BATASAN HILLS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

IBP Rd. Batasan Hills, Quezon City

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

DIAGNOSTIC TEST
A.Y. 2019-2020 - MIDTERM

Directions: Read and comprehend the questions carefully.

1. It is a term used to denote genre fiction within women's fiction written for and marketed to young women, especially
single, working women in their twenties and thirties.
a. Chik lit b. Flash fiction c. Erotic literature d. Graphic novels
2. A very short story that which often consists of one or two pages and it does not include all the elements of short story.
a. Chik lit b. Flash fiction c. Erotic literature d. Graphic novels
3. Which questions allow the learners to reflect on a reading text?
a. Which character would you like to have as a friend and why?
b. What event or place in the story reminds you of your life and why?
c. What happened in the beginning of the story?
d. What is the overall tone of the short story?
4. What literary genre is the example below:
“Does this mean you’re going to make love to me tonight, Christian?” Holy shit. Did I just say that? His mouth drops open
slightly, but he recovers quickly.“No, Anastasia it doesn’t. Firstly, I don’t make love. I ….hard. Secondly, there’s a lot more
paperwork to do, and thirdly, you don’t yet know what you’re in for. You could still run for the hills. Come, I want to show you
my playroom.”My mouth drops open. …… hard! Holy shit, that sounds so… hot. But why are we looking at a playroom? I
am mystified.
a. Chiklit b. Erotic literature c. Flash Fiction d. Text Talk
5. Words or phrases that express meanings in a nonliteral way are referred to as figurative language or .
a. figures of speech b. figures of relationship c. figures of emphasis d. figures of sound
6. Onomatopoeia and alliteration are classified as .
a. figures of sound b. figures of reference c. figures of relationship d. figures of emphasis
7. Also referred to as figurative language, are words or phrases that express meanings in a nonliteral way.
a. Vocabulary b. Figures of Speech c. Grammar d. Symbolism
8. Why do writers use figurative speech in writing literary pieces?
a. To enhance the artistic quality of their works. b. To add color to the work.
c. Just for fun d. To make it more interesting.
9. Which of the following figures of speech is used in the passage below? All the world's a stage, And all the men and
women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances,
–from As You Like It by William Shakespeare
a. Simile b. Personification c. Metaphor d. Irony
10. It refers to the author’s life and the social, political, and economic conditions that influenced and shaped it.
a. Biographical context b. Linguistic context c. Socio-cultural context d. Literature
11. In analyzing a text based on its biographical context, a reader __________.
a. Compares the literary work to other works b. Examines the styles and techniques used by the author
c. Gathers relevant facts about the authors life d. Identifies the images used by the author.
12. When you read a text based on biographical context, you engage in a ______________
a. Formalist criticism b. Psychoanalytic criticism c. Biographical criticism d. Gender criticism
13. Which of the following should not be considered in reading through a biographical context?
a. Educational b. Social c. Figurative language d. Political
14. Which of the following tells why we should consider gathering information about the author’s literary influences?
a. It helps the reader to understand literary works thoroughly. b. It develop’s the reader reading critical skills
c. It may have caused an impact to the author and his works. d. It reveals the authors lack of originality.
15. Which of the following is not true about literature?
a. It is based on real events. b. It is based on orchestrated events.
c. It only focuses on the author’s life. d. It is a form of expression.
16. All statements describe analyzing a text through a biographical context except
a. It is important to know the literary or philosophical movement that existed during the author’s time.
b. It is important to know the author’s literary background.
c. It is important to know the educational institutions the author has attended.
d. It is important to know what is on the author’s mind while writing the text.
17. If a biographical approach refers to the reading strategy one employs in reading a text, then biography refers to
a. a detailed account about the author’s life b. a fictional account about the author’s life
c. a superficial account about the author’s life d. a partial account about the author’s life
18. Nestor Vicente Madali “N. V. M.” Gonzalez was born on September 8, 1915 in Romblon, Romblon. At the age of five, his
family moved to Mindoro. He attended the Mindoro High School from 1927 to 1930 and the National University, but he was
not able to obtain a degree. His first essay was published in the Philippine Graphic. He was also an editor for the Manila
Chronicle and Evening News Magazine.
The passage about N. V. M. Gonzalez is a _________.
a. Biography b. biographical context c. biographical analysis d. fiction
19. “Mi último adiós” is a poem written by Jose Rizal a day before he was executed in Bagumbayan. Based on this
information, what can you infer about the author?
a. He was prepared to die. b. He passed the torch to Andres Bonifacio.
c. He remained optimistic despite of his suffering. d. He encouraged the people to fight against the Spaniards.
20. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (An Excerpt) By Manuel E. Arguilla
"You are Baldo," she said and placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. Her nails were long, but they were not painted. She
was fragrant like a morning when papayas are in bloom. And a small dimple appeared momently high on her right cheek.
"And this is Labang of whom I have heard so much." She held the wrist of one hand with the other and looked at Labang,
and Labang never stopped chewing his cud. He swallowed and brought up to his mouth more cud and the sound of his
insides was like a drum.
What makes this piece of text distinctly Filipino?
a. It uses the summer season, which happens all-year-round in the Philippines.
b. It uses a flourish of words that melodramatic Filipinos tend to enjoy.
c. It uses a short, simple statement that indicates Filipino practicality.
d. It uses images and scents that exist in the rustic Philippine countryside.
21. In the short story “Dead Stars,” a character named Julia Salas is described as a woman with inner beauty. In Alfredo
Salazar’s eyes her beauty is seen this way: “The lure was there, of naturalness, of an alert vitality of mind and body, of a
