English With Ratio 2014

51. The spectators never fail to admire the great Greek tragedy writer Sophocles whenever _______ narrates his dramas. a. she b. him

c. he d. her

ANSWER: C Sophocles is one of the three great Greek tragedy writers. He wrote the famous “Oedipus Cycle” also known as the “Theban Plays” which features the main character Oedipus who killed his own father and married his own mother. Clearly, the blank requires a pronoun for “Sophocles” who is a male writer. Because of this, the correct answer is the pronoun “HE”. 52. If you chance upon the principal on your way out of the campus, please send _____ my best wishes. a. him b. them

c. us d. it

ANSWER: A This question aims to know if the test taker is knowledgeable about the rules governing pronouns. In the given options, the best answer is “HIM”. The pronoun HIM is used if it substitutes a male antecedent in the objective case—meaning the receiver of the action. In this item, although the gender of the principal is not mentioned, the other options such as THEM, US, and IT are erroneous since THEM is used to substitute plural and third person antecedents; US is used for plural and first person antecedents; and IT is only used for animals and inanimate objects. 53. My father and I met a friend of ________ in the shopping center. a. ourselves b. ours

c. them d. us

ANSWER: B This question aims to know if the test taker is knowledgeable about the rules governing pronouns. In the given options, the best answer is OURS. The pronoun OURS is used to substitute for the antecedents FATHER and I.

54. Mr. Carillo, the head of the logistics committee, is concerned about the well being of the seminar participants and so he reports to ______ superior all of the things that he may find compromising. a. he b. her

c. them d. his

ANSWER: D This question aims to know if the test taker is knowledgeable about the rules governing pronouns. In the given options, the best answer is HIS. Given the fact that the antecedent is male and singular, option B “HER” and option C “THEM” are obviously wrong. In addition, HIS is a better answer than option A “HE” primarily because the blank requires a possessive pronoun. 55. Whenever I do things in the kitchen, I make sure not to hurt __________. a. herself b. ourselves

c. myself d. themselves

ANSWER: C This question aims to know if the test taker is knowledgeable about the rules governing pronouns. In the given options, the best answer is MYSELF. All of the options are reflexive pronouns. These pronouns pertain to antecedents who are both the doer and receiver of the action. Since the blank needs a reflexive pronoun that is in the first person singular, HERSELF (third person), THEMSELVES (third person plural), and OURSELVES (plural) are obviously wrong. 56. Some scientists and Bible scholars agree with the ________ that the earth is coming to an end. a. prophet b. prophetic

c. prophecy d. prophesy

ANSWER: C The blank requires a NOUN, because of that, option B “PROPHETIC” which is an adjective, and option D “PROPHESY” which is a transitive verb are wrong. Option A PROPHET is also incorrect because the blank requires an idea and not a person. 57. Fish and Fries ________ my cousin’s favorite fast food meal.

a. is b. has

c. are d. have

ANSWER: A At first glance, one may think that the answer is C “ARE” because there are two subjects joined by the conjunction AND. But in reality the answer is option A “IS”. FISH AND FRIES (just like bread and butter) is perceived and taken as a single entity that is why it must have a singular verb. 58. The members of the congregation are ___________ inside the conference room already. a. altogether b. together

c. all together d. together all

ANSWER: C 59. It is __________ fitting that we organize a literary seminar to pay homage to a great Filipino writer. a. altogether b. together

c. all together d. together all

ANSWER: A FOR ITEMS 58 and 59 These items aim to know if the test taker knows the difference between ALTOGETHER and ALL TOGETHER. ALTOGETHER means the following: 1. Completely and fully 2. When everything is added up 3. In a general way ALL TOGETHER means: 1. To conglomerate 2. To gather up in one place 60. Neither Ralph Waldo Emerson nor his friends ____ present in the meeting last night.

a. were b. is

c. was d. are

ANSWER: A 61. Neither his followers nor Walt Whitman ______ convinced that the ideas of Emerson are out of this world. a. are b. were

c. is d. has

ANSWER: C FOR ITEMS 60 and 61 These items aim to discover if the test taker has knowledge in terms of SUBJECT and VERB agreement particularly in sentences that use NEITHER…NOR. The basic rule is that the verb agrees with the closest noun. In item number 10, the noun “FRIENDS” is closer to the verb therefore the verb must be PLURAL. On the other hand, in item number 11, the proper noun “WALT WHITMAN” is closer to the verb therefore the verb must be SINGULAR. 62. The audience exhibited enthusiasm for the play, they seem _________. a. offended b. disgusted

c. interested d. mad

ANSWER: C The key in this item is the word ENTHUSIASM. All of the given options are negative in terms of meaning except one—option C “INTERESTED”. The word ENTHUSIASM means strong excitement about something. If the spectators exhibit strong excitement about the play, then the words OFFENDED, DISGUSTED, and MAD are not appropriate answers, making option C “INTERESTED” the best answer. 63. The representative of the president had issued a public apology before the victims _______ the case. a. file b. filed

