Speed and Comprehension Reading Material GRADE 8

Selection 1
The Tale of the Woodcutter and the Tiger

Korean folklore recalls the tale of a woodcutter who encounters a tiger in the woods. Fearing that
he would soon be the tiger’s dinner, he exclaimed: “You must be my long lost brother! Our mother
cried for you when you left home. She had dinner ready for you every night, waiting for your
return. Sadly, out mother has just passed away. How happy she would have been had she known
you are alive and well!” The woodcutter took out his handkerchief and pretended to wipe at his
eyes. The tiger turned away, as tears fell down his cheeks, leaving the woodcutter unharmed.

Every year thereafter, on Chesa, the memorial day of the woodcutter’s mother’s death, an offering
appeared on her grave - sometimes a peasant, or even his mother’s favorite mountain berries. The
woodcutter did not know where these offerings came from.

One year, the woodcutter noticed that the customary offering had not been placed on his mother’s
grave, and he wondered what had happened. Out from the bush, three baby tigers appeared,
carrying offerings. They approached the woodcutter and cried: “You must be our uncle! Mother
tiger is gone now, and we know how important it is for her to honor grandmother by bringing an
offering to her Chesa table beside her grave. We are here to bring offerings for our grandmother in
loving memory of our mother.” The woodcutter noticed that his face had turned suddenly warm and
realized that it was his own tears streaming down his cheeks.

250 words
 Speed and Comprehension Reading Material GRADE 8

The Tale of the Woodcutter and the Tiger

1. Identify the characters in the story. What roles do the characters play in the tale? What are the
characteristics of these characters that you admire/don’t admire?
2. What particular event or circumstance in the story has contributed to the Tiger’s way of looking
at things in a different way? How has this new way of looking at things being passed on to the next
generation?
3. What kind of conflict led the woodcutter to “fool” the tiger? What would be your own way of
saving yourself from danger?
4. What would you do if that sense of duty and shared destiny passed on to you is in conflict with
your own principles and beliefs in life?
5. Could this tale be used as basis for you to have a glimpse of how the Koreans at present are
coping with the challenges of modernity?
 Speed and Comprehension Reading Material GRADE 8

Selection 2

An Afternoon in the Rice Field

When Tito Bert and Tita Mina invited me to spend a weekend with
them in their farm, I was beside myself with joy and excitement. I had never been to
a farm and all I knew about it was what I had read or what had been told to me. At
last I was to experience farm life. We left Quezon City at two in the afternoon and
arrived at their farm in Victoria, Tarlac at about six, just as the slowly setting sun
was going down through the tall, huge stacks of golden rice straws piled in a row. I
ran to one of the haystacks and leaned comfortably against it. I felt its soft body,
and breathed in its muskiness, unmindful of the itchy sensation slowly spreading all
over my body. I looked around me, fascinated by the view. The farmers were
happily wending their way home; the carabaos glistening with mud were being led
to the corral; the chickens were beginning to roost on their favourite branches, and
the children were finishing their games.

As I sat there, I watched the great ball of fire slowly recede from the horizon.
My whole being was engulfed by the beautiful scene. No wonder tourists and
painters rave over our beautiful sunsets. I gazed at the indescribable scene and
wondered if any painter had captured on canvas that glorious blend of colors and
artistic display of God’s omnipotence. After the sun had set, I turned my footsteps
to my uncle’s home with the realization that it was in rustic places like these that
one felt what true peace and tranquillity of the soul meant.

273 words
 Speed and Comprehension Reading Material GRADE 8

An Afternoon in the Rice Field

1. What is the title of the selection?
A. An afternoon in the Rice Field
B. My Summer Vacation
C. A Happy Afternoon
D. A Lovely Scene

2. Who own a farm and invite the speaker to spend his vacation there?
A. Tito Bert and Tita Carmina
B. Tito Selo and Tita Saling
C. Tito Bert and Tita Mina
D. Tito Noli and Tita Karen

3. How does the speaker feel when he gets to spend his vacation in the farm?
A. with joy and excitement
B. with pride and honour
C. with sadness and sorrow
D. with regrets

4. What time did they leave Quezon City?

A. three in the morning B. two in the afternoon C. at dawn D. twelve midnight

5. What time did they arrive at the farm?

A. six in the afternoon B. nine in the evening C. at dawn D. twelve midnight

6. Where is the farm located?

A. Capas, Tarlac B. Camiling, Tarlac C. Victoria, Tarlac D. Lubao, Pampanga

7. Upon reaching the farm, what does the speaker do?

A. took a bath B. slept already C. ran to one of the haystacks D. played with cousins

8. What things are seen and described by the speaker?

A. farmers happily wending their way home
B. carabaos glistening with mud being led to the corral
C. chickens were beginning to roost on their favourite branches
D. all of the above

9. What sensory images are used by the speaker?

A. sight and touch B. hearing and smell C. taste and touch D. sight only

10. What does the speaker mean in saying, “God’s omnipotence”?

A. powerful B. almighty C. greatness D. all of the above
Speed and Comprehension Reading Material GRADE 8