Department of Education

Region VI – Western Visayas

Division of Iloilo City

Mandurriao National High School

Q. Abeto St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City

MIDTERM EXAMINATION IN ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

NAME:___________________________________________________________ SCORE:________

TRACK&SEC:______________________ DATE:__________________________ 120

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: Instructions are a part of the test. If you did not follow instructions, your
answer will be marked wrong. Wrong spelling is also wrong.

TEST I: Identify which text each of these belong. Answer ACADEMIC or LITERARY on the blank
before the number.

______________________________1. Short story

______________________________2. Textbook
______________________________3. Encyclopedia
______________________________4. Poem
______________________________5. Thesis
______________________________6. Novel
______________________________7. Play
______________________________8. Action research
______________________________9. Feature essays
______________________________10.Instructional manuals

TEST II: Identify which field these jargons belong. Choose the answers from the words below.
Science, Mathematics, Language, Engineering, Computer, Business, Law, Medicine, Maritime,
Aeronautics
__________________________11. CPU, monitor, software
______________________________12. Skin abscess, blood clot, chronic pancreatitis
______________________________13. Bail, caseload, defendant
______________________________14. Hangar, runway, take-off
______________________________15. Fossil, hypothesis, biochemistry
______________________________16. Abandon ship, anchor, ensign
______________________________17. Abbreviation, hyperbole, synonym
______________________________18. Absolute motion, dynamics, electromagnetic field
______________________________19. Actively managed funds, Consumer Prices Index (CPI), fixed costs
______________________________20. Abstract algebra, cardinal numbers, elliptic geometry

TEST III: THESIS STATEMENTS. ENCIRCLE the letter of your answer.

21. Choose the best thesis statement that supports funding for music in public schools.
A. Because music helps students in many ways, the government should approve funding for it in public schools.
B. Music helps students to improve themselves creatively, intellectually, and socially; therefore, the government
should fund music programs in public schools.
C. Music class is fun and offers a creative outlet.

22. Choose the best thesis statement to argue that cats are better pets than dogs.
A. Cats are playful, cute, and furry.
B. I prefer cats because they clean themselves and use a litter box.
C. Because cats are more independent than dogs, they are the best choice for people who lead busy lives.

23. Choose the best thesis statement that argues for taking a camping trip rather than going to a theme park.
A. Theme park rides make many people sick, so camping is the better choice.
B. While theme parks are loud and crowded, spending time together in a natural setting can bring families closer
together, provide a relaxing atmosphere, and promote an appreciation of the environment.
C. Disney may be a fantastic place to visit because it has rides, food, and entertainment, but the woods can be fun,
too.
Pick the answer that would qualify as a thesis statement. Only pick one per question. Pick the BEST
answer.
24. A. How does a dog communicate? B. Does a dog communicate? C. A Dog communicates through his voice and tail. D. I
love dogs.

25. A. Lawyers work harder than judges. B. Do we need lawyers in order to get justice? C. Lawyers go to college for eight
years. D. Are lawyers worth the money we pay for them?

26. A. Credit Cards are stupid. B. Without credit cards, no one would be able to afford the luxuries they have.
C. How people get credit cards. D. The best ways to keep your credit rating high.

27. A. The American Army rocks! B. My father died in The Gulf War. C. There are other peaceful alternatives to war. D. Should
eighteen year olds be forced to register for the draft?

28. A. Teachers should be better prepared to deal with all problems that might arise. B. Should teachers be forcibly retired at
50? C. Teachers work hard. D. What is a teacher?

Which of the following pairs of thesis statements would be better for a research paper? Think
about it. Choose statements that avoid being neutral, offer a point of view (a position of some
sort), and express that view specifically within the statement.
29. A. In the last two decades, many new diseases such as AIDS, West Nile Virus, and SARS have appeared on the
scene.
B. Newly discovered diseases such as AIDS, West Nile Virus, and SARS are a serious threat to the health of millions
of people the world over.

30. A. The fast food industry has taken much of the blame for America’s health problems, but recent research suggests
the problem is far more complex.
B. Because health concerns have become a widespread problem in America, many people have begun to avoid fast
food and to eat healthier foods.

31. A. Unlike many other professional sports, baseball provides no way of keeping small market teams competitive with
teams from larger cities.
B. Unable to keep up with competition from other sports, Major League Baseball has become an outdated institution
in need of serious reform.

32. A. The USA PATRIOT Act, however well intentioned, deals a serious blow to the civil liberties of all Americans.
B. The USA PATRIOT Act gives the government access to voice mail and electronic surveillance, not to mention
other means of investigating suspected terrorists.

