Exercise 1

Pepe And The Guava

Pepe climbed the guava tree near his house. It had many ripe frui
ts. He picked as many as he could and put them in his pockets. Then
he sat on a branch and began eating them.

While he was eating, he felt the branch break. He did not know it
was a dead branch.

Down, down he fell!

After that, he did not know what happened. When he woke up,

he was in a hospital bed. His two arms were in cast.

1. Who climbed the guava tree?

2. Where was the guava tree?
3. What were on the tree?
4. Where dis Pepe put the fruits he picked?
5. Where did he sit
6. What did he do next?
7. What began to break?
8. What happened to him?
9. Did Pepe know what happened to him?
10. When he woke up, where was he?
Exercise 2

HOW DAN LEARNED TO RIDE A HORSE

One day Lito invited his cousin, Dan, to his father’s farm in the barrio.
Dan lived in the town.

“Let’s ride on my horse,” Lito said.

“I don’t know how to ride a horse,” said Dan.

“It’s easy I’m going to teach you.”

Lito got his horse and rode easily on its back. “Come on! Hold my ha
nd and place one foot on mine while I pull you up,” he said.

At first Dan was afraid, but when he tried, he found it easy. He did n
ot feel afraid anymore.

Together they rode far across the field. It was already dark when th
ey reached home.
1. What were Dan and Lito?
2. Where did Dan live?
3. Where did Lito invite Dan?
4. Where would they ride?
5. How did Lito ride on the horse?
6. Did Dan know how to ride a horse?
7. What did Dan learn about riding a horse?
8. Did they ride together in the same horse?
9. Where did they go riding?
10. When did they go home?
Exercise 3

AT THE PUBLIC PLAYGROUND

The public playground was full of children. They were shouting with

joy. The smaller children were playing in the sand boxes. They were digg
ing the sand boxes. They were digging the sand and filling their pails. Th
e bigger boys and girls were having fun riding on swing.

Some big boys were chinning the bar. Others were climbing

the big tower and were sliding down. Some of them were busy playing o
n the seesaws, going up and down. Some girls in bathing suits were swi
mming in the pool.

1. Where were the children?

2. How did they show they were happy?

3. Who played in the sand boxes?

4. What did they do?

5. How did the bigger boys and girls have fun?

6. Who chinned the bar?

7. How did the children go down the tower?

8. What went up and down?

9. Who were swimming in the pool?

10. What were they wearing?

Exercise 4

AUNT DANDING

Last December, Aunt Sanding, a nurse came home from Ameri

ca to visit her family. She stayed for a month in Manila.

Before she left for America last January, she had a picnic with
the family. They went to Los Baños, Laguna in a big car. They saw all the
interesting places there. They went swimming in the hot springs. Aunt
Danding enjoyed every minute of it. She enjoyed seeing the children wat
ch the animals in the little zoo. They were all happy. When they got hung
ry, they ate all the food they brought.

1. Where does Aunt Danding live now?

2. When did she come to Manila?
3. Whom did she visit?
4. How long did she stay in Manila?
5. Why do you think did she come to visit?
6. Why is Aunt Danding in America?
7. When did she have a picnic with her family?
8. Where did they go for a picnic?
9. Where did they go swimming?
10. How did Aunt Danding enjoy her visit?
Exercise 5

ANA’S PET

Mother bought two piglets. She had a pigpen ready for them
.

“ These pigs should be given a good care,” she told Ana. “Can
you help me take care of them.”

“Of course, Mother”, answered Ana. “I'll help you take care
of them.”

So, Ana became the caretaker of the piglets. She cleaned the p
en early in the morning and gave them baths. She fed them swill which
she got from their neighbors.

Soon the piglets grew big and fat. When they were ready fo
r sale. Ana felt sad. She knew Mother would get a good price for them b
ut she would lose her pets.
1. What did Ana’s mother buy?
2. Where did she keep them?
3. Whom did she ask to help her take care of them?
4. Did Ana like to take care of the pigs?
5. What new job did Ana have?
6. At what time of the day did she clean the pigpen?
7. Who gave baths to the pigs?
8. Where did Ana get the swill for the pigs?
9. What happened with the pigs?
10. How did Ana feel when the pigs were ready for sale?
Exercise 6

A SIGN OF GROWTH

One morning little Jun could not walk well with his shoes on?

“What’s wrong with your feet, Jun?” asked Mother. “Do your shoes

hurt?”

“Yes mother,” replied Jun. “My shoes do not fit me anymore.”

