St. Joseph School of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Inc.

Bonifacio St., San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

SY 2024 – 2025

FIRST MONTHLY TEST IN 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

Name: _______________________________________________ Date: __________________

Grade & Section: ______________________________________ Teacher: Ms. Karen Joy Baer

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE
Instruction: Read the sentences carefully and write the letter of the correct answer on the space provided.

_____1. Ana’s grandmother enjoys sharing stories about the village’s history, particularly those that involve
heroism and witchcraft. These stories are so familiar that they are repeated at every family gathering
and festival in the community. What kind of story is Ana’s grandmother telling?
a. Epic b. Legend c. Myth d. Folktale
_____2. Paolo’s younger brother once asked him why the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Paolo then
thought of telling him a story that his father used to tell him about a giant who runs after the sun every
morning. What kind of story did Paolo tell to explain this phenomenon of nature?
a. Myth b. Legend c. Fable d. Epic
_____3. In a cultural fair, a traditional storyteller narrates the story of a warrior who killed a hundred enemies,
even though there is no evidence that this occurred. What kind of story is the storyteller most probably
telling?
a. Epic b. Myth c. Fable d. Legend
_____4. In a literature class, Maria argues that precolonial Philippine literature gives information about the
early Filipinos’ way of life, their beliefs, and their practices even before the Spaniards came to the
country. Which of the following statements is false, according to Maria?
a. Precolonial literature consists of chants, proverbs, and songs.
b. Precolonial literature portrays the way of life, practices, and beliefs of the Filipino people
during the Spanish period.
c. Precolonial literature comprises folk stories such as folktales, epics, and myths.
d. Precolonial literature was in the form of oral literature, where stories were told from one
generation to the next.

Juan Gathers Guavas (A Tagalog Folktale)

One day seνeral neighbors came to Juan's home to νisit. His father wanted to giνe the guests something
to eat, so he sent Juan to get some ripe guaνas for them.

Full of mischief, Juan decided to play a joke on his father's guests. He went to get the guaνas and ate all
of them while thinking of a good joke. Then he saw a wasp's nest hung nearby. With some difficulty he
managed to take it down and put it into a tight basket. He hastened home and gaνe the basket to his father.
Quickly he left the room where the guests were and closed the door and fastened it.

As soon as Juan's father opened the basket, the wasps flew oνer the room. With the door locked, the
people fought to get out of the windows. After a while Juan opened the door. When he saw the swollen faces
of the people, he cried.
“What fine, rich guaνas you must haνe had! They haνe made you all so fat!”
_____5. Juan wanted to have fun at the expense of his father’s guests, so he replaced the guavas with a basket
of wasps, which caused commotion and people's faces to swell. What do you think is the probable
intention of the story “Juan Gathers Guavas”?
a. To punish c. To entertain its listeners
b. To inform the readers about society d. To stress a virtue

The Monkey and the Crocodile (A Tagalog Fable)

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 One day, a monkey saw a tall macopa tree laden with ripe fruits, which stood by a wide riνer. It was
hungry, so it climbed the tree and ate all of the fruits. When it climbed down, it could find no means by which
to cross the riνer. Then it saw a young crocodile who had just woke up from its siesta. It said to the crocodile in
a friendly way, “My dear Crocodile, will you do me a faνor?”
The crocodile was greatly surprised by the monkey's amicable salutation. So, it answered humbly, “Oh, yes! If
there is anything I can do for you, I shall be glad to do it.” The monkey then told the crocodile that it wanted to
get to the other side of the riνer. Then the crocodile said, “I'll take you there with all my heart. Just sit on my
back, and we'll go at once.”
The monkey sat firmly on the crocodile's back, and they began to moνe. In a short while they reached the
middle of the stream. Then the crocodile began to laugh aloud. “You foolish monkey!” it said, “I'll eat your
liνer and kidneys, for I'm νery hungry.” The monkey became nerνous. Trying to conceal its anxiety, it said, “I'm
νery glad that you mentioned the matter. I thought myself that you might be hungry, so I haνe prepared my liνer
and kidneys for your dinner. Unfortunately, in our haste to depart, I left them hanging on the macopa tree. Let
us return, and I'll get them for you.” Conνinced that the monkey was telling the truth, the crocodile turned
around and swam back to the direction of the macopa tree. When they got near the riνerbank, the monkey
nimbly jumped up onto the land and scampered up the tree. The crocodile came to realize what happened and
said, “I am a fool.”

