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1. Boracay, the most famous beach in the Philippines, is also known as a blessed island. I have
never met anyone who has not been enthralled and fascinated when they visited Boracay. The first time
you set foot on its powder-like sand, you’ll surely feel lucky to be in a paradise island. The moment you
see its crystal pristine water, you’ll be so thankful you’re alive. Many locals and foreigners go there again
and again not only because of the breathtaking view but also because to celebrate life and its blessings.

The best title for the above article is:

1. Famous Beach in the Philippines

2. The Beach of Boracay
3. Boracay, a Blessed Island
4. Why People Go to Boracay

2. Malaysia Airline Flight MH370’s disappearance is still under investigation. Many countries
joined in the search for what really happened and where the aircraft is now. The flight lost contact with
air traffic controllers about an hour after its take off. The weather was fine when the aircraft was flying so
it adds more theories about other possible reasons of the aircraft’s fate. The oil slick spotted off
Vietnam’s coast turned out to be fuel oil used in cargo ships so it has nothing to do with the aircraft.
Interpol also says the disappearance of the jet plane has nothing to do with terrorist attack. More
questions are adding to this quest and no specific answer is given and proven yet.
The above selection supports the idea:

1. That Flight MH370 is somewhere under the sea

2. That Flight MH370’s disappearance is still a mystery
3. That Flight MH370 must have crashed after loss contact
4. That Flight MH370 is in Bermuda Triangle

3. Flappy Bird, a mobile game created in 2013 by Dong Nguyen from Vietnam became a hit at the
start of 2014. At the end of January 2014, it was the most downloaded game in the iOS App Store. The
game is extremely addictive and difficult so users strive harder to score higher. Due to its intense
popularity, the creator decided to remove it from the App Store. Because of its millions of downloads,
Nguyen claimed he was making $50,000 per day from it. The demand of Flappy Bird made some gadgets
owners to sell their devices with Flappy Bird installed for twice or thrice their original price.
What is the best title for the above article?

1. Most Downloaded Game

2. The Demand of Flappy Bird Game
3. Flappy Bird App
4. The Rise of Game Apps

4. According to NASA, effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate
change are now occurring like loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat
waves. Even our Earth’s average temperature has increased about 1 degree in Fahrenheit in the 20th
century. Many experts and scientists believe that global temperature will continue to rise from 2.5 to
degrees Fahrenheit over the next century.
Which of the following conclusions best summarizes the selection above?

1. Climate change will continue to get worse until humanity takes serious actions to stop it.
2. Global climate change is happening on earth now.
3. The effects of climate change are getting extremely dangerous.
4. Global climate change and its effects are occurring and are likely to increase over time.

5. Mark Zuckerberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Facebook spoke with President Barack Obama to
discuss about internet privacy impositions by the U.S. government. Zuckerberg said, “The Internet works
because most people and companies do the same. We work together to create this secure environment and
make our shared space even better for the world.
This is why I’ve been so confused and frustrated by the repeated reports of the behavior of the
U.S. government. When our engineers work tirelessly to improve security, we imagine we’re protecting
you against criminals, not our own government.
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The U.S. government should be the champion for the Internet, not a threat. It needs to be much more
transparent about what it’s doing, or people will believe the worst.
I’ve called President Obama to express my frustration over the damage the government is
creating for all of our future. Unfortunately, it seems like it will take a very long time for true full reform.
So it’s up to us — all of us — to build the Internet we want. Together, we can build a space that is greater
and a more important part of the world than anything we have today, but is also safe and secure. I’m
committed to seeing this happen, and you can count on Facebook to do our part.”

Why is Internet Privacy very important to all of us?

1. Because it is not safe to trust anyone with our online accounts.

2. Because nobody really owns the internet. It is a free space.
3. Because it protects and secures not only our online accounts but also our online activities.
4. Because the government’s protection is not enough.