Father made Jun take off his shoes and wear his old rubber shoes.

“You are growing, Jun,” Father explained. “When your shoes get too

tight for you, you need bigger ones. Your feet are growing. It’s a sign

that your body is growing, too. Soon you’ll be a big boy.”

1. When did the story happen?

2. What could Jun not do well?
3. What hurt his feet?
4. Who made Jun take off his shoes?
5. What would Jun wear?
6. Why did his shoes become tight?
7. What did Jun need in place of his tight shoes?
8. What was happening to Jun?
9. What is the sign of growing feet?
10. What will Jun soon become?
Exercise 7

HOW ARE FOREFATHERS KEPT THEMSELVES CLEAN

Our forefathers were clean and neat. They kept themselves clean a
nd neat. They kept themselves clean by bathing often and wearing clea
n clothes.

To keep their black hair clean, they used the suds of gugo bark

boiled in water for their soap. Their hair smelled sweet with their

perfumed oil. To keep their teeth even, they filed them with iron or

stones while they were young. Their teeth looked red because of the bet
elnut they chewed to preserve them.

1. What is the story about?

2. What words describe our forefathers?

3. How did they keep themselves clean?

4. What was the color of their hair?

5. What did they use as soap to keep their hair clean?

6. Did they use soap in those days?

7. Whom made their hair smell sweet?

8. What did they do with the gugo bark?

9. How were their teeth kept even?

10. What made their teeth look ugly?

Exercise 8

THE FIRST CAIMITO HARVEST

Doming's father planted a caimito tree some year ago. Last

October it began to bear its first flowers. The fruits were very slow in gro
wing. Doming could hardly wait to see them ripen .

One day Doming saw a big, dark violet fruit.

“Father, Father!” he shouted. “There is a ripe caimito now.”

Doming looked up at the other branches.

“Oh! There are some more. They are hidden behind the leaves
. Come, Father. Let’s get them all”

There were about twenty fruits which Domings father picked f

rom the tree. They were the first harvest. They were all sweet and deli
cious.
1. Who planted a caimito tree?.
2. When did he plant?
3. When did it bear its first flower?
4. How fast did the fruits grow?
5. What did Doming see one day?
6. Whom did he call?
7. What did he see on the other branches?
8. Where were they hidden?
9. How many fruits did Doming’s father pick?
10. How did they taste?
Exercise 9

A FAMILY OF MUSIC LOVERS

The Santos family are fond of music. All of them have good sin
ging voices and all can play the piano. Mr. Santos is their teacher and

Mrs. Santos is their pianist.

People enjoy listening to them when they are practicing, more so whe
n they sing Filipino songs. The songs make the listeners happy.

Lita, Raul, Emil, Nila and Anita sing with feeling. While singing they wa
tch Mr.Santos's hand, so they know when to sing louder or softer.
1. How many children are in the family?
2. What kind of family are the Santoses?
3. What do all of them have?
4. What instrument can they play?
5. Who is their teacher?
6. Who is their pianist?
7. How do people feel while they are listening to the Santoses?
8. How do the children sing?
9. What kind of songs make the listeners feel happier?
10. What is the children’s sign in singing louder or softer?
Exercise 10

FLOWERS FOR MOTHER

This is a story about Apolinario Mabini.
One day Pule's mother was waiting for her children to come
home from school. After a while she heard some voices from the yard. Sh
e was glad her sons were already home.
“Mother ! Mother!” called one of her sons. “Pule will be a
little late. He said he has something to get for you.”
A little later Pule came. He had some flowering plants with
him.
“These are for you, Mother,” Pule said. I got them for you
along the way. I know you love flowers. “
How thoughtful Pule was! Instead of getting angry, his
mother felt very happy.
1. About whom is the story?
2. Who was waiting for the children?
3. Where did the boys come from?
4. What did Pule tell his brothers?
5. When did Pule come home?
6. What did he bring with him?
7. Where did he get them?
8. What did Pule know about his mother?
9. What kind of a boy was Pule?
10. How did his mother feel when he gave her the flowers
Exercise 11

THE ARTESIAN WELL

Nonoy lived in a little barrio far from the town. He had to wake up
early every morning to fetch water from a well. He had to make several
trips before he could fill a big jar.
One day men came to the barrio to drill an artesian well. In ten days
, the artesian well was ready. It was like there was a fiesta. Barrio people
lined up to get water. When Nonoy's turn came, he took a long drink.
How cool and satisfying the water tasted!
1.Where did Nonoy live?

