Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
National Capital Region
TINAJEROS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
B. Rivera St., Tinajeros Malabon City

1ST PERIODICAL TEST

Subject: ENGLISH 8 Quarter: First

Name: Teacher:
Grade / Section: Score:
I. READING COMPREHENSION
Instructions: Choose the correct answer to the questions based on the story. Write the letter of your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

The Story of the Aged Mother

A Japanese Folktale (An excerpt)
By Matsuo Basho

Long ago, in a tiny village in Japan, there lived a young farmer and his old mother. They lived well but simply until
the cruel governor declared a wicked law. He said, “I have no desire for old people in my village. They are weak and cannot
do work!” The law was to put the people aging 75 years and above to be abandoned in the mountain. The cruel governor also
added, “All who will disobey the law must be put to death together with their old relatives.” This law made the young farmer
very sad for his mother was very old. Though he loved his mother, he must obey the governor.
The young farmer carried his mother to the mountain with a heavy heart. On their way to the mountain, the mother
dropped small twigs as markers to help her son get back. When the farmer bade farewell, she advised him to return home
with the aid of the twigs. This made the son make up his mind to take his mother back home. Filled with dread, he hid his
mother in his home. Their kitchen, where he keeps their food, became his mother’s new place to live.
Time passed, and the farmer was beginning to feel safe when the governor had announced a demand to all of his
people that he wanted a rope of ash. Nobody in the village could make one, it was impossible. The farmer became anxious
with the governor’s demand, so he asked his mother if she knew how to make one. His old mother, filled with the wisdom she
gained from her years of living, had smiled to show her son that the governor’s demand is not impossible. She said, “Son,
make a rope from a twisted straw.” Then she added, “Stretch it on a flat stone and burn it there on a windless night.”
The farmer did what his mother told him, and amazingly it worked. He told the other villagers that he could make the
governor’s demand. Immediately, the farmer was sent to the governor’s place to show him the rope of ashes. The governor
became happy to see how smart his people are from accomplishing a difficult task. To his joy, he asked the farmer where he
got his wisdom. This made the farmer tremble in fear and immediately bowed down to the governor, begging for forgiveness.
The farmer had told him about his mother and how he was able to create the rope of ashes.
The governor became silent and had thought deeply for a while. At that moment, he abolished his law on abandoning
the old people. He would not kill the elders anymore because they had great wisdom.

1. What punishment would the governor give to those who might disobey the law?
A. The relatives of those who will disobey will be put to death.
B. All who will disobey will be buried at the topmost part of the mountain.
C. Any citizen who will disobey will be buried alive by his/her relatives.
D. All who will disobey the law must be put to death together with their old relatives.
2. How did the young farmer respond to the law of the governor?
A. He must obey the governor.
B. He would defy the governor’s law.
C. He should hide his mother from the governor’s eyes.
D. He could not possibly follow the governor because he dearly loved his mother.
3. What did the governor think about his demand in making a rope of ash?
A. Nobody in the village could make a rope of ash.
B. Only the governor himself can make the rope of ash.
C. Somebody from the village could make a rope of ash.
D. It is impossible that someone can think of a way in making a rope of ash.
4. What was the young farmer’s reaction upon knowing the governor’s demand?
A. He was certainly desperate.
B. He thought that he should not inform his mother about the demand.
C. He told the other villagers that he could make the governor’s demand.
D. He did not tell the other villagers that he could make the governor’s demand.
5. What could be the decision of the governor after knowing that it was the young farmer’s aged mother who taught him how
to make a rope of ash?
A. He would ask the young farmer to be one of his trusted men.
B. He would certainly punish the young farmer for disobeying his order.
C. He would not kill the elders anymore because they had great wisdom.
D. He considered the possibility of letting the young farmer and his aged mother live in his house
A. NOTING CONTEXT CLUES
Instructions: Read the sentences carefully, then choose the letter that best describe your answer.
6. When there is no dictionary is available, the definition of a word can be guessed by looking for .
A. blues clues B. contest rules C. context clues D. metaphors
7. It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.
What does the word CONCEIVE mean?
A. have an idea for plan B. beating C. come out of the womb D. becoming crazy
8. In a stagnant housing market, few people buy homes. In the sentence, the word STAGNANT means:
A. not impressionable B. very popular C. not active D. very busy
9. On October 30, 2012, Hurricane Sandy destroyed many homes in New York. At the same time, a huge fire destroyed 80-
100 houses in a flooded beachfront neighborhood, forcing firefighters to undertake daring rescues and injuring three people.
In this story the word FORCING means?
A. to do without a choice. B. to push strongly. C. to laugh. D. to destroy.
10. Sometimes your conscience COMPELS you to do something even when everyone else is telling you do something
different. What does the word COMPELS most likely mean?
A. Discourages B. Forces C. Ignores D. Wants
11. After having spent his entire life in a middle-class neighborhood in a small town, Joey was struck by the poverty and
suffering he saw when he traveled across the country for the first time. He was overcome by feelings of deep sadness and
confusion. Like many people, he believed that poverty no longer existed in the United States. He wanted to help, but he did
not know what to do.
Based on its context in this passage, what does the word struck mean in the first sentence?
A. to have an emotional response C. to be viciously attacked
B. to pose in a certain way D. to hit something intentionally
12. The student was apprehensive about the test. Which definition best describes the word "apprehensive"?
A. anxious B. upset C. excited D. depressed
13. The news story was based on a letter that was a fabrication. Now the reporter who wrote the story is in big trouble. Will
anyone believe him again? A fabrication is __________.
A. made of cloth B. full of long words C. funny D. fake
14. Which of the following is an example of something that happens annually?
A. birthday B. brushing teeth C. doing laundry D. watching television
15. Tanner felt remorse after he stole the cookie from the jar. Which definition best fits the word "remorse"?
A. happy B. unphased C. regret D. anxious
16. What is something ancient?
A. The Mona Lisa B. 2015 Mustang C. Old Navy shirt D. Yankees hat