6. Search Engine Optimization a.k.a. SEO is vital for a website to stay successful for a long time.
The world of internet continues to evolve so website owners must stay in the game by making updates
while practicing effective SEO. Great content and correct SEO are the blood of a website because without
them, a site could die.

The paragraph is mainly about what?

1. The importance of Search Engine Optimization

2. The life of a successful website
3. The secrets of making a website successful
4. How to apply Search Engine Optimization

7. There are around 2 million Filipinos without jobs today. That includes graduates and
undergraduates. According to survey, there will be another half-million to graduate this year without
possible job placements. Unemployed people complain about job shortage. Many go to the cities to apply
to some companies but end up going home with nothing. Unemployment rate increases each year even
though there are many job fairs.
The paragraph states that…

1. Unemployment in the Philippines is common

2. Unemployment rate in the Philippines is seriously increasing
3. Unemployment in the Philippines must be solved
4. Unemployment solutions for Filipinos

8. “In the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington State, a small town named Forks exists under
a near-constant cover of clouds. It rains on this inconsequential town more than any other place in the
United States of America. It was from this town and its gloomy, omnipresent shade that my mother
escaped with me when I was only a few months old. It was in this town that I’d been compelled to spend
a month every summer until I was fourteen. That was the year I finally put my foot down; these past three
summers, my dad, Charlie, vacationed with me in California for two weeks instead.
It was to Forks that I now exiled myself – an action that I took with great horror. I detested Forks.
I loved Phoenix. I loved the sun and the blistering heat. I loved the vigorous, sprawling city.”
-Stephenie Meyer, “The Twilight Saga”

Provide the specific setting of the story

1. Phoenix
2. Rainy day
3. Forks, Washington
4. Twilight

9. “It’s twenty-five after six and the sky still has some shades of purple and orange…oh well just
like me, I am standing here, in this secretive rooftop, overjoyed…yet there are still some fragments of
fear and haze… I wonder if the sky is glad and excited about the night or if it is crying over the bright day
that passed.” – Fehl Dungo – “Higher than the Rooftop”
What is the mood of the story?
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1. Happiness
2. Sorrow
3. Confusion
4. Grief

10. Investing has been a hot topic for quite a while. Many people especially employees and
entrepreneurs don’t rely on time deposits and regular savings account to save and earn interests. The most
common investments in the Philippines are through real estates, mutual funds and trust funds. Although
few people also join trading in the stock market, more and more Filipinos are not reluctant to invest their
money and diversify them to different money making wheels.

What does the article try to convey?

1. Filipinos are now willing to open different investments.

2. Filipinos are wise in saving their money.
3. Filipinos rely mainly on savings and deposit accounts.
4. Filipinos invest in real estates, mutual funds and trust funds.

A person born in the year of the tiger is capable of earning large sums of money but he is rather a
spendthrift and does not always put his money to best use. He can also be generous and will often shower
lavish gifts on friends and relations. That is why a Tiger person has many friends and acquaintances.

11. What is TRUE about a Tiger person?

1. Extravagant in spending money
2. Generous in helping others
3. Treasures hard-earned money
4. Spends money wisely

12. Why is a Tiger person popular?

1. Because he has such money
2. Because he is a happy-go-lucky type
3. Because he is generous with gifts for friends
4. Because he is idolized for his money

The advent of cellphone is perhaps the best contribution of modern technology to our communication
system. Back then it was only through letters that we could communicate with our loved ones from afar
and letters took time to reach their destinations. Today, we can talk to our loved ones anytime we wish
with the use of cellphones.

13. Why does the paragraph state that the cellphone is the best contribution modern technology to
humankind?
1. It made communication easier and faster.
2. It brought families closer to one another.
3. It is the most wonderful invention of mankind.
4. It did away with the snail pace mail.

Laughter is the best medicine. And there’s lot of evidence that laughter does lots of good things for us. It
reduces pain and allows us to tolerate discomfort. It reduces blood sugar levels, increasing glucose
tolerance in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. It improves your job performance, especially if your work
depends on creativity and solving complex problems. Its role in intimate relationships is vastly
underestimated and really is the glue of good marriages. It synchronizes the brains of the speaker and the
listener so that they are emotionally attuned.