2. What did he do every morning?

3. How long did it take him to get water?

4. Where did he put the water?

5. What did the men do in the barrio?

6. How did the barrio people feel about it?

7. What would the well give them?

8. How long did the men finish the work?

9. What did the barrio people do when it was ready?

10. How did the water taste to Nonoy?

Exercise 12

FEEDING A BIG FAMILY

Aling Narda called her six children for breakfast. She served
them all the fried fish and rice she cooked. When the children sat at the
table and began to eat, the food was finished in a short time.
“Mother, is there some more rice?” asked Pedro. He had eaten
slowly and had taken only a small amount of rice.
Mother brought the scorched rice from the pot.
“This is the only rice left, Pedro,” she said “Eat it”.
But Mother, you will have none to eat,” Pedro said.
Mother could not speak. There was a little food to cook and
she had six children. It was hard to feed a big family.
1. How many children did Aling Narda have?
2. What meal did they eat?
3. How did Pedro eat his food?
4. What did Mother bring for Pedro?
5. What were served in the table?
6. How much rice did Pedro get?
7. For how long did they eat the food?
8. Why did the children finish their food at once?
9. What did Aling Nena find about feeding a big family?
10. Why did Pedro ask for more rice?
Exercise 13

A BIG FIRE
A big fire hit the Tondo area near the sea. Hundreds of houses
were burned and many families were left homeless. After the fire, the
place became a big, open space. Only burned woods, stones and twisted
galvanized iron sheets were left.
Many of the families who had no place to go were sadly grouped
together. Their few belongings were piled near them.
Not long after, the Red Cross people arrived to help the fire victims.
They brought canvas tents, clothing’s, mats, food and medicines.

1. What hit Tondo area?

2. What did the families who had no place to go do?

3. What did he burned areas become?

4. How did the galvanized iron sheets look?

5. Had all of the families ko place to go?

6. How many houses were burned?

7. Who arrived to help the fire victims?

8. What happened to many of the families?

9. Where did the fire in Tondo occur?

10. What were given to the fire victims?

Exercise 14

A WAY TO HELP MOTHER

Ludy was playing with her friends in their front yard when
she saw her mother coming from the market. She excused herself
politely from her playmates and ran to meet her mother. She took the
basket and carried it to the house.
“Thank you,” her mother said when they reached the house.
“You can go back to your friends and play again.”
“No, Mother,” Ludy answered. “ I have already told them,
I am going to help you prepare our food.”
1. With whom was Ludy playing?
2. Where were they playing?
3. Whom did Ludy see coming?
4. What did Ludy do when she saw her coming?
5. What did do upon meeting her?
6. What did Ludy’s mother do when they reached home?
7. Did her mother want ng her to continue playing?
8. Why did Ludy not go back to plau again?
9. Where did Mother come from?
10. What kind of a child is Ludy?
Exercise 15

A WET AFTERNOON
It was cloudy that afternoon. It looked like it would rain.
Tonio and Lucio were walking home. They had visited their grandmother
who lived on the other side of the rice field.
“Let's walk fast, Tonio,” Lucio told his brother. “We might be
caught in the rain. Mother would be waiting for us.”
“It's beginning to rain!” Tonio said as he ran under a tree to
take shelter. Lucio followed him.
Soon the rain stopped, and they went on walking. They were
already home when it rained again.

1. What were Tonio and Lucio?

2. Why did it look like it would rain?
3. Where did Tonio and Lucio come from?
4. What do they do there?
5. What might happen to the boys?
6. What do they do?
7. Where did they run when it rained?
8. Who would be waiting for them at home?
9. What do they do when the rain stopped?
10. What happened when they reached home?
Exercise 16

FREE CANDIES
Vic and Jicky were walking to school. Near a store they saw a
man giving free candies to children.
“Hurry, Jicky, let's ask for some candies,” shouted Vic as he ran
towards the man. “There may not be any candy left for us,”
“No, Vic, stop!” called Jicky. “Those candies might be
drugged.”
Vic stopped at once. He remembered that Miss Reyes told the
m not to accept candies or anything to eat or drink from strangers. They
might be drugged.”
“Quick, Jicky,” Vic said in a frightened voice. “Those children
might eat those candies. Let’s report them to the principal.”
1. Where were the two boys going?
2. Where did they see the man and the children?
3. What was the man doing?
4. Why did Vic run towards the man?
5. What did Jicky think about the candies?
6. Why did Vic stop running?
7. From whom should children not accept anything to eat or
drink?
8. How did Vic feel?
9. To whom did Vic want to report?
10. What must the children do?
Exercise 17