c. filing d. have filed

ANSWER: B This sentence is in the PAST PERFECT TENSE since it has two past actions. In this TENSE there are two basic rules: 1. The only helping verb to be used is HAD 2. There must be two past actions. The first one must have the helping verb with it, and the second one must be in the PAST TENSE. Therefore the correct answer is option B “FILED”. 64. According to the report done by the fire department, the explosion was caused by _________ connection. a. lost b. lose

c. loose d. losing

ANSWER: C This item wants to know if the test taker knows the difference between LOSE and LOOSE. LOSE means (LOST-Past tense) 1. Unable to find something 2. Fail to win 3. Fail to keep LOOSE means 1. Not tightly fastened 2. Not stretched tight 3. Not fitting close to the body Based on the definitions given, the best answer is LOOSE (option C). 65. You ________ finished writing your novel before the winter comes. a. had b. will be

c. will have d. was

ANSWER: C 66. Charlotte Bronte __________ finishing her novel when death arrives.

a. will have b. will have to be

c. will have been d. will be having to

ANSWER: C FOR ITEMS 65 and 66 The Future Perfect and the Future Perfect Progressive Tenses The Future Perfect Tense connotes two assumed actions—the first action will happen and will end before the second one starts. The first future action must have the helping verbs WILL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPIAL FORM OF THE VERB, while the second one must be in the present tense. This is the case in item number 65. The Future Perfect Progressive Tense connotes two future actions—the first action is assumed to be still happening when the second future action starts. The first future action must have the helping verbs WILL + HAVE + BEEN + the ING form of the verb, while the second future action must be in the present tense. This is the case in item number 66. 67. Technology in the field of medicine ____________ tremendously since the beginning of the 21st century. a. does improve b. has improved

c. is improved d. had improved

ANSWER: B 68. Some of our relatives ___________ to visit our great grandfather in the States. a. has decided b. had decided ANSWER: C

c. have decided d. will have decided

69. I have written my report last Monday. What makes this sentence wrong? a. have b. last Monday

c. written d. my

ANSWER: B FOR ITEMS NUMBER 67, 68, and 69 THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE Generally, the PRESENT PERFECT TENSE connotes actions that started at a specific time in the past and continued up until the present time. There are two possible outcomes: (1) the action is still happening but about to end, or (2) the action has just recently ended. The pattern of conjugation of verbs in the PRESENT PERFECT TENSE is shown below. HAS (singular subject) HAVE (plural subject)

+ PAST PARTICIPIAL FORM OF THE VERB (main verb)

In item number 67, the word “SINCE” signifies that the action started somewhere in the past and might still be happening at the present time. Therefore the best answer is B “HAS IMPROVED”. In item number 68, the best answer is C “HAVE DECIDED” because the subject “RELATIVES” is plural. In item number 69, the best answer is option B “LAST MONDAY” because definite TIME MARKERS like YESTERDAY, LAST MONTH, LAST MONDAY (unless the word “since” is added) are not allowed in the present perfect tense because in this tense the two possible outcomes are (1) the action is still happening but about to end, or (2) the action has just recently ended which mean that the end of the action is indefinite. 70. In one of his poems, the Filipino author Zulueta da Costa said that the Filipinos are like the Molave. What figure of speech was used? a. simile b. personification ANSWER: A

c. metaphor d. hyperbole

SIMILE

Indirect association/comparison using the words “AS” or “LIKE”

PERSONIFICATION

Giving humanly attributes characteristics to inanimate objects

METAPHOR

Direct association/comparison

HYPERBOLE

Exaggeration

or

Since the author compared the Filipinos indirectly to the Molave tree by using the word “LIKE”, the best answer is A “SIMILE”. 71. Helen of Troy is the face who launched a thousand ships. What figure of speech is used in the given sentence? a. ellipsis b. synecdoche

c. alliteration d. irony

ANSWER: B ELLIPSIS

Omission of the last words

SYNECDOCHE

An association of one important part that represents the whole

ALLITERATION

The repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words in lines of poetry and even in prose

IRONY

The contrast between what is expected and what actually transpired

72. The rustling trees during winter inspired Robert Frost in writing most of his inspirational poems. What figure of speech is used in the given sentence? a. metonymy b. apostrophe ANSWER: D

c. asyndeton d. onomatopoeia

METONYMY

An association wherein the name of something is substituted by its representation

APOSTROPHE

A direct address to someone who is not present or dead, or to something inanimate