_____6. When you read the story “The Monkey and the Crocodile,” you understand that the monkey tricked the
crocodile in order not to be eaten. What morals can you conclude from this fable?
a. Be careful of the wicked. c. Your wits can lead you to anything.
b. Intelligence is preferable to muscle. d. Trust everyone.

The Creation (An Excerpt from the Tagalog myth)

After a while the parents grew νery tired of haνing so many idle and useless children around. They wished
to be rid of them, but they knew of no place to send them to. Time went on, and the children became so
numerous that the parents enjoyed no peace. One day, in desperation, the father seized a stick and began beating
them on all sides.
The beating frightened the children so much that they fled in different directions. Some seek hidden rooms
in the house. Some concealed themselνes in the walls. Some ran outside, while others hid in the fireplace.
Seνeral fled to the sea.
Now it happened that those who went into the hidden rooms of the house later became the chiefs of the
islands; and those who concealed themselνes in the walls became slaνes. Those who ran outside were free men;
and those who hid in the fireplace became negroes; while those who fled to the sea were gone many years, and
when their children came back they were the white people.

_____7. According to the myth “The Creation,” children run from their father’s wrath and end up in various
locations, giving rise to social classes. What can be inferred from this myth about the society of the
native Filipinos?
a. The vagrants and the loafers should be punished.
b. Parents should be strict.
c. Physical punishment is a good method of correcting the child’s behavior.
d. People are divided into different classes.
_____8. When discussing Philippine literature, Miguel claims that the role of religion was the most dominant
during the Spanish colonization. Which of the following also played a significant role in Philippine
literature during that period?
a. Education b. Trade c. Wealth d. Religion
_____9. What is being referred to in this riddle: “Nang bata pa’y paruparo, Nang tumanda ay latigo. ”
a. Banana b. Turnip c. Belt d. String Beans
_____10. Andrea, in her poetry class, insists that the use of figures of speech should always be clear and
obvious. Which of the following statements is opposite to Andrea’s view?
a. Figurative language is a very artistic way of speaking.
b. Figurative language is suggestive and attributive.
c. Figurative language should not be ambiguous.
d. None of the choices.

_____11. Maria composes a poem to mourn the death of her friend and to ponder the fact that everyone has to
die one day. Based on the information given, what kind of lyric poem is Maria most likely writing?
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 a. Elegy b. Eulogy c. Prose d. Song
_____12. Mark reads the following poetic lines: "The heart out of the bosom was never given in vain; ’tis paid
with sighs aplenty and sold for endless rue. And I am two-and-twenty, And Oh, ’tis true, ’tis true."
What realization does the speaker in the poem come to?
a. The speaker learns the importance of considering another person’s opinion.
b. The speaker is enlightened on the demerits of defying the elders.
c. The speaker learns that young love is foolish and brings suffering.
d. The speaker gains knowledge of the value of life.
_____13. John, after reading Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, is convinced that love does not change with time and
other difficulties that people encounter in their lives. Which of the following statements best represents
John’s understanding?
a. Love fades away when lovers are separated.
b. Love is flexible.
c. Love does not fade away, even in the later years of life.
d. Love even extends to the point of death.
_____14. During a discussion of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Leo claims that the lines “What a piece of work is
a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties!”are the words of admiration of Hamlet. In your
opinion, which of the following tones best describes these lines from Hamlet?
a. Empathy b. Revenge c. Sarcastic d. Disappointment
_____15. Carlos reads Sandburg’s “Chicago” and thinks of a city that is as beautiful as it is sinful and as
productive as it is criminal. In what words does the speaker in “Chicago” describe the city?