WHEN FRUITS ARE IN SEASON

Many of our native fruits are very delicious. Mangoes, caimitos
, chicos, oranges and lanzones are a few of them. Some of them can be
bought at any time of the year. However, most fruit are plentiful when in
season.
Mangoes are mostly in season in May, caimitos in March and
lanzones in October. Bananas grow the whole year round.
Fruit trees that grow in different places bear more fruit at
different seasons. That is why in December we can buy lanzones from
Mindanao even when the lanzones season in Laguna is over.

1. Which of these fruits are native to our country?

2. How does this fruit taste?
3. When can we buy fruits?
4. When are fruita plentiful?
5. When are mangoes in season?
6. When are caimitos in season?
7. When are lanzones in season?
8. Are all fruits in season at the same time?
9. Where can we buy lanzones during the month of
December?
10. Why can't we buy lanzones in Laguna during the month
of December?
Exercise 18

FLORA'S GODMOTHER
One Sunday Flora went to her godmother’s house. She did
not see her Ninang Marta but someone was there who looked like her.
When she was about to leave, the woman laughed.
“Why, Flora,” she asked, “don’t you remember your own god
mother?”
Flora was surprised. The woman was her godmother but she
looked different. She wore a black wig that made her look younger and
prettier.
“ I did not recognize you at once, Ninang,” Flora said. “You
look different with a wig.”
“Is that so?” Aling Marta asked. “A friend sold me her long
hair and I had it made into a wig. A hairdresser made it for me.”

1. When did Flora go to her godmother’s house?

2. Whom did she see in the house?
3.Did she know the woman?
4. What did the woman do when she was about to leave?
5. How did Flora feel?
6. Who was the woman?
7.What made her look different?
8. How did it make look different?
9. Was the wig given to her godmother?
10. Who made the wig?
Exercise 19

CARLITOS HOBBY
Carlito has a hobby. He loves birds so he collects them. His
bother bought him different kinds of birds which he keeps in clean cages
. He takes good care of them. He has love birds, Mayas, dove and a
parrot. He gives them food and drinking water every day.
Once he was able to catch some Mayas. How? He kept the
door of a big cage open with a string that he held from a distance.
He put some rice inside the cage to attract the birds. Soon some birds
flew down and entered the cage. Carlito let go of the string and the door
shut. The mayas were caught inside the cage. These birds soon became
pets, too.
1. What is Carlito’s hobby?
2. Who gave him different kinds of birds?
3. Where does he keep his birds?
4. How often does he give food and drink to his pets?
5. Does Carlito take good care of his pets?
6. What birds was he able to catch onnce?
7. What did he use for catching them?
8. What did he use to attract the birds?
9. How many birds were attarcted?
10. What did Carlito do with the birds he caught
Exercise 20

IN BED WITH INFLUENZA

Lola Luchi was in bed with a cold. She sneezed and coughed.
In the evening she had a fever.
When a doctor was called., he gave her some medicines to
take.
“Lola, you have influenza,” Dr. Paras said. Drink plenty of
fruits juice and stay in bed. Take this medicine and you will get well.” The
n he told Aunt Celia to follow all directions in giving Lola Luchi her
medicines.
Lola Luchi was very careful. She used her own spoon, cup, and
plate. She did not allow the children to go near her. She covered her
mouth with a handkerchief when she sneezed or coughed.
In a few days Lola well again.

1. What kept Lola Luchi in bed?

2. What did she have in the evening?
3. Who said she had influenza?
4. Who gave her some medicine to take?
5. What should she drink?
6. What did the doctor tell Aunt Celia to go?
7. Whose things did Lola used?
8. Where did she sneeze and cough?
9. Who were not allowed to go near her?
10. How soon did Lola Luchi get well?
Exercise 21

MARITES LOVES DAISIES

Marites is fond of daisies. One day, she bought five daisy
plants with flowers from a plant vendor. They were planted in small
plastic bags. The flowers were of different colors-red, orange, pink, white
and yellow.
Marites was very happy when she reached home. She
watered the plants and put them in the shade.
After two days she saw that their leaves were turning yellow.
The flowers were wilting, too.
She thought that she had been cheated. She pulled out a plant and saw
that it had no roots. The leaves were tied together to make them appear
like a plant.
Marites was very angry. She learned a lesson and said she
would not be cheated again.
1. Who is fond of daisies?
2. From whom did she buy the daisies?
3. Where were they planted.
4. How many daisy plants did she buy?
5. How did Marites feel when she reached home?
6. Where did she put the plants?
7. What did she see after two days?
8. What did she think was done to her.
9. What did she find out when she pulled out a plant?
10. What did Marites say?
Exercise 22