B. BIBLIOGAPHY
Instructions: Read the sentences carefully, then choose the letter that best describe your answer.
17. A bibliography is define as ________________
A. A list of resources you would like to look at in the future
B. A geographic study of an area
C. A work written about a living individual
D. A list of works utilized by an individual when researching a topic
18. In which option shows what shouldn’t include in bibliography?
A. the authors' names B. the dates your copies were published
C. the titles of the works D. the author's age
19. The word "bibliography" has originated from the _____________and terms- "biblion" meaning a book and
"graphien" meaning to write
A. French B. greek C. Turkish D. Spanish
20. Below are importance of writing bibliography, EXCEPT ________________
A. allows the person reading your report to verify the accuracy of your statements.
B. give credit to the author's of the sources that you used
C. to show respect author of the source you used.
D. to annoy students and steal their precious time
21. Which author's name should come first on the works cited page?
A. F. Scott Fitzgerald B. Edgar Allen Poe C. J.K. RowlingD. Jules Verne
12. A citation entry should be alphabetized by:
A. Date of publication B. Author's last name C. Author's first name D. Publisher
23. Which of the following is a sample entry for name of publisher?
A. Arthuro Valencia B. Vibal Publishing Inc. C. 2018 D. p.16
24. Which of the following has the correct bibliographical entry?
A. Dela Cruz, Ann. Metamorphosis: A Beautiful Transformation. 2020. Phoenix Publishing House. Manila. P.21-25
B. Ann Dela Cruz. Metamorphosis: A Beautiful Transformation. 2020. Phoenix Publishing House. Manila. P.21-25
C. Dela Cruz, Ann Metamorphosis: A Beautiful Transformation. Manila: Phoenix Publishing House. 2020. P.21-25
D. Dela Cruz, Ann Metamorphosis: A Beautiful Transformation. Phoenix Publishing House: Manila. 2020. P.21-25
C. MODALS
Instructions: Read the sentences carefully, then choose the letter that best describe your answer.
25. She is a small baby. She ______________ eat meat yet.
A. must B. can C. can’t D. will
26. Parents ______________ teach their children to be honest.
A. shall B. should C. could D. would
27. The company ________ go bankrupt if they don't find a lot of money quickly!
A. should B. shouldn't C. might D. can
28. The students asked if they ______________ go home early.
A. should B. would C. could D. can
29. My younger brother is given ____________ to play outside.
 A. request B. capacity C. necessity D. permission
30. My dad a _________________ that he will buy me new laptop.
A. request B. capacity C. promise D. permission
31. My classmate has the ___________ to speak four different languages.
A. can B. ability C. obligation D. possibility
32. My sister is _________________ going to Canada next month.
A. promisingly B. obligately C. necessarily D. possibly
33. I will go to the grocery shop tomorrow morning to buy some fruits and vegetables.
A. ability B. decision C. permission D. promise
34. Every parent has an ______________ to take care of their children especially when they are sick.
A. obligation B. ability C. promised. D. chance
35. __________ is a modal adverb that is used to state that something is possible to happen.
A. possibly B. requirements C. necessity D. permissively
36. ___________ is a modal adverb used to state something that is granted or given permission.
A. possibly B. requirements C. necessity D. permissively
37. Modal verbs such as ____________ states no permission
A. can’t/ cannot, may not B. must, have to C. can, could D. shall, should
38. __________ is a modal noun that states quality or state of being need.
A. possibly B. requirements C. necessity D. permissively
39. ________________ is a modal verb that states strong obligation.
A. can’t/ cannot, may not B. must, have to, have to C. can, could D. shall, should
40. ______________ is a modal noun that is used to state a condition that something is needed or must be done
A. possibly B. requirements C. necessity D. permissively

D. TRANSITION SIGNALS
Instructions: Complete the following sentences by choosing the appropriate transition signal.
41. (Because, Before) it was raining, I didn’t walk my dog this evening.
42. I love chocolate, (although, so) I eat chocolate candy whenever I can.
43. The test was really hard. (Therefore, Then), only five students passed it.
44. First, you have to answer the questions. (Next, So), you hand in your paper.
45. Ben needs to go to bed early. (Although, Otherwise), he will be late for school.
46. You will see a big tree; (further on, however) you will see a fork in the road.
47. He really loves reading. (Despite, In fact), he reads almost all the time.
48. That would not be smart. (Despite, In other words), that would be idiotic
49. He really loves reading. (Despite, In fact), he reads almost all the time
50. I went to the movie, (Even though, Next) everyone said it was scary.

1ST PERIODICAL TEST

KEY TO CORRECTIONS
1. D
2. A
3. D
4. C
5. C
6. C 31. B
7. B 32. D
8. A 33. B
9. A 34. A
10. B 35. A
11. C 36. D
12. B 37. A
13. D 38. C
14. C 39. B
15. C 40. B
16. A 41. BECAUSE
17. D 42. SO
18. D 43. THEREFORE
19. B 44. NEXT
20. D 45. OTHERWISE
21. A 46. FURTHER ON
22. B 47. IN FACT
23. B 48. IN OTHER WORDS
24. C 49. IN FACT
25. C 50. EVEN THOUGH
26. B
27. C
28. C
29. D
30. C