ASYNDETON

Removal of connectors/conjunctions

ONOMATOPOEIA

Mentioning the sound instead of the word itself

73. What figure of speech is used in the given lines that follow: Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before a. euphemism b. alliteration

c. personification d. oxymoron

ANSWER: B EUPHEMISM

Creating a positive connotation out of something negative

ALLITERATION

The repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words in lines of poetry and even in prose

PERSONIFICATION

Giving humanly attributes characteristics to inanimate objects

OXYMORON

Self contradicting coined words

or

74. The lines given in item number 73 are from what canonical and widely read poem? a. Annabel Lee b. The Cask of Amontillado ANSWER: C

c. The Raven d. The Mask of the Red Death

The Cask of Amontillado and The Mask of the Red Death are short stories, so these options are obviously wrong. Option A “ANNABEL LEE” and Option C “THE RAVEN” are two of the most famous poems of Edgar Allan Poe, but the best answer is C “THE RAVEN”. The lines below are taken from the ode “Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” Though nothing can bring back The hour of splendor in the grass, Of glory in the flower We will grieve not, Rather find strength in what remains behind 75. The given stanza above is an example of ____________. a. Haiku b. Free Verse

c. Sonnet d. Rhyme Verse

ANSWER: B HAIKU

A poem with lines up to 17 syllables which are commonly allusions to nature

FREE VERSE SONNET

A poem with irregular or no rhyme scheme at all A poem with 14 iambic pentameter lines

RHYME VERSE

A poem with regular rhymes

76. The ode “Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” is authored by ________________. a. William Shakespeare b. Robert Frost

c. William Wordsworth d. Willa Cather

ANSWER: C William Wordsworth was one of the major Romantic poets in England together with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His ode the “Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” also known as “Ode, Immortality Ode” or “Great Ode”, was completed in the year 1804 and was published in the year 1807 as part of Wordsworth’s “Poems in Two Volumes”.

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.

77. Who wrote the given poem above? a. William Ernest Henley b. Walt Whitman

c. Robert Frost d. John Milton

ANSWER: A 78. What is the title of the given poem? a. The Captain b. The Brave and the Free

c. Invictus d. The Brave

ANSWER: C 79. The poem has how many beats per line? a. six b. four

c. eight d. five

ANSWER: C 80. The last line of the given poem above presents the determination of an individual who is ____________.

a. brave b. lonely

c. fearful d. boastful FOR ITEMS 77, 78, 79, and 80 INVICTUS by William Ernest Henley

The poem Invictus was written by William Ernest Henley during the Victorian period. It was published in the year 1888 in Henley’s “Book of Verses”. Its earlier version has no title but a dedication to Robert Thomas Hamilton Bruce who is a merchant and a literary patron. When the poem was included in “The Oxford Book of English Verses” the editor Arthur Quiller-Couch added the title “Invictus”. 81. The Greek goddess Aphrodite is an exemplification of feminine PULCHRITUDE in the antiquity. The capitalized word means _____________. a. homeliness b. loveliness

c. plain d. ugliness

ANSWER: B PULCHRITUDE means physical comeliness or beauty HOMELY LOVELY PLAIN UGLY

Not pretty, plain, or unattractive Very pleasing Lacking beauty Unpleasant to look at

82. Emily Dickinson is known for her CANDOR about some issues on poetic freedom. The word CANDOR means ____________. a. appeal b. frankness

c. opinions d. tact

ANSWER: B CANDOR APPEAL

The quality of being sincere and honest A quality that causes people to like

FRANK OPINION TACT

something Marked by free and sincere expression A judgment or appraisal The ability to say things without hurting other people

83. Which of the statements below best describes EPISTOLARY LITERATURE? a. A story that is created through exchanges of letters b. A story that is based on history c. A story that is created based on the epistles d. A story that exhibits the adventures of the crusades against the Jihads ANSWER: A EPISTOLARY LITERATURE Epistolary literatures are pieces narrated or told through letters written by two or more characters. 84. Most experts agree that climate change is an APOCALYPTIC event that must be feared by the inhabitants of this planet. Apocalyptic means ____________. a. encouraging b. climacteric

c. attractive d. careless

ANSWER: B APOCALYPTIC ENCOURAGING CLIMACTERIC ATTRACTIVE CARELESS

Ultimately decisive To make someone more determined A major turning point or critical stage Pleasing Without caution

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a

portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

85. What is being said on the first paragraph of this widely known oratorical piece? a. The speaker states that America is only for the early colonizers from Europe b. The speaker posits that America belongs to that native red Americans c. The speaker asserts that America is a nation of people from different origins d. The speaker argues that America is a nation where all the citizens are equal ANSWER: D 86. What is the intention of the second paragraph? a. The speaker is trying to convince the listeners to forget about war and just give in to the demands of the opponents b. The speaker wants to persuade the listeners to stand and fight for equality and justice c. The speaker wants the listeners to appreciate the efforts done by the heroes of the past d. The speaker wants the listeners to remember the sacrifices done by the heroes who fought for America’s freedom in the past. ANSWER: B 87. Which part of the third paragraph summarizes the entire oratorical piece?