ORCHIDS
There are many kinds of orchids in the Philippines. They grow
wild in the forest. Some grow on the ground and others on trees.
Orchids are made into corsage. They are worn by women on
their dresses. Of all the orchids, women pay more for the cattleya. It is
the most beautiful and stays fresh longer than others.
Some people make money from orchids by raising them and
selling their flowers.

1. How many kinds of orchids are there in the Philippines.

2. Where do they grow wild?

3. What can you say about the orchids?

4. Can they grow on trees?

5. How long can some orchids stay fresh?

6. For how long can waling waling stay fresh?

7. Into what are orchids made?

8. Where do women wear them?

9. Which is the most beautiful orchid?

10. How do some people make money from orchids?

Exercise 23

THE TELEGRAM
It was late at night. Someone knocked hard at the door.

Dado’s father looked out of the window to see who was there.

“ Telegram, Sir” the man outside said.

Dado opened the door quickly. His father and mother

followed him.

“I hope it’s nothing bad,” Aling Loleng said.

Mang Poldo opened the telegram at once. Then he read it

silently. He was very quiet. Aling Loleng looked at her husband.

She thought something was wrong.

Soon Mang Poldo began to laugh. He shouted with joy. He handed

the telegram to Aling Loleng. She read it: LEOPOLDO CRUZ- who won

ten thousand pesos- Contest. Collect Monday.- Kleen Soap Company.

1. Who knocked at the door?

2. Who looked out of the window to see who was there?
3. What did the man outside say?
4. Who opened the door?
5. What did Aling Loleng say?
6. Who opened the telegram?
7. How did he read it?
8. What did Aling Loleng think about the telegram?
9. Who shouted with joy?
10. What was the telegram about?
Exercise 24

PLANTS NEED WATER

Jose’s father has a vegetable garden in their backyard. He has
eggplants, pechay, radishes and cabbages. He has also cucumbers,
patola, upo, and other vegetable vines.
One day, Jose came home from school ahead of his fathers
who works in a factory in the town. He saw his father’s garden. The soil
was very dry and the leaves of the plants were wilting due to the heat of
the sun. After changing his clothes, he took the sprinkle and began
watering the plants. He was almost through with his work when his
father arrived.
“Good boy!” his father said. “The plants are surely happy now.
They are also like people. When it is very hot, they also want to drink.”
“I know it, Father,” Jose said. “That's why I'm watering them
now.
1. Where was the vegetable garden?
2. Who owned the garden?
3. Which is a vine?
4. Where does Jose’s father work?
5. Why did Jose water the plants?
6. What did he use for watering?
7. What made soil dry?
8. Who arrived when Jose was watering the plants?
9. In what ways are plants like people?
10. How do plants feel after being watered?
Exercise 25

HOW DYSENTERY WAS SPREAD

Some years ago, the people of Barrio San Antonio did not
have safe water for their daily needs. They got their water from a well
near the schoolhouse
One day, it was reported in school that someone was sick of
dysentery. Mr. Castro, the principal, told the pupils and the barrio people
to boil all their drinking water. Many of the people could not understand
why they had to boil water from the well. They thought that clear water
was already safe from germs.
Soon many pupils and their parents got sick. Only Mr.
Castro's family and those who boiled their water and not get sick.

1. What barrio did not have safe water?

2. Where did the people get their water?
3. Where was it located?
4. What sickness was reported in school?
5. Who was the principal of the school?
6. What did he tell the barrio people to do?
7. What did the people think about the water from the well?
8. Did all the barrio people boil their drinking water?
9. Why did some pupils and their parents get sick?
10. Who did not become sick?
Exercise 26

DAMA DE NOCHE
Most plants have bright-colored flowers. They open during the
day. There are also plants with flowers that bloom at night. Their flowers
are either white or light-colored. They smell very sweet. Some of these
are the dama de noche, sampaguita and camia.
Dama de noche means”lady of the right.” Its little star-like flow
ers open at night. They give out a sweet odor that can be smelled from a
distance. By its fragrance, you can tell that there is a dama de noche
plant nearby. In the morning the flowers lose their fragrance.