thoughtful, sunny temper, and of a piquant perverseness which is sauce to charm.”
Which of these statements does not describe the woman in the excerpt?
a. The woman had a joyful and sweet personality mixed with playfulness.
b. The woman possessed a natural loveliness that was very attractive.
c. The woman was a perfect physical specimen of female beauty.
d. The woman had an indescribable allure and magnetic charm.
22. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (An Excerpt) By Manuel E. Arguilla
"Give me the rope, Baldo," my brother Leon said. "Maria, sit down on the hay and hold on to anything." Then he put a foot
on the left shaft and that instant, Labang leaped forward. My brother Leon laughed as he drew himself up to the top of the
side of the cart and made the slack of the rope hiss above the back of Labang. The wind whistled against my cheeks and
the rattling of the wheels on the pebbly road echoed in my ears.
In this passage, the author uses simple language to convey meaning. What makes it simple?
a. The tone is very dull. b. The writing is very smooth. c. The words are familiar. d. The characters are relatable.
23. These are essential to a story as writers utilize these components to serve as the structure of and to develop a story.
a. Foreshadowing b. literary techniques c. literary elements d. catharsis
24. Which of the following sets of words refers to literary elements?
a. anaphora, dialogue, setting b. plot, catharsis, setting
c. setting, theme, characters d. characters, cliff-hanger, hamartia
25. All statements describe anaphora except
a. It adds rhythm to a line or paragraph. b. It is also called tragic flaw.
c. It is used to stir emotions among the audience. d. It is also called epanaphora.
26. Which of the following is true about the antihero?
a. The protagonist does not possess the traits expected of a hero.
b. The protagonist possesses the traits expected of a hero.
c. The protagonist has dignity.
d. The protagonist is brave.
27. What the Thunder Said (An Excerpt) By T. S. Eliot
After the torchlight red on sweaty faces . After the frosty silence in the gardens. After the agony in stony places. The
shouting and the crying. Prison and palace and reverberation
Of thunder of spring over distant mountains. He who was living is now dead. We who were living are now dying. With a little
patience. The passage is an example of ___________________
a. Hamartia b. cliff-hanger c. anaphora d. stream of consciousness
28. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (An Excerpt) By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
No, said Snow White, I dare not take anything. Are you afraid of poison, said the old woman, look, I will cut the apple in two
pieces, you eat the red cheek, and I will eat the white. The apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was
poisoned. Snow White longed for the fine apple, and when she saw that the woman ate part of it she could resist no longer,
and stretched out her hand and took the poisonous half. But hardly had she a bit of it in her mouth than she fell down dead.
Then the queen looked at her with a dreadful look, and laughed aloud and said, white as snow, red as blood, black as
ebony-wood, this time the dwarfs cannot wake you up again.
Which of the following techniques best describe the excerpt?
a. Antihero b. Catharsis c. Hamartia d. Foreshadowing
29. Gollum was a notable character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. He was portrayed as a creature who
constantly struggles between good and evil. What can you infer about Gollum?
a. He is a villain. b. He is just another creature. c. He is an antihero. d. He is a hero.
30. Which of these works is written in Middle English?
a. Songs of Innocence and of Experience b. The Canterbury Tales
c. The Merchant of Venice d. The Importance of Being Earnest
31. Which Victorian writer is known for his dramatic monologues?
a. Alfred Lord Tennyson b. Robert Browning c. Charles Dickens d. Oscar Wilde
32. Which period is the golden age of lyric poetry?
a. Romantic Period b. Twentieth Century Period c. Elizabethan Period d. Victorian Period
33. Beowulf (An Excerpt)
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have heard, and what honor the
athelings won! Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes, from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, awing the earls. Since
erst he lay friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve, till before him the folk,
both far and near, who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate, gave him gifts: a good king he!To him an heir was
afterward born,a son in his halls, whom heaven sent to favor the folk, feeling their woe that erst they had lacked an earl for
leader so long a while; the Lord endowed him,the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown.Famed was this Beowulf: far flew
the boast of him, son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.
The word whale-path is an example of a kenning. What does it refer to?
a. a whale b. the sea c. dry land d. a road
34. My Last Duchess (An Excerpt)By Robert Browning
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s
hands. Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Whose voice does the poet assume in his work?
a. the painting b. the poet himself c. the duchess d. the duke
35. Asian literature includes works produced in the following languages except one. Which one is it?
a. Chinese b. French c. Filipino d. Hindi
36. Which of the following Asian languages are vernacular languages of India?
a. Hindi b. Japanese c. Sanskrit d. Chinese
37. A Haiku by Basho
A snowy morning-- by myself, chewing on dried salmon.
Which statements can be said about the image?
a. It shows a very cold morning. b. It shows a moment during wintertime.
c. It shows a very poor man. d. It shows a solitary man.
38. A Poem by Du Fu
The river's blue, the bird a perfect white,
The mountain green with flowers about to blaze.
I've watched the spring pass away again,
When will I be able to return?
What does the persona likely feel about his situation?
a. Weariness b. Fear c. Contentment d. Excitement
39. This critical reading strategy involves the examination of the reader’s personal responses to the text. What is this
strategy?
a. reflecting on a text b. making an outline
c. asking questions about a text d. evaluating the argument made in a text
40. Which of the following is not the purpose of critical reading?
a. Readers read texts critically to learn more about culture and society.
b. Readers read texts critically for amusement.
c. Readers read texts critically for better understanding of their meaning.
d. Readers read texts critically to learn new information.