33. A. With his bluesy style and guitar pyrotechnics, Jimi Hendrix set the standard that has influenced two generations of
electric guitar players.
B. The great guitarist Jimi Hendrix became famous for his flashy riffs, bluesy style, and outrageous onstage behavior.

34. A. Without a widespread grass-roots movement to put pressure on the U.S. Congress, the Voting Rights Act would
never have been passed.
B. The Voting Rights Act passed by Congress in 1965 included a mass movement of hundreds of thousands, if not
millions, of people.

35. A. Igor Stravinsky’s orchestral ballet, The Rite of Spring, symbolizes the beginning of the modern era of symphonic
music.
B. Stravinsky’s famous symphonic ballet, The Rite of Spring, was first performed in Paris in 1913, after the turn of the
20th century.

TEST IV: Identify whether the following topics should be used in NARRATIVE, PERSUASIVE, or
INFORMATIVE writings.
______________________________36. The biggest mistake I have ever made
______________________________37. Encouraging abortion in society
______________________________38. Support your stand on making 16 as the minimum drinking age
______________________________39. Getting my first dollar
______________________________40. Describing some of the things teenagers seem to need on a daily basis
______________________________41. The most embarrassing moment in my life
______________________________42. Examining future employment trends
______________________________43. My happiest vacation
______________________________44. Four signs of a heart attack
______________________________45. Convince people that human cloning is bad

TEST V: CONTRAST a vacation on the beach and a vacation in the city by filling in the blanks below.
jeans, fishing, relaxing plan, shorts, bathing suit, theaters, sailing, tennis shoes, museums, busy schedule

BEACH VACATION CITY VACATION

PACE OF LIFE PACE OF LIFE
46. _________________________ 51. _________________________
CLOTHING CLOTHING

47. _________________________ 52. _________________________

48. _________________________ 53. _________________________

ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

49. _________________________ 54. _________________________

50. _________________________ 55. _________________________

TEST VI: ENCIRCLE the letter of your answer.

56. Don has written the following paragraph describing ice cream.
Ice cream is a frozen dessert that many people enjoy.The treat comes in many flavors, from rich chocolate to bright
pink strawberry. Ice cream is often served with one or two sugary scoops on top of a crisp waffle cone.
Don is considering adding one of the following sentences. Which sentence belongs in Don’s paragraph?
A. Ice cream comes in different kinds of containers.
B. Ice cream is the best food in the world.
C. Ice cream is sticky and sweet.
D. Ice cream melts fast if it gets hot.
57. Lisa is writing a paragraph describing how a starfish looks. Which of the following sentences belongs in Lisa's paragraph?
A. A starfish is an amazing sea creature.
B. A starfish eats other small sea animals.
C. A starfish can move only a short distance in an hour.
D. A starfish may have dots or stripes on its body.
58. Tina wrote in her journal about her brother's new pet mouse. Which of the following sentences describes the mouse?
A. The mouse has a special house in its cage.
B. My brother got a tiny brown mouse with pink ears fora pet.
C. The mouse ate almost all the sunflower seeds.
D. My brother has a small cage with a mouse in it.
59. Paula wrote the following paragraph describing elephants. Which sentence does not belong in Paula's paragraph?
Elephants are large animals. An elephant weighs about eight tons. It has thick, gray, wrinkled skin. The elephant's
head is large. Scientists believe that elephants remember things for a long time. The elephant's tail is small compared to the
rest of its body.
A. An elephant weighs about eight tons.
B. It has thick, gray, wrinkled skin.
C. The elephant's head is large.
D. Scientists believe that elephants remember things for a long time.
60. Sam has been told to write a description about pet animals. He has chosen to write about his dog. He is preparing a list of
ideas that will help him describe his dog. Which of the following ideas would not be correct in
the list?
A. Why his dog loves him
B. How his dog looks
C. What his dog likes to eat
D. How his dog acts or walks
61. Dulcea is writing a letter describing her new bedroom to her friend. Which is the correct sentence for Dulcea to use in her
letter to describe her bedroom?
A. My bedroom is beautiful and everyone likes it.
B. My bedroom is at the end of a long hallway.
C. My bedroom is better than my old one.
D. My bedroom is large and has a green carpet.
62. Penny wrote the following paragraph telling about seeing a butterfly.
Yesterday, I was staring out of the window and something shiny caught my attention. When I took a closer look, I saw
it was a large, beautiful butterfly flying in front of a tree. Slowly, it seemed to float down the tree until it landed gently on a pink
flower. It rested on the flower for a long time and then just flew away.
Which sentence should Penny add to her paragraph?
A. The butterfly may have traveled south for the winter.
B. The butterfly was yellow with black spots on its wings.
C. A butterfly is one of my favorite insects to draw.
D. That butterfly likes the flowers in my backyard.
63. Dawn wrote a paragraph telling about buying something at a garage sale.
Last week, I went to a garage sale. A shiny, bright object caught my eye. The light was coming from the glitter on
the front of an old costume. It was the most beautiful dress with long fancy ruffles. It was just my size.
Which sentence adds another detail to Dawn's paragraph?
A. My cousin wanted the costume when she saw it.
B. I tried on another costume last week that was almost as pretty.
C. It was bright blue with shiny purple beads.
D. My mother gave me some money to buy it.
64. Phil is writing a paragraph about the adventures on his dad's boat. Which sentence is a good detail about his dad's boat?
A. Dad's boat is tied to the dock.
B. Dad's big boat moved very fast in the water.
 C. The fishing was good from the dock.
D. My three cousins and I stayed in the front.
65. Brad wrote a paragraph about his costume. Which is the correct sentence for Brad to use in his paragraph to describe his
costume?
A. I felt embarrassed when I first saw my costume.
B. Our teacher makes many of the costumes for the plays.
C. I wish my regular costume for the play was more likemy regular clothes.
D. My costume has a large hat with a feather in the brim.