1. When do most flowers open?

2. What kind of flowers bloom at night?

3. Which if these flowers smell sweet?

4. Which of these flowers open at night?

5. What does dama de noche mean?

6. What is the shape of its flowers?

7. When do its flower bloom?

9. How does one know that there is a dama de noche plant ne

arby?

10. What happens to its odor in the morning?

Exercise 27

FLAG CEREMONY AT THE RIZAL PARK

It was Rizal Day. Mr. Santos and his two son, Victor and Luis,
rode in a taxi to the Rizal Park. They would attend the flag raising
ceremony at the Luneta day. It would be held in front of the Rizal
monument at seven o'clock in the morning.
It was still early but the crowd was already getting big. There
were many small children with their parents. They would play in the park
after the ceremony.
The three took their places near the monument. When the
band played the National Anthem, everybody stood at attention. The flag
went up quickly till it reached the top of the pole. Soon the anthem was
over, and the people began to move away.

1. Where did Mr. Santos and his two sons go?

2. Where did Mr. Santos and the boys stay?
3. At what time did the ceremony begin?
4. What would Mr. Santos and his sons attend?
5. Where did they ride?
6. What did they see in front of the monument?
7. When did they visit the place?
8. What would the small children do after the ceremony?
9. Why did the people move away?
10. What was played by the band?
Exercise 28

THE WALKATHON
Lina’s father wanted to grow strong and healthy. One day he
started a walkathon with a group of friends. Every morning they walked
fast from their places to the schoolhouse. Then they turned around a
wide circle along the park and back to their own places. They did this
every morning when other people were still asleep.
After some time, their small group became big when other
neighbors joined them. Their little group of six became a big group of
forty members.
Lina's father was not the only one who grew strong and
healthy, but his neighbors as well.

1. What did Lina's father want to become?

2. With whom did he start a walkathon?
3. When did they have their walkathons?
4. How much exercise did he have after they started walkathon?
5. From where did they start their walk?
6. What place did they reach first?
7. Where did they turn around?
8. What happened to their group?
9. Who joined their group?
10. How many in all became members of their group?
Exercise 29

TRAVELING IN SPACE
Years and years ago man never thought he could travel in
space. They have orbited Earth and landed on the moon.
Men who travel in space are called astronauts or cosmonauts
. They are very brave men. The first man to orbit our Earth in a spaceship
was a Russian cosmonaut. The first man to land on the moon was an
American astronaut. These men have become international by heroes.

1. In what place did man think he could not travel?

2. When were rocket ships only for comic books?

3. Where have rocket ships orbited?

4. Where do rocket ship travel?

5. Who are astronauts?

6. What kind of men are astronauts?

7. Who was the first to orbit the earth in a spaceship?

8. Who was the first to land on the moon?

9. What have these men become?

10. What is the Russian name for astronaut?

Exercise 30

THE LIGHTNING
Lydia saw a flash of bright light. Clap! Br-r-r-m-m! The sound
of thunder rolled on. Lydia covered ger ears with her hands and ran to
her mother.
”What’s wrong, Lydia?” asked Mother. “You’re safe in the
house. The lightning won’t hurt you here.”
“Mother, why won’t the lightning hurt me?”
“First of all, you are in the house,” explained Mother. “
More often lightning strikes people in an open space. It finds the highest
place to strike. Farmers walking alone in the field or riding on carabaos
are often struck by lightning. If a farmer is caught in a thunderstorm, he
should lie down on the ground and wait until it is over. He should stay
away from his carabao and avoid staying under a tree.

1. What did Lydia see?

2. What followed it?
3. What did Lydia do?
4. Where was Lydia?
5. Was Lydia safe there?
6. Where does lightning open strike people?
7. Is a field a closed placed?
8. What place does lightning strike?
9. What should a farmer on the field do whn lightning
occurs?
10. What should a person avoid when there is lightning?
Exercise 31

WHITE ANTS
Ants are interesting insects. They live in groups. White ants,
for example, have their own queen that lays eggs. The worker ants take
care of the eggs. They look for food and feed the queen and the baby
ants that hatch from the eggs. Soon these baby ants grow into worker
and soldier ants.
Some white ants know how to grow mushroom inside their
anthills. They use mushrooms for food. Other white ants eat dead trees
and even growing ones.
White ants destroy books, furniture and even houses.
To destroy white ants, the queen should be found and killed.

