, smoke and burn when held __________.
a. under water b. near certain chemical c. over a fire
7. Fool’s gold is __________ real gold.
a. as precious as b. more precious than c. less precious than
8. Iron pyrite is also __________.
a. useless b. harmful c. valuable
9. It has __________ amounts of iron, sulfur, copper and nickel.
a. small b. huge c. great
10. Fool’s gold is a combination of __________.
a. iron an silver b. iron and gold c. iron and sulfur
Vocabulary:
mineral sizzle spark pyrite
Exercise 18
HOW GOLD IS MEASURED
Carat, or karat, is a measure used in weighing gold and precious
stones.
The term “carat” comes from the name of a bean or seed of the carob
tree. These are so uniform in weight that in ancient times there were used by
goldsmiths and jewelers to measure the weight of gold and precious stones,
which were described as being so many “beans weight” or “carats”.
The term carat is also used to show the amount of gold in an alloy,
which is a mixture of gold with another metal.
Pure gold is known in the jewelry trade as 24-carat gold. This is too
soft for ordinary wear, so a harder metal, usually copper, is mixed in to harden
the gold and keep it from wearing away too quickly.
If the gold alloy has 18 parts of gold and six parts of another metal, we
call it 18-carat gold or 18k gold, and so on. Alloying produces a variety of colors
in gold. Copper gives gold a deep yellow reddish color, called red gold or yellow
gold. Platinum gives white color; aluminum gives a purple color; and silver, a
pale yellow and greenish color.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. A carat is used in weighing __________.
a. grocery items b. precious stones and gold c. people
2. The word carat originated from a __________.
a. plant b. bean c. flower
3. The word carat is used by goldsmith and jeweler of __________.
a. ancient times b. medieval times c. modern times
4. A mixture of gold with another metal is called __________.
a. copper b. platinum c. alloy
5. Pure gold has __________ carats.
a. 18 b. 14 c. 24
6. Pure gold is __________.
a. very hard b. soft c. hard
7. Copper is __________ gold.
a. harder than b. softer than c. as soft as
8. Alloying produces __________ of colors in gold.
a. a variety b. one kind c. two kinds
9. Copper gives gold a __________ color.
a. yellow or red b. white c. greenish
10. Silver gives gold a __________.
a. white b. purple c. greenish
Vocabulary:
uniform goldsmith alloy
10. Exercise 19
HOW DOES A MATCH LIGHT?
A common kitchen match will quickly catch fire if it is rubbed on a rough
surface.
Matches are made by dipping one end of the matchstick in a special
mixture of chemicals which catches fire at high temperature. When you scratch the
match on a rough surface, the rubbing or friction produces enough heat to ignite
the chemicals.
The colored tip or “eye” of the strike-anywhere match contains the firing
chemical. The rest of the bulblike head will burn after the flaming eye sets a fire. A
fire may be easily started by accident with this kind of match; so most matches
carried in the pocket are of the safety kind.
Safety matches can be lighted only by striking them on a special surface
on the side of the folder or matchbox. Instead of putting all the chemicals in the
match, one end is painted into the striking surface. When the match head is rubbed
on it, a little of the chemical in the striking surface ignites and sets fire to the tip of
the match. The match is “safe” until it is rubbed on the striking surface.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. A common match will catch fire when rubbed on a __________.
a. smooth surface b. rough surface c. wet surface
2. The chemical at the tip of the matchstick will catch fire at __________.
a. medium temperature c. low temperature
b. high temperature
3. Strike-anywhere matches __________.
a. are hard to start c. cannot be started
b. are easy to start
4. Strike-anywhere matches, compared to ordinary matches, are ________.
a. safe b. cheaper c. more dangerous
5. Matches set a fire because of heat produced by __________.
a. friction b. electricity c. evaporation
6. The firing chemical of the matchstick is __________.
a. all over the stick c. at the tip of the stick
b. at the middle of the stick
7. Safety matches can be ignited by rubbing its tip on __________.
a. any surface b. a special surface c. a smooth surface
8. Accidents can easily happen with the use of __________.
a. safety matches c. cigarette lighter
b. strike-anywhere matches
9. The striking surface of safety matches is found __________.
a. inside the matchbox c. on the side of the matchbox
b. on the top of the matchbox
10. To produce fire with the aid of a safety match, __________.
a. Friction is necessary c. electricity is necessary
b. gas is necessary
Vocabulary:
rubbed ignite rough
Exercise 20
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM
Our national anthem was first publicly played on June 12, 1898 as the
Filipino flag was being raised during the proclamation of the Philippine
Independence by Gen. Aguinaldo. When it was composed by Julian Felipe, there
were no words yet to the hymn.
On September 3, 1899, Jose Palma’s lyric in Spanish was first published
and it was instantly accepted as fitting lyrics to the hymn.
In 1916, English was declared the official language in government offices
and schools; so the Spanish lyrics had to be changed to English. A literal
translation was made by Martha Lane, an American schoolteacher who
collaborated with Camilo Osias. This became for a time the official version of our
national anthem.
After the proclamation of Independence in 1946, it became necessary to
have a version in Filipino. Finally, in 1956, a stirring lyric in Filipino was approved
and won public acceptance. The Filipino National Anthem has remained
unchanged since then.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Our National Anthem was first publicly played on __________.
a. June 8, 1898 b. July 4, 1946 c. June 12, 1898
2. It was played __________ the flag was being raised.
a. after b. before c. while
3. The Philippine Independence was declared by __________.
a. Jose Palma b. Camilo Osias c. Aguinaldo
4. The Philippine National Anthem was composed by __________.
a. Julian Felipe b. Camilo Osias c. Jose Palma
5. The Spanish lyric of the Philippine National Anthem was written by ____.
a. Julian Felipe b. Jose Palma c. Camilo Osias
6. English was declared the official language in the Philippines in _____.
a. 1896 b. 1900 c. 1916
7. An English version was made possible with the help of __________.
a. Julian Felipe b. Jose Palma c. Camilo Asias
8. A Filipino version was finally approved in __________.
a. 1946 b. 1956 c. 1916
9. The Philippine National Anthem was __________ accepted.
a. not b. widely c. warmly
10. Since 1956, the anthem has __________.
a. remain unchanged c. undergone many changes
b. undergone minor changes
Vocabulary:
composed hymn lyrics translation
