Exercise 7

THE LEGEND OF THE POINSETTIA

When the poinsettia begins to bloom, we are
reminded that Christmas is near. As such it has
become a Christmas symbol. Poinsettias begin to
bloom in November until March. The poinsettia is an
odorless flower with brilliant red color. Its flowers are
actually leaves. How the poinsettia came about is an
interesting legend. It happened during the time of the
Holy Wars or Crusades, when the Christians knights
were fighting the Mohammedans to regain the Holy
Land.
In one of the holy wars, a brave knight climeb the
wall surrounding the Holu City to open the gates so that
the other Christians soldiers could enter. A Moorish
soldier saw him and shot him with an arrow. As he fell
over the wall, his blood dropped on a shrub which later
bore red flowers.
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Poinsettias bloom during the
a. Christmas season b. dry season c. summer months
2. Poinsettias has become a
a. Christmas symbol b. bridal flower c. national flower
3. The poinsettia is
a. odorous b. odorless c. fragrant
4. It begins to bloom in
a. December b. March c. November
5. The brilliant red petals are actually
a. leaves b. seeds c. stems
6. The poinsettia came to have red color during
a. World War I b. the Holy War c. The Japanese-Filipino War
7. Another name for that war was the
a. Civil War b. World War c. Crusades
8. The Christians were fighting against the
a. pagans b. Mohammedans c. Protestants
9. A Moorish soldier shot the knight with a/an
a. dart b. arrow c. gun
10. Poinsettia is a
a. vine b. shrub c. tree

Download more reading materials on our website: www.teachpinas.com

 Exercise 8

AIR POLLUTION
Today in most cities, smoke and
exhaust fumes fill the air and endanger
the health and well-being of the people.
Smoke and exhaust fumes contain
harmful by-products from gasoline
burned in cars and from factories.
Air pollution or smog is a serious
problem in some cities. Smog consists of
smoke and exhaust fumes mixed with
fog.
To control air pollution, smoke
ordinances have been passed. Smoke
belching vehicles are checked and
factories are required to reduce fumes
emanating from them.

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Smoke and exhaust fumes are usually abundant in
a. cities b. farms c. towns
2. Pollution is not good for our
a. health b. mind c. spirit
3. Smoke and exhaust fumes contain much
a. oxygen b. water vapor c. harmful gas
4. Air pollution can make us
a. active b. sleepy c. sick
5. When gasoline is burned, by-products are given off such as
a. oxygen and nitrogen b. carbon dioxide and water vapor c. smoke and exhaust
fumes
6. When smoke and exhaust fumes are mixed with the fog, we have what we call
a. clouds b. smog c. fog
7. The government is doing its best to
a. totally remove air pollution b. encourage air pollution c. control air pollution
8. To lessen air pollution, the government has passed
a. fishing ordinance b. logging ordinance c. smoke ordinance
9. Vehicles are banned from
a. plying the streets b. picking up passengers c. belching smoke
10. Exhaust fumes are by-products of
a. burning gasoline b. healthy people c. plants and trees
Download more reading materials on our website: www.teachpinas.com