They tell me that you are wicked, and I believe them,

For I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps.
Luring the farm boys.

a. Mysterious b. Peaceful c. Independent d. Immoral

_____16. When reading David Diop’s “Africa,” Jane empathizes with the persona’s fight against oppression.
What attitude does the persona in the poem have?

Africa, tell me, Africa

Is this you?
This back is bent
This back is trembling with red scars.
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun

a. Angry and bitter c. Ironic and sarcastic

b. Envious and spiteful d. Cautious and fearful
_____17. When crafting her short story, Lily ensures that her plot remains consistent and gradually builds
towards a climax that ties together all elements of the narrative. Which term best characterizes this type
of cause-and-effect relationship in her story?
a. Exposition b. Plot c. Climax d. Denouement
_____18. Carla, in a class discussion, says that a rose in a poem is not just a flower but stands for love and
passion. What kind of figurative language is Carla using?
a. Theme b. Point-of-view c. Symbol d. Setting
_____19. When it comes to the analysis of a novel, Tomas notes that the story is told in the third person, and the
narrator has an omniscient point of view. What is the term that Tomas is referring to when he talks
about the narrative technique?
a. It is the perspective from which the story is being told by an omniscient third-person narrator.
b. It means the manner in which a story is presented or the way a story is being told.
c. All of the foregoing
d. None of the above
_____20. When Sarah reads a poem about a lonely night, she can almost feel the loneliness that the persona of
the poem goes through. What emotion is depicted in the poetic passage that Sarah read?
a. Confusion b. Optimism c. Loneliness d. Eagerness

_____21. Maria is a young lady who is aspiring to be an author, and she is writing with the aim of portraying
the lives of human beings. She is thinking about how to paint the reality of life—the struggles and the

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 victories. In Maria’s case, which of the following literary forms should she consider to effectively
capture these themes?
a. Short stories b. Parable c. Fiction d. Literature
_____22. Carlos, a philosopher, is pondering the ephemeral nature of life. He comes across a poetic passage
that states:
From morning suns and evening dews,
First, your little one arrived.
If nothing once, you nothing lose
For when you die, you are the same.
The space between them is but an hour.
The fragile span of a flower. "

What deep meaning of life is Carlos likely to gain from the last two lines of this passage?
a. Life is just an hour. b. Life is like a flower. c. Life is frail. d. Life is short.
_____23. During a storytelling workshop, Julia is told to dissect the plot of a story. The facilitator then goes on
to say that after the rising action, the story progresses to the final part. What term should Julia use to
describe this part of the plot where events begin to resolve?
a. Exposition b. Denouement c. Rising action d. Climax
_____24. During a writing exercise, John chooses to explain his character’s current behavior by making them a
survivor of trauma. What literary device should John employ to incorporate past events into the current
story?
a. Point-of-view b. Foreshadowing c. Flashback d. Action sequence
_____25. Sarah is writing a story that revolves around one event, and she is creating only one character in
detail. Which type of narrative best fits the approach that Sarah has taken?
a. Novel b. Epic c. Short story d. Essay
_____26. When choosing the background for her new novel, Lina thinks not only about the geographical
location but also the time, culture, and politics. What kind of fiction is Lina working on?
a. Characters b. Settings c. Symbols d. Plot
_____27. During a conversation about Philippine literature, Pedro says that the “Pasyon” has been authored by
many writers. However, he mistakenly attributes it to someone who is not considered a writer of
“Pasyon. ”Who among the the following is not considered one of the writers?
a. Padre Mariano Pilapil c. Gaspar Aquino de Belen
b. Padre Aniceto Dela Merced d. Cornelio S. Reyes
_____28. To accurately portray the culture and lifestyle of a specific region in a short story, which of the
following techniques should a contemporary writer use to effectively capture the region's customs,
beliefs, and practices?
a. Local color b. Imitation of life c. Use of native language d. Foreign symbols
_____29. When reading a poem, Anna realizes that the final two lines are powerful because they speak to
something absent. Which type of figure of speech is used in these lines?
a. Allusion b. Apostrophe c. End Rhyme d. Lyric Poetry
_____30. Jose is in history class when he discovers a time in Philippine history that was regarded as the ‘golden
period’ for short stories and Tagalog drama. What job is this period associated with?
a. Japanese occupation c. British occupation
b. Spanish occupation d. American occupation
_____31. You are a historian specializing in the effects of various colonizers on Philippine literature, and you
are required to prepare a report on the literary themes that developed during the Japanese colonization.
Which of the themes and motifs would you focus on in your report to draw attention to the difficulties
of the period?
a. Nationalism, patriotism, and life struggles c. Urban and rural life
b. Social issues and domestic conditions d. Autonomy and independence
_____32. While listening a poet recite his poems, you realize that the poet uses the phrases ‘threatening
throngs’ and ‘wicked and wan’ to set a particular tone. Which figure of sound is the poet employing to
make these lines rhythmic and powerful?
a. Onomatopoeia b. Alliteration c. Consonance d. Assonance