1. What kind of insect are ants?

2. How do ants live?
3. Which of the white ants lays eggs?
4. Who take care of the eggs?
5. What hatch from eggs?
6. What do the baby ants become?
7. What do some white ants grow in their anthills?
8. Why do they grow them?
9. Which of these is not food for white ants?
10. What should be done to destroy white ants?
Exercise 32

THE BIGGEST LAPULAPU

This is a true story about a very big fish.
Sometime in 1968, some fishermen were fishing in the sea
not far from Sorsogon in the Bicol Peninsula. They caught a very big fish.
It measured six feet long and 65 inches around its body. Its weight was
200 kilos. The fish was a kalatang which is the largest kind of lapulapu.
When it was being taken down from a ship at the pier in
Manila, people could not believe it was a real fish. It is believed to be the
largest of its kind in Philippine waters.

1. When was the fish caught?

2. Where did the fishermen catch it?

3. Where is Sorsogon?

4. How long was the fish?

5. How big was it round the body?

6. How heavy was it in kilos?

7. What was the fish called?

8. Is this fish a kind of lapulapu?

9. What is the belief about the fish?

10. Where was the fish brought?

Exercise 33

MOTHER OF THE KATIPUNAN

Melchora Aquino was known as Tandang Sora. She was
called the “Mother of Katipunan”. The Katipuneros knew her as a friend
and helper. They chose her house as their meeting place. They were in
that house when the secret society was found out by the Spaniards.
Many houses was like a hospital, too. There, Tandang Sora treated the
soldiers’ wounds.
She was not afraid to help the men who were fighting for
freedom. She was eighty-four years old then, but her age did not stop
her from helping her countrymen.

1. How was Melchora Aquino called?

2. Was she very old that time?
3. Where was the meeting place of the Katipuneros?
4. What was Tandang Sora to the Katipuneros?
5. Was the Katipunan a secret society?
6. What did many of the men do in her house?
7. What did Tandang Sora treat?
8. Was her house like a hospital?
9. What were the men fighting for?
10. How old was Tandang Sora at that time?
Exercise 34

FRANCISCO BALAGTAS
Francisco Balagtas was a writer of poems. He wrote the long
poem “Florante at Laura”. This made him to be known as the Prince of
Tagalog Poets”
It is said that he was put in prison by someone who disliked
him. It was there that he wrote his well-known poem.
He also wrote Moro-moro plays which were shown in barrio
and town fiestas. People liked many of his awits and corridos. He also
wrote a Spanish novel to earn money for his family.
Many of his fine works were kept in a trunk in Orion, Bataan,
but they were all burned when a big fire broke out in that place.

1. Which poem was written by Balagtas?

2. How is Balagtas known?
3. What is “Florante at Laura”
4. Where did he write his Florante at Laura?
5. Who had him put in prison?
6. Where were his Moro-moro plays shown?
7. What novel did he write to earn money for his
family?
8. Did the people like his awit and corridos?
9. Where were many of his fine works kept?
10. What happened to them?
Exercise 35

STUDYING ABOUT BIRDS

One day in 1968 a man was hunting in the mountain area of
Ibahay, Aklan. He caught a giant bird. It had a metal band on its left leg
which showed the name of the place where it came from. Other people
saw the band and believed that the bird and some other birds of its kind
might have been set free in Hongkong by a group of scientists. They
were studying the habits of these birds. They wanted to know how far
and where the birds would fly.
The capture of this giant bird in the Philippines, in the
province of Aklan, proved that birds can fly thousands of miles across the
sea.
1. Where was the man hunting?
2. In what province is the town located?
3. When did this happen?
4. What was caught by the man?
5. What kind of a band was found in its leg?
6. Was it found on the right leg?
7. Where did the bird come from?
8. Who set the birds free?
9. What were they studying?
10. What were they able to prove?
Exercise 36

A REWARD FOR CLEANLINESS

The residents of Naranghita Street were proud and happy.
They worked hard together to keep their place clean and attractive.
For their good work, they were awarded first prize in the cleanliness
contest in their district.
Everyone cooperated with the barrio captain when he asked
for their help to make their place beautiful and clean. Each house was
provided with a covered garbage can. Everyone avoided throwing
anything on the streets and on the sidewalks. Each one made it his duty
to remove from the street in front of his house anything scattered there.
The people also planted ornamental and flowering plants in
their garden and along the sidewalks.