Laughter establishes –- or restores – a positive emotional climate and sense of connection between two
people.

14. Which can be said about laughter?

1. Laughter brings about a number of positive things in people and in human relationships
2. It reduces a person’s tolerance of pain.
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3. It makes you a better speaker.

4. It helps speakers to focus on essentials.

What we call Filipinas, Pilipinas, or the Philippines today had only tribes, little kingdoms, sultanates,
collections of villages, or islanders, resentful, hostile, or at-odds with each other, or ignorant of each
other. And to “save” our country they’re proposing to go back to that?

Adopt federalism, and soon enough there will be no more Philippines. (Not even a Senate- which is not
altogether a bad thing.) That’s what “Federalism” means for us if we foolishly adopt the idea. The
proponents of that awful placebo make it sound slick, but it would be the death sentence of a unity we still
have for no matter, fallen far short of achieving.

15. What does the author say about federalism?

1. It means autonomy for the local government.
2. It will make local governments progress.
3. It will divide the country even more.
4. It will bring progress to the whole Philippines

16. Which is expressed in the above paragraphs?

1. Let’s not adopt federalism or else go back to the Filipinas, collections, and villages.
2. Let’s adapt federalism to strengthen local governments.
3. Let’s adopt federalism to attain what we have not attained as a nation.
4. Let’s take a neutral stand. Federalism is a foolish idea.

What are the advantages of federalism? It allows for each individual state to create laws that can be
applied specifically to setting and conditions that the state finds itself, a greater level of civic
participation; stops the centralization of power; and encourages research in good policy. However, there
are also disadvantages to this form of government. Federalism can hinder the creation of effective
national policy, create big problems regarding overlapping jurisdictions and law, and create general
ignorance of the public in regards to the larger issues facing the country.

17. What is the essence of federalism?

1. It is empowerment of the young.
2. It is centralization.
3. It is dictatorship.
4. It is decentralization.

In 2011, the Philippines ratified the Rome statute which established the International Criminal Court.
Under this treaty, every Filipino, including the President can be tried by this court which has jurisdiction
over crimes against humanity. The treaty provides that when a murder is “committed as a part of a
widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack,” it
becomes a crime against humanity.

18. Which is expressed in the paragraph?

1. The Philippine government is signatory to the Rome statute.
2. The President, being the highest official of the land, is not subject to the ICC.
3. The ICC has jurisdiction over all types of crimes especially crimes against humanity.
4. All forms of murder are crime against humanity.

The President enjoys immunity under Philippine law, but he has no similar immunity for crimes under the
International Criminal’s Court jurisdiction… There is no expiration of liability for ICC crimes, sig e can
be charged even after he leaves Malacanang.

19. Which conclusion can be drawn from the paragraph?

1. No one is above the international law.
2. International law is applied discriminately.
3. The President enjoys immunity for crimes under the ICC.
4. When a President ends his term of office, he will no longer be charged for crimes against
humanity before the ICC.
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20. In the life-span perspective, early adulthood is not the endpoint of development; rather, no age period
dominates development.
1. Childhood is the height of a person’s development.
2. Adulthood is the end of development.
3. There is no end to development. Development is lifelong.
4. Adolescence is the most significant period in a person’s development.

Directions: Read the passages and answer the questions that follow.

For questions 21-28:

“A Daily Record”

A diary is a daily personal record. In it the writer is free to record anything at all. This
may include events, comments, ideas, reading notes, or any subject on one’s mind. Diaries may
be kept for various purposes – to record the experiences of one’s life so as not to forget them, to
record ideas that might prove useful, or simply to express oneself through the medium of the
printed word. In past centuries people in public life often kept diaries. These have become
valuable sources of fact and interpretation for later historians. The private candid observations
set down in these personal journals often provide truer pictures of an age than do records or
other books, which may have been censored during that time. For the most part, these diaries
were never intended to be read by others. The entries were made simply as aids to memory or
as a form of relaxation.