TEST VII: Arrange this NARRATIVE essay in the proper order. Write the NUMBER only on the blank. The first
TWO sentences have TWO points each.
_____ 66-67. My name is Jessica. I'd like to tell you about an important lesson I learned this summer.
_____ 68-69. I never expected to end up having a feud!
_____ 70. I was glad that my new neighbor, Maria, and I hit it off well
_____ 71. I had great plans of fun things to do together!
_____ 72. She moved away in the spring, and we really missed each other.
_____ 73.but I was still looking forward to spending some time with Katherine.
_____ 74. I had invited my friend, Katherine, to visit for a week.
_____ 75. When she got out of the car, I ran to embrace her.

TEST VIII: CLASSIFY these people according to: A. acquaintances you make in school, B. the friends you lose as
you grow, and C. your best friends who may leave, but never go too far. Write the LETTER only.
_____ 76.These are nice people to talk to, but nobody really puts in the extra effort to make it more than that.
_____ 77. These are the ones that you will not see for the first time until the school’s ten-year reunion.
_____ 78. This type of friend is good to have because it is nice to go back and remember the old times.
_____ 79. These friends are the ones that are practically a part of your family.
_____ 80. Usually you have the best times when you are with them.
_____ 81. This type of friend is the one that grew up in your neighborhood and eventually moved away.
_____ 82. Usually, you have known them for many years, and still have not talked to them outside of school.
_____ 83.They bring back the childhood memories that many thought were forgotten.
_____ 84. This is the one you go to when you are having problems and need advice.
_____ 85. When you see them out in public, it is likely they do not even exist.

TEST IX: TECHNICAL (SEQUENCE) WRITING. Read the sentences below. Arrange them in the proper order by
putting numbers on the blanks.
_____ 86. Squirt fluffy whipped cream on top of the sauce.
_____ 87. Take a spoon, and scoop out some ice cream sundae to eat.
_____ 88. Start by placing one scoop of your favorite ice cream into a bowl and add a second scoop of a different
ice cream flavor to the bowl.
_____ 89. Pour sticky hot fudge over the cold ice cream.
_____ 90. Plop a bright, red cherry at the very top.