a. that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. b. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. c. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. d. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here ANSWER: A 88. The given piece is entitled: a. The JFK Inagural Speech b. The Gettysburg Address c. The Lincoln Memorial Address d. The State of Liberty and Equality Address ANSWER: B 89. Who wrote the given oratorical piece? a. Victor Hugo b. Abraham Lincoln

c. John F. Kennedy d. Carl Sandburg

ANSWER: B For numbers 85-89 The Gettysburg Address By Abraham Lincoln The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history. It was delivered by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863 in Gettysburg Pennsylvania during the American Civil War. 90. Agamemnon, the leader of the Acheans has fondness for women. The underlined word has the synonym: a. aversion b. penchant ANSWER: B

c. defiance d. dislike

Fondness Penchant Defiance Aversion Dislike

Tender affection for something Strong liking for something A refusal to obey A strong feeling of not liking something A feeling of disapproval

91. Edgar Allan Poe feels like a fish out of water upon arriving in a foreign land. The italicized phrase means: a. One who is outside his usual environment b. A fish that was taken out of the sea c. One who feels that he/she is not needed d. One who feels that he/she is not well appreciated ANSWER: A The phrase is an idiomatic expression. An idiom is a combination of words that expresses something figurative, that is why option B is already wrong because it is too literal. Option A is the best answer because just like a fish taken out of water, the subject, Edgar Allan Poe, feels that he does not belong. 92. He is a Filipino poet who in using punctuation marks extensively in his pieces—most especially “commas”. a. Paz Marquez Benitez b. Nick Joaquin ANSWER: C First, a poem must be magical, Then musical as a sea-gull. It must be a brightness moving And hold secret a bird's flowering. It must be slender as a bell, And it must hold fire as well. It must have the wisdom of bows And it must kneel like a rose. It must be able to hear The luminance of dove and deer. It must be able to hide What it seeks, like a bride. And over all I would like to hover God, smiling from the poem's cover.

c. Jose Garcia Villa d. Edilberto Tiempo

93. What is the title of the given poem above? a. Poem 10 b. Poem 11

c. Poem 15 d. Poem 17

ANSWER: A 94. Who wrote the given poem? a. Amador Daguio b. Jose Garcia Villa

c. Paz Latorena d. Paz Marquez Benitez

ANSWER: B 95. What figure of speech was used extensively in the given poem? a. hyperbole b. personification

c. metaphor d. simile

ANSWER: D

SIMILE

Indirect association/comparison using the words “AS” or “LIKE”

PERSONIFICATION

Giving humanly attributes characteristics to inanimate objects

METAPHOR

Direct association/comparison

HYPERBOLE

Exaggeration

or

For numbers 92-94 Jose Garcia Villa Jose Garcia Villa is a Filipino short story writer, critic, painter, and poet. He is known as the “Comma Poet” because of his extensive use of punctuation marks in his poetry. He is also known for his “Poem 10 First a Poem be Magical”. He is known to be the rival of Salvador Lopez on issues concerning the purpose of art (Salvador Lopez for proletariat literature and Jose Garcia Villa for Art for Art’s Sake).

96. William Shakespeare showed composure in front of his critics amidst countless derision. The underlined word means:

a. agitation b. fear

c. aplomb d. nervousness

ANSWER: C Composure

Calmness of mind, manner and appearance To move with irregular and rapid violent actions To be afraid or worried Confidence and skill shown in a difficult situation Showing feelings of being worried or afraid

Agitation Fear Aplomb Nervousness

97. There are times when we are forced to do things against our own volitions. The underlined word means: a. opinion b. intuition

c. will d. fate

ANSWER: C Volition Opinion Will Intuition Fate

The power to make choices A view or judgment Used to express choice or desire A quick and ready insight An inevitable outcome The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough.

98. What is the title of the given poem above? a. The Apparition and the Bough b. In a Station of the Metro c. The Crowd and the Petals d. The Crowded Metro Station ANSWER: B 99. Who wrote the given poem? a. Ezra Pound b. Robert Frost

c. ee cummings d. T.S. Eliot

ANSWER: A 100. The given poem above is an example of modernist poetry particularly ___________. a. stream of consciousness b. free verse

c. imagism d. pointillism

ANSWER: C For numbers 98-100 In a Station of the Metro By Ezra Pound The poem “ In a Station of the Metro” was published in the literary magazine “Poetry” in the year 1913. This poem is a classic example of Imagism as the poet, Ezra Pound, describes a moment in the Underground Metro Station in Paris.