_____33. You are about to write a literary analysis for your literature course, and the work you are going to
analyze is rather intricate. What should be the first thing that you do before you proceed to criticize the
text to make sure that you have a good grasp of the text?
a. Collect background data about the text and its author.
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 b. Come up with your own conclusion to it.
c. Summarize the text.
d. Write a review or critique of it.
_____34. Your classmate, in a discussion about the effects of Spanish colonization on native Philippine
literature, says that the written tradition prevailed despite the colonizers. Which of the following
statements would you use to dispel this myth?
a. The native literature had a written tradition during the Spanish colonization of the country.
b. The written tradition of the native literature was wiped out by the Spaniards when they
colonized the country.
c. The native literature was an oral tradition, and it did not pass through the Spanish occupation
of the country.
d. The native literature had an oral form of passing down its literature during the Spanish
colonization in the country.
_____35. You are required to prepare a PowerPoint presentation on the impact of language policies during the
Japanese regime in the Philippines. What do you think is the possible cause of the stagnation in the d
evelopment of Philippine literature in English during this period?
a. Tagalog was made one of the official languages of the country.
b. Tagalog short stories emerged.
c. The Japanese censored literary works produced during the period.
d. Some Filipino writers during this period opted to write in Filipino.
_____36. While reading Amador T. Daguio's poem "Man of Earth," you are struck by the powerful imagery in
the last two lines: “I might have been the bamboo, but I will be a man.“ Which of the following figures
of speech best describes the line:
a. Allusion b. Apostrophe c. End Rhyme d. Lyric Poetry
_____37. When you are about to write your own short story, you think about the components that define this
genre. Which of the following is not a literary device that is inherent in a short story?
a. Character b. Dialogue c. Conflict d. Settings
_____38. You are reading a historical novel for your literature class and would like to know more about the
social aspects portrayed in the novel. Which of these approaches would be most useful in
understanding these influences?
a. Reading other literary works, like the story c. Background of the author
b. Studying other writers’ works in the same period d. Identifying the theme of the story
_____39. In the essay “Literature and Society,” Salvador P. Lopez states, “He is no longer a florist, scissors in
hand gathering lovely blossoms; he has become a tiller of the soil, spade in hand, digging into the
roots of things and planting seeds.” What figure of speech does Lopez use to describe the writer?
a. Hyperbole b. Simile c. Personification d. Metaphor
_____40. When analyzing the essay “Where Is the Patis” by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil with the excerpt “In the
same way that an American dreams of becoming a millionaire or an English boy dreams of going to
one of the great uniνersities, the Filipino dreams of going abroad.”, you consider how she builds upon
the Filipino desire to emigrate to other countries and how people of other cultures dream. What is the
technique that she employs to get her message across?
a. By contrast b. By telling a story c. By example d. By comparison
_____41. When you read one of Nick Joaquin’s essay “Society for the Filipino is a small rowboat: the
barangay . . . Enterprise for the Filipino is a small stall: the sari-sari . . . And commerce for the
Filipino is the smallest degree of retail: the tingi.”, you are introduced to his claims about Filipinos
and their preference for small-scale businesses such as the barangay and the sari-sari store. What social
critique is Joaquin making about Filipino society through these assertions?
a. Filipinos feel small. c. Filipinos are fond of small things.
b. Filipinos are narrow-minded individuals. d. Filipinos have a limited number of friends.
_____42. You are preparing a speech on patriotism and come across Carlos P. Romulo's stirring conclusion in
his essay "I Am a Filipino": What is the tone of this statement to express its emotional appeal? “I am a
Filipino born to freedom, and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been added unto my
inheritance—for myself and my children and my children’s children—forever. ”
a. Patriotic b. Shameful c. Doubtful d. Histrionic
_____43. When reading Fernando M. Maramag’s poem “Moonlight on Manila Bay,” you are expected to
explain the meaning of the historical allusion to “bold Olympia” and its function in foreshadowing
liberty. What background knowledge is necessary to comprehend this allusion?
a. The serenity of Manila Bay c. The Olympia symbolism
b. War and peace d. The link to the fight for liberty