TEST X: PROBLEM-SOLUTION and CAUSE AND EFFECT: Write the letter of your answer on the blank.
_____91. A solution is
A. an event or situation that causes trouble
B. something used to fix or resolve trouble
_____92. How can you tell the difference between information that contains cause and effect and information that contains a
problem and solution?
A. I can tell the difference when I read it.
B. A cause has a solution.
C. A cause isn't a problem and an effect isn't a solution.
_____93. The rain came down harder and harder. Suddenly the bridge came tumbling down.
Does this paragraph contain a problem/solution text feature or a cause and effect text feature?
A. cause/effect
B. problem/solution
_____94. Caleb hadn't gotten any sleep for the past few nights. He was really tired tonight. He didn't know if he would be
able to sleep. He decided to close the curtains in his room to keep out the light and wear ear plugs to keep out the noise.
Caleb slept very well this night. Does this paragraph contain a problem/solution text feature or a cause and effect text feature?
A. cause/effect
B. problem/solution
_____95. Ellie felt so bad. Her head hurt and her stomach ached. She had a fever too. Her mom decided to take her to the
doctor to find out what was wrong with her. What is the cause in this paragraph?
A. Ellie was sick.
B. Ellie went to the doctor.
C. Her mom was sick.
_____96. I bought my sister a new doll for her birthday. I thought she would like it. When she opened the gift, she gave me a
big hug and said thank you! I was really glad she like the doll. Does this paragraph contain a problem/solution text feature or a
cause and effect text feature?
A. Cause/effect
B. Problem/solution
_____97. Hank came home from school and he was hungry. He decided to see if there was anything in the cupboard to eat.
He checked the shelf and couldn't find any chips or crackers. He looked in another cupboard and there weren't any snack
there either. Finally he looked in the frig and there he found some apples to eat.
What is the solution?
A. Hank found apples to eat.
B. Hank likes chips.
C. Hank looked for snacks.
_____98. A problem is
A. an event or something that causes trouble
B. the way to fix trouble
_____99. Stacey had a lot of fun riding her bike one sunny afternoon. She was just about home when she hit a patch of loose
gravel. Stacey skidded and then tipped over on her bike, scraping her knee. After cleaning the scrape, Stacey put a bandage
on her knee. What is the problem?
A. She hit a patch of loose gravel.
B. She had a lot of fun.
C. She scraped her knee.
_____100. What is the solution to Stacey's problem?
A. She went home.
B. She put a bandage on it.
C. She scraped her knee.
D. She shouldn't have gotten on the bike.

(100-120) TEST XI: This compare and contrast essay is in point-by-point form. Change it to the
block method.

Large Leap

The leap from high school to college is a large one. Many students enter post-secondary education expecting the
experience to be the same as the one they had while at secondary school. These students are wrong to make this
assumption, and they very quickly realize just how different college is. College costs more, presents more academic
challenges, and offers a more social environment than high school.
First, in terms of cost, college is more expensive than high school because of tuition, living expenses, and books.
Anyone who wishes to attend college must pay fees, whereas it is free to attend high school. College tuition can start at
roughly $1,500 per term and can wind up costing as much as $2,000. The government funds high schools, so high school
students do not have to pay for their education. In addition to tuition, college students must also worry about the residence or
rental costs for living close to the college’s campus. In Toronto, rental costs for a basement apartment can range from $400 to
$600 per month (not including utilities), and residence fees at most colleges work out to roughly $2,000 per term. In contrast,
high school students have no living expenses because the majority of high school students live at home with their parents for
free. College is also more expensive than high school when it comes to the cost of learning materials, such as textbooks. In
college, students must buy textbooks for each course they take. These books are not cheap, and they often wind up costing
students several hundreds of dollars once students have purchased the books for all their classes. High school students never
have to worry about buying their textbooks because high schools always keep a set of books, which students use and then
return at the end of the year. Not only do college students have to pay more money than high school students for their
education, the college students also have much more work to do once their bills have been paid.
Second, the workload in college is more challenging than the workload in high school. College students are faced
with the task of having to complete an average of three to five assignments per week, whereas high school students average
only one to three assignments per week. There are more assignments in college, and they are also more challenging and can
take up to eight hours to complete. In contrast, high school students do not have to commit as much time and effort to their
assignments and can often finish all of their homework in the same amount of time it takes a college student to complete a
single assignment. In addition to the extra time that college students put into their work, students experience extra pressure
because their final grades are based on each assignment. In high school, however, an assignment is worth only 5% to 20% of
a student’s final grade. In college, an assignment is worth 25% or as much as 50% of a student’s final grade. College students
are consistently placed under more academic pressure than high school students.
Third, in college, there are more activities, sports, and clubs for students to participate in than in high school. College
students have both the benefits of being able to join varsity sports teams as well as being able to use any athletic facilities the
college has to offer, such as gyms, pools, and weight rooms. In contrast, most high schools often offer non-varsity sports
teams, but very few high schools boast athletic facilities similar to those of a college. Colleges also host social events that are
unavailable in high schools. Examples of these events are orientation week and pub nights. Furthermore, colleges offer more
clubs than high schools do. High schools may have some clubs or groups that students can join; however, because high
schools are smaller with fewer students, the variety of clubs is limited. Colleges are guaranteed to have a club for everyone
because the population base is so large. Athletic facilities, social events, clubs and special interest groups show the college
environment to be much more social than the high school environment.
On the basis of financial, academic, and social aspects, college is more costly, more academically challenging, and
more socially stimulating than high school. These differences need to be taken into account by those students who are
entering college from high school. If new post-secondary students are conscious of these differences, they will be more
adequately prepared for the challenges that college can present.

I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating." - Sophocles

Prepared by: Reviewed by:

MS. CHARLENE V. DE ASIS MRS. MARIE LUNA MAE C. CAPATAYAN
Subject Teacher SSHT III-English Department