(Teacher’s copy-Grades 7-8)

152 words

Air Currents

Wind is the natural movement of the air from one place to another. It
affects the climate of a place. There are three major air streams that greatly
affect our climate.
From November to February, mornings are colder because of the
northeast monsoon wind. It blows from Siberia which is a very frigid place. It
brings along temperature and rain that make us shiver.
The wind from June to October, is warm and humid. During this time,
the western section of our country experiences strong rains brought about by
the southwest monsoon wind blowing from Australia.
From March to early May, trade winds coming from the east or northeast
reach the Philippines. It brings rains to the eastern part of our country. Trade
winds are warm and moist and bring hot temperature with little rain.
Isn’t it amazing that each one of these air streams brings some amount
of rain to the Philippines?

Reference: Philippine Informal Reading Inventory 2008-2009 Edition

Questions:

1. The northeast monsoon wind blowing from Siberia causes_______________.

a. heavy rains
b. windy days
c. hot temperature
d. cold temperature

2. Which of the following statements is true about the wind?

a. The wind attracts tourists to visit a place.
b. The wind affects the climate of a place.
c. The wind always comes from one direction.
d. The wind moves at select times of the year.

3. Siberia is a very frigid place. What is an antonym for the word frigid?
a. very moist
b. very cold
c. very hot
d. very windy

4. You are going on a vacation at your cousin’s province in the eastern part of the country
in March. What type of clothes should you bring?
a. new
b. thin
c. thick
d. modern

5. Among these different air streams in the Philippines, which is the most appropriate for
wearing very heavy clothes?
a. trade winds
b. easterly winds
c. southeast monsoons
d. northeast monsoons
6. Which among these statements is backed up by the selection?
a. Northeast monsoons account for strong rains during the
June opening of classes.
b. Southwest monsoons bring some amount of rain to the
country even in May.
c. Eastern portions of the country experience strong rains
from June to October.
d. Western portions of the country experience strong rains
from June to October.

7. What device did the author use to develop the selection?

a. examples
b. cause and effect
c. a series of events
d. problem and solution

8. Which could be another title of the selection?

a. Different Causes of Heavy Rains
b. How Air Streams Affect Climate
c. Northwest and Southwest Monsoons
d. Hot and Cold Temperature in the Country
 (Teacher’s copy-Grades 9-10)
(158 Words)

Ecosystems

Ecosystems consist of living and non-living organisms in an area.

These include plants, animals, microbes, and elements like soil, water,
and air. The living organisms depend on both living and non-living
aspects of an ecosystem.
An ecosystem can be as small as a puddle or as big as an
ocean. It is a very delicate balance, with these life forms sustaining one
another. Disruptions to an ecosystem may prove disastrous to all its
organisms.
When a new plant or animal is suddenly placed in an ecosystem,
it will surely compete with the original inhabitants for resources. This
stranger may even push out the natural organisms, causing them to be
extinct. The organisms that depended on the extinct organisms will
definitely be affected.

The balance in ecosystems have been unsettled by natural

disasters such as fires, floods, storms, and volcanic eruptions. However,

4
in recent years and ironically, in the name of progress, human activity
has affected many ecosystems around the world.

Questions:

1. Which among the following is NOT a good description for an ecosystem?

a. animals and plants relying on each other to survive
b. a place where people are friendly to the environment
c. a biological community where organisms affect each other
d. a variety of living and non-living things in a particular area

2. Why is an ecosystem considered to be a delicate balance?

a. There are big ecosystems and small ecosystems that have to be balanced.
b. Not all ecosystems weigh the same so their weight needs to be distributed.
c. A change in an ecosystem can have tremendous effects on all its organisms.
d. Different organisms always have equal importance in any given ecosystem.

3. Which of the following is NOT one of the natural disasters that have caused
ecosystems to be unsettled?
a. fires
b. floods
c. storms
d. humans

4. Based on the selection, which of the following is true about human progress
and ecosystems?
a. Human progress sometimes causes ecosystems to suffer.
b. Human activity promotes the development of ecosystems.
c. Human activity helps find solutions to ecological problems.
d. Human progress causes different ecosystems to be progressive.

5. According to the selection, a new organism introduced in an ecosystem

can have an effect on an original inhabitant when_______________________.
a. it fights with and eventually eats the original inhabitant
b. it consumes resources intended for the original inhabitant
c. it makes the original inhabitant feel strange in the ecosystem
d. it contributes to disasters that upset the balance in the system

5
6. What should human beings do in order to maintain the balance in different
ecosystems?
a. Cut down a lot of trees so that there is more space for animals to live in.
b. Take corals from the sea so that fish would have more freedom to swim.
c. Plant more trees in order to replace those that have been cut down.
d. Catch a lot of tuna so that nothing will eat the mackerel or the small fish.

