SCORE
PALAYAN CITY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Atate, Palayan City

FIRST PERIODICAL EXAMINATION IN ENGLISH IV

Name: _______________________________________________Year & Section: ___________________

I. LISTENING. Listen carefully and fill in the blanks with the correct words from the poem “The Book”.
I went to the 1.___________to look Then my throat went dry, I was so thirsty.
Not for a football mag or a cookbook; I needed a coolant, I was so angry.
But for a laughter booster storybook. How stupid I was, I forgot my 3. _________!

I found one about a 2._________in a brook So I rushed back 4. _____and took my money;
That hoots to woo a foolish rook. Then back to the store, I looked like crazy.
By hook or by crook, I had to buy the book! But I got the book and now I’m 5. _________.

II. READING COMPREHENSION. Read the selections below and answer the questions that follow. Encircle the letter of the best answer.

A milkman became very wealthy through dishonest means. He had to cross a river daily to reach the city where his customers lived. He mixed the water of the river generously with the milk that he sold for a good profit. One day he went around collecting the dues in order to celebrate the wedding of his son. With the large amount thus collected he purchased plenty of rich clothes and glittering gold ornaments. But while crossing the river the boat capsized and all his costly purchases were swallowed by the river. The milk vendor was speechless with grief. At that time he heard a voice that came from the river, “Do not weep. What you have lost is only the illicit gains you earned through cheating your customers.”

6. Who is the main character in the story?
a. river man b. customer c. son d. milkman

7. What does the vendor mix milk with?
a. wine b. water c. alcohol d. oil

8. “Do not weep”, said the river. What does the underlined word mean?
a. to jump with joy b. to shed tears c. to stand with pride d. to shout in pain

9. What would be the appropriate title for the story?
a. A river once talked c. Honesty is the best policy
b. There’s wealth in milk vending d. The milkman in the river

Night Watchman

Mr. Sandoval, manager of a firm, advertised for a night watchman. All the applicants were present but the manager was not satisfied. He found something wrong with each man. There was Jestern, an applicant. He was sitting in a corner waiting for his turn in the interview. His turn came and Mr. Sandoval found nothing wrong in his appearance. He asked him about his health. He got the reply that Jestern was suffering from sleeplessness. The manager was happy and immediately appointed him.

10. “He asked him about his health”. To whom does the pronoun his pertain?
a. Mr. Sandoval b. Jestern c. manager and applicant d. no possible answer

12. “He found something wrong with each man”. To whom does the pronoun he pertain?
a. Mr. Sandoval b. Jestern c. manager and applicant d. no possible answer

11. Why did the manager immediately appoint Jestern as the night watchman?
a. because he’s sitting in the corner unlike the other applicants
b. because of his eagerness in the interview
c. because the manager had no other choice
d. because of his sleeplessness

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

The story opens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas. Faced with such a situation, Della promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and they're poor. But they love each other.

Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple. The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents.

With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and tries to make her now-short hair presentable (with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner.

Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means.

After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della's combs, he explains. He recommends they put away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the magi.

reading

Invictus
BY WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY
Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. listening

Sa speaking encouraging words daw