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_____44. You are studying the development of Filipino drama during the American period, and you observe
changes in the themes and forms. Which of the following statements best describes the impact of
American influence on Philippine drama?
a. Realism and modernism c. The religious and moral motifs
b. The continuation of traditional forms d. The appearance of folk plays and local legends
_____45. During a debate in a literature class, you claim that the Japanese occupation introduced new themes in
Philippine literature. Which of the examples would you use to support your argument about the impact
of this period on the themes of literature?
a. The emergence of social realism and political satire.
b. The focus is on romanticism and the idea of the ‘getaway’.
c. The depiction of rural life and the use of folklore
d. The analysis of existentialism and modernism
_____46. When reading pre-colonial Philippine literature, you suddenly realize that the oral tradition involves
rhythmic chanting. In your opinion, how does this technique help in the preservation of cultural
stories?
a. It enriches the narrative with music.
b. It aids in memorizing long stories.
c. It fosters a shared feeling.
d. It is in harmony with the indigenous people's perception of reality.
_____47. You are writing a critical analysis of a short story that deals with issues of identity and acceptance. In
your analysis, you focus on the aspect of symbolism as the means of passing these themes across.
Which of the following would be most helpful in your analysis?
a. The fact that the story is set in a village that is located in a rather isolated area.
b. The conflict of the protagonist with cultural identity
c. The symbol of a broken mirror is repeated throughout the story.
d. The use of dialogue to express the motives of the characters.
_____48. In a conversation about post-colonial literature, you discuss how Filipino writers employed allegory to
comment on colonialism. Which of the following is an example of allegory in post-colonial Filipino
literature?
a. A story of a farmer who is trying to make a living under the colonial masters.
b. A poem that portrays the scenic view of the Philippines.
c. An essay on the impact of Western education.
d. A novel that compares the struggle for independence with the hero’s journey.
_____49. As you read a modern Philippine novel, you observe that the author employs different points of view
in narrating the story. In what way does this technique help the reader better understand the story?
a. It complicates the story.
b. It gives different perspectives on the same event.
c. It builds up suspense and tension.
d. It shows that the characters are from different cultures.
_____50. For the last paper in your literature subject, you chose to write about the theme of hope in Filipino
literature. Which literary work would best exemplify this theme, and why?
a. “Noli Me Tangere” by José Rizal for the portrayal of the fight against tyranny.
b. Dekada ‘70 by Lualhati Bautista for its portrayal of the strength of the family during martial
law.
c. “Florante at Laura” by Francisco Balagtas for the portrayal of individual and societal struggles
d. “Banaag at Sikat” by Lope K. Santos for its portrayal of the struggles of the working class

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