In modern times, however, politicians and other people realize that their diaries will likely
be read by historians or, in published form, by the public. Thus, they may make entries with
these readers in mind. As a result, their diaries may lose the confidential, intimate nature of the
older ones. On the other hand, their entries may tend to be more complete and self-explanatory.
The most famous diary ever written in English was that kept by Samuel Pepys. A civilian official
of the British army, Pepys made regular entries between 1660 and 1669. His diary starts at the
beginning of the Restoration period in English history and describes many of the court intrigues
and scandals of his day. The diary reveals Pepys as a man with many human weaknesses but
one who was honest with himself. He wrote his entries in a combined code and shorthand that
was not solved until more than 100 years after his death. The most famous diary of the 20th
century was published with the simple title Diary of a Young Girl. It was more commonly known
as The Diary of Anne Frank. Anne was a young Jewish girl whose diary records the two years
her family spent in hiding, mostly in the Netherlands, trying to escape the Nazi persecutors of
the Jews. She and her family were finally caught in August 1944. She was imprisoned and died
at a concentration camp in Germany in March 1945.

1. A diary is
A. a report on world events
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B. a daily personal record

C. a documentary
2. The most famous diary ever written in English was kept by
A. Samuel Johnson
B. Samuel Pepys
C. Anne Frank
3. Diary of a Young Girl was written
A. during the civil war
B. in the 1940s
C. during the 19th century
4. Anne Frank’s diary describes
A. the years her family spent hiding from the Nazis
B. a German concentration camp
C. the life of an average young girl
5. Diaries of the past may give a truer picture of an age than published books because
A. diaries are uncensored
B. published books give only one point of view
C. amateur writers were more thorough than professional writers
6. Today’s diarists may not be as confidential as those in the past because
A. they expect that their diaries will be read by others
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B. they have more secrets to hide

C. people today are harsher critics
7. You may conclude from the article that Samuel Pepys wrote his diary in code and shorthand
because
A. he was fond of mysteries
B. he did not want his diary to be read by the wrong people
C. he could not write in proper English
8. It is probable that most people keep diaries in order to
A. become famous
B. keep personal records
C. practice their writing skills

For questions 9-12:

Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea. Besides
holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making us
tolerant of each other's yarns-and even convictions. The Lawyer-the best of old fellows-had,
because of his many years and many virtues, the only cushion on deck, and was lying on the
only rug. The Accountant had brought out already a box of dominoes and was toying
architecturally with the bones. Marlow sat cross-legged right aft, leaning against the
mizzenmast. He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion, a straight back, an ascetic aspect,
and, with his arms dropped, the palms of hands outwards, resembled an idol. The Director,
satisfied the anchor had good hold, made his way aft and sat down amongst us. We exchanged
a few words lazily. Afterwards there was silence on board the yacht. For some reason or other
we did not begin that game of dominoes. We felt meditative and fit for nothing but placid staring.
The day was ending in a serenity of still and exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically; the
sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist on the Essex
marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung
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from the wooded rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds. Only the gloom
to the west, brooding over the upper reaches, became more sombre every minute, as if angered
by the approach of the sun. And at last, in its curved and imperceptible fall, the sun sank low,
and from glowing white changed to a dull red without rays and without heat, as if about to go out
suddenly, stricken to death by the touch of that gloom brooding over a crowd of men. From ‘The
Heart of Darkness’, by Joseph Conrad
9. The narrator of this passage is telling his story from:
A. a wharf.
B. the deck of a yacht.
C. a high vantage point.
D. the edge of the Essex marshes.
E. None of the above.
10. The mood of the men in this passage is best described as:
A. surly.
B. resigned.
C. contemplative.
D. restless.
E. ecstatic.
11. From the passage, it is clear that the men:
A. do not get along.
B. show a quiet understanding.
C. cannot be bothered with one another.
D. have just had a quarrel.
E. are worn out.
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12. The word ‘diaphanous’, used to describe the mist, means:

A. almost transparent.
B. fragile.
C. suffocating.
D. silent
E. none of the above.
For questions 13-15:
Of all the farm animals a person might own, the goat is the best personal pet. For one thing, you
can keep it for a longer time than other farm animals. Even after a doe is fully-grown and you
are milking her, she will remain your pet. She will not lose her love of adventure or her “sense of
humor”. Goats nose over everything they see, and they eat so many different things that people
long ago thought that goats ate tin cans. A doe, often called a nanny goat, usually has a single
birth. Sometimes, however, twins or even triplets are born. By the time a young kid is five
months old; it may be taken from its mother and kept as a pet.
13. The writer implies that most farm animals
A. are hard to train
B. enjoy being with people
C. become independent as they grow older
D. like to live with other animals
14. The above paragraph suggests that goats are
A. stubborn
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B. patient
C. curious
D. intelligent
15. According to the paragraph, the idea that goats can eat tin cans
A. is based on a fact
B. was argued many years ago
C. is untrue
D. is certainly possible

For questions 16-20:

Mount Vesuvius, a volcano located between the ancient Italian cities of Pompeii and
Herculaneum, has received much attention because of its frequent and destructive eruptions.
The most famous of these eruptions occurred in A. D. 79. The volcano had been inactive for
centuries. There was little warning of the coming eruption, although one account unearthed by
archaeologists says that a hard rain and a strong wind had disturbed the celestial calm during
the preceding night. Early the next morning, the volcano poured a huge river of molten rock
down upon Herculaneum, completely burying the city and filling in the harbor with coagulated
lava. Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, cinders, stone and ash rained down on
Pompeii. Sparks from the burning ash ignited the combustible rooftops quickly. Large portions of
the city were destroyed in the conflagration. Fire, however, was not the only cause of
destruction. Poisonous sulphuric gases saturated the air. These heavy gases were not buoyant
in the atmosphere and therefore sank toward the earth and suffocated people. Over the years,
excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum have revealed a great deal about the behavior of the
volcano. By analyzing data, much as a zoologist dissects a specimen animal, scientist have
concluded that the eruption changed large portions of the area's geography. For instance, it
turned the Sarno River from its course and raised the level of the beach along the Bay of
Naples. Meteorologists studying these events have also concluded that Vesuvius caused a
huge tidal wave that affected the world's climate. In addition to making these investigations,
archaeologists
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have been able to study the skeletons of victims by using distilled water to wash away the
volcanic ash. By strengthening the brittle bones with acrylic paint, scientists have been able to
examine the skeletons and draw conclusions about the diet and habits of the residents. Finally,
the excavations at both Pompeii and Herculaneum have yielded many examples of classical art,
such as jewelry made of bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin. The eruption of Mount
Vesuvius and its tragic consequences have provided us with a wealth of data about the effects
that volcanoes can have on the surrounding area. Today volcanologists can locate and predict
eruptions, saving lives and preventing the destruction of cities and cultures.
16. Herculaneum and its harbor were buried under ___lava.
A. liquid
B. solid
C. flowing
D. gas
E. answer not available
17. The poisonous gases were not ___ in the air.
A. able to float
B. visible
C. able to evaporate
D. invisible
E. able to condense
18. Scientists analyzed data about Vesuvius in the same way that a zoologist ___ a specimen.
A. describes in detail
B. studies by cutting apart
C. photographs
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D. chart
E. answer not available
19. ____have concluded that the volcanic eruption caused a tidal wave.
A. Scientist who studies oceans
B. Scientist who studies atmospheric conditions
C. Scientist who studies ash
D. Scientist who studies animal behavior
E. Answer not available in article
20. Scientist have used ___water to wash away volcanic ash from the skeletons of victims.
A. bottled
B. volcanic
C. purified
D. sea
E. fountain