1. Who were proud and happy?

2. How did they keep their place clean and attractive?
3. Why were they awarded a prize?
4. What prize did they get?
5. With whom did they work to make their places clean?
6. What was provided for each house?
7.What did everyone avoid doing?
8. Who had the duty of removing scatted things on the street?
9. What were planted in the gardens and along sidewalks.
10. Who planted them?
Exercise 37

MILK
Milk is almost complete food. It is good for everybody.
Mother's milk is the best food for babies. The best animal milk that can
take the place of mother's milk is goat milk.
In the Philippines, there is not enough fresh milk for everyone
. Fresh cow and carabao milk in bottles and cartons can be bought now
in cities and other big towns. Imported canned milk are sold everywhere.
They are mostly evaporated and condensed milk. Powdered milk, too,
can be bought in cans as well as in cartons. There are factories now in
the Philippines that make evaporated and condensed milk out of
powdered milk.

1. What kind of food is milk?

2. Which is the best milk for babies?
3. Which milk can best take the place of Mother’s milk?
4. Do we have enough fresh milk in the Philippines?
5. What milk is sold everywhere?
6. What kind of milk are most of these?
7. How can powdered milk be bought?
8. Where can fresh milk in bottles and cartons be bought?
9. What kind of milk is used in producing evaporated and
condensed milk in the Philippines?
10. Are there factories now in the Philippines that produce
evaporated and condensed milk?
Exercise 38

WEARING GLASSES
Many people wear glasses to help them see things clearly.
Some wear glasses only for reading. Other people need them all the time
. Still others use them to protect their eyes from dust and strong light.
A nearsighted person can see only things that are near. Far
objects look blurred to him. He can read a book he cannot see clearly a
tree across the street. He needs glasses so he can see far objects.
A farsighted person can see far object very well. Things that ar
e near him look blurred. He can see the tree across the street but he
cannot read the book he is holding. He, too, need glasses.
1. Why do many people need glasses?
2. Should all people wear glasses?
3. Can a farsighted person read a book?
4. What looks blurred to a nearsighted person?
5. Why does he need glasses?
6. What can a farsighted person see with glasses on?
7. What things look blurred yo a farsighted person?
8. What can a nearsighted person see well?
9. How do things that are near look to a farsighted person?
10. Can a farsighted person use the glasses of a nearsighted
person?
Exercise 39

THE FIRST PHILIPPINE NATIONAL FLAG

Do you know who made the first Philippine flag? It was made
by Marcela Agoncillo and Delfina Natividad. At that time Mrs. Agoncillo
was in Hong Kong where her husband, Felipe Agoncillo, was in
Hong Kong where her husband, Felipe Agoncillo, was in exile.
It took the two women five days to finish the flag. The colors
used were red, white, and blue. A right triangle was sewed at the left sid
e. At the right side, then upper half was blue, and the lower half was red
.
A sun with 8 rays was sewn in the middle of the triangle. There was also
a star in each corner of the triangle.
This was the flag used when Philippine Independence was
proclaimed in Kawit, Cavite on June 13,1898.
1. Marcela Agoncillo was the _________ of Felipe Agoncillo.
2. Marcela and Delfina made the __________Philippine
National Flag.
3. At that time they were in __________.
4. Felipe Agoncillo was there________.
5. It took the women ____________ days to finish the flag.
6. The flag had ________ colors.
7. On the left side of the flag was a __________.
8. The upper half of the flag was _____________.
9. In the middle of the triangle was a__________.
10. In each corner of the triangle was a __________.
Exercise 40

THE FIRST FILIPINO PHARMACIST

Leon Ma. Guerrero finished his studies in pharmacy in 1875
and became the first Filipino pharmacist.
While working for the Spanish government, he made the plan
for the Spanish government, he made the plan for the Manila Botanical
and Zoological Garden. This later became known as the Mehan Garden.
It was beautiful, People living in Manila as well as those from
other places used to visit it. It was destroyed, however, during the last
war. Recently, the garden was redeveloped and once more, it has its past
beauty. Guerrero's studies on plants and birds made him known all over
the world. As a scientist, he was able to make tiki tiki, a vitamin food,
from rice bran for babies.
1. Who was Leon Ma. Guerrero?
2. What studies did he finish in 1875?
3. What plan did he make?
4. What was used in making tiki tiki?
5. Which of these became known as the Mehan Garden?
6. What was the Mehan Garden visited by many people?
7. When was it destroyed?
8. What made Guerrero known all over the world?
9. What is tikitiki?
10. For whom was he working during that time?