7. The diagram below shows an ocean ecosystem. The arrows point to the food
source of the succeeding organism. If a new organism is introduced into the
system and it eats the shrimplike creatures, how will this indirectly affect the
mackerel?
a. The mackerel will have no more shrimplike creatures to eat.
b. The mackerel will still be eaten by the tuna fish as it continues to consume
the small fish.
c. The mackerel will be eaten by the small fish which now has to look for a new
food source.
d. The mackerel might lose its food since without a food source, the small fish
could die.

8. Using the same diagram, which of the following statements is

FALSE?
a. The small fish depends solely on shrimplike creatures for food.
b. The tuna fish depends solely on the mackerel as its food source.
c. The large shark depends solely on the tuna fish as its food source.
d. The shrimplike creatures depend solely on one-celled life for food.
 (Teacher’ copy- Grades 11-12)
155 Words

The Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system. It interprets stimuli and
tells the body how to react.
The brain has three major parts. The part that controls balance,
coordination and muscle movement is called the cerebellum. It makes sure
that the muscles work well together. For example, a gymnast is able to
balance on a beam because of the cerebellum.
The medulla is a long stem that connects the brain to the spinal cord.
It tells one’s body to do things without thinking about them. Digesting food
or breathing even while asleep are examples of these involuntary actions.
On the other hand, there are actions that one decides to do. It is the
largest part of the brain—the cerebrum—that is responsible for these
voluntary movements. Without it, one will not be able to kick a ball or dance
at all.
The brain might seem small but it is so powerful as it controls one’s
entire body.
1. Which is the best description of the brain?
a. It makes people intelligent.
b. It keeps one’s body healthy.
c. It helps everyone think well.
d. It dictates how the body will react to stimuli.

2. In the sentence, “The brain interprets stimuli,” the meaning of interpret

is____________.
a. assign roles
b. recall facts
c. discuss ideas
d. make sense of

3. What will the brain likely tell you if you happen to hold on to something hot?
a. "I wonder how hot it is.”
b. "Don’t drop it!”
c. "Hold tight!”
d. "Let go!”

4. Which is an example of involuntary action?

a. circulating blood all over the body
b. punching one’s classmate
c. clapping your hands
d. tickling your friend

5. Which part of the brain connects to the spinal cord?

a. the nerves
b. the medulla
c. the cerebrum
d. the cerebellum
6. What is the function of the cerebellum?
a. It sends messages to the cerebrum.
b. It connects the medulla to the cerebrum.
c. It controls balance and muscle movements.
d. It tells the parts of the body how they should function.

7. When you want someone to think of the right answer, you might say,
a. "Use your senses.”
b. "Sharpen your cerebrum.”
c. "Give your medulla a job.”
d. "Let your cerebellum function.”

8. What is the main idea of the selection?

a. The brain controls the senses.
b. The brain interprets all actions.
c. The brain has three main parts.
d. The brain controls one’s entire body
 (Student copy)

Air Currents

Wind is the natural movement of the air from one place to another. It
affects the climate of a place. There are three major air streams that greatly
affect our climate.
From November to February, mornings are colder because of the
northeast monsoon wind. It blows from Siberia which is a very frigid place.
It brings along temperature and rain that make us shiver.
The wind from June to October, is warm and humid. During this time,
the western section of our country experiences strong rains brought about
by the southwest monsoon wind blowing from Australia.
From March to early May, trade winds coming from the east or
northeast reach the Philippines. It brings rains to the eastern part of our
country. Trade winds are warm and moist and bring hot temperature with
little rain.
Isn’t it amazing that each one of these air streams brings some
amount of rain to the Philippines?

(Grades 7-8)
No. of Words: 152
 (Student copy)

Ecosystems

Ecosystems consist of living and non-living organisms in an area.

These include plants, animals, microbes, and elements like soil, water, and
air. The living organisms depend on both living and non-living aspects of an
ecosystem.
An ecosystem can be as small as a puddle or as big as an ocean. It is
a very delicate balance, with these life forms sustaining one another.
Disruptions to an ecosystem may prove disastrous to all its organisms.
When a new plant or animal is suddenly placed in an ecosystem, it will
surely compete with the original inhabitants for resources. This stranger may
even push out the natural organisms, causing them to be extinct. The
organisms that depended on the extinct organisms will definitely be affected.

The balance in ecosystems have been unsettled by natural disasters

such as fires, floods, storms, and volcanic eruptions. However, in recent years
and ironically, in the name of progress, human activity has affected many
ecosystems around the world.
 (Student copy)

The Brain

The brain is the center of the nervous system. It interprets stimuli and
tells the body how to react.
The brain has three major parts. The part that controls balance,
coordination and muscle movement is called the cerebellum. It makes sure
that the muscles work well together. For example, a gymnast is able to
balance on a beam because of the cerebellum.
The medulla is a long stem that connects the brain to the spinal cord.
It tells one’s body to do things without thinking about them. Digesting food
or breathing even while asleep are examples of these involuntary actions.
On the other hand, there are actions that one decides to do. It is the
largest part of the brain—the cerebrum—that is responsible for these
voluntary movements. Without it, one will not be able to kick a ball or dance
at all.
The brain might seem small but it is so powerful as it controls one’s
entire body.