DARK CHOCOLATE

(Grade 7)
Dark chocolate finds its way into the best ice creams,
biscuits and cakes. Although eating chocolate usually comes
with a warning that it is fattening, it is also believed by some to
have magical and medicinal effects. In fact, cacao trees are
sometimes called Theobroma cacao which means “food of the
gods.”

Dark chocolate has been found out to be helpful in small

quantities. One of its benefits is that it has some of the most important

minerals and vitamins that people need. It has antioxidants that help

protect the heart. Another important benefit is that the fat content of

chocolate does not raise the level of cholesterol in the blood stream.

A third benefit is that it helps address respiratory problems. Also, it has

been found out to help ease coughs and respiratory concerns. Finally,

chocolate increases serotonin levels in the brain. This is what gives us

a feeling of well-being.

Reference: Schnoll, R. (2012). Choocolate: Food for the Gods, Retrieved from http://

academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/health/rschnoll/contact/documents/chocolatefacultycircle. pdf
Questions (English Pre-Test Set A)
1. Why was chocolate called Theobroma cacao? It is
considered to be .
a. fattening food c. medicinal candy
b. magical tree d. food for the gods

2. Which statement is true?

a. All chocolates have medicinal properties.
b. In small doses, dark chocolate is fattening.
c. Dark chocolate has minerals and vitamins.
d. Chocolate raises the level of cholesterol.

3. What is found in dark chocolate that will help encourage its consumption?
a. Antioxidants c. fats
b. Sugar d. milk
4. After we eat chocolate, which of these is responsible for making
us feel good?
a. Cacao c. serotonin
b. Theobroma d. antioxidants

5. If a person coughs and is asked to have some chocolate, why would this
be good advice?
a. Dark chocolate helps respiratory problems.
b. Dark chocolate helps circulation.
c. Dark chocolate does not raise the level of cholesterol.
d. Dark chocolate has vitamins and minerals.
6. Which of the following body systems does not directly benefit from the
consumption of dark chocolate?
a. Circulatory system
b. Respiratory system
c. Excretory system
d. Nervous system

7. Which important fact shows that dark chocolate may be safe for the
heart?
a. It may ease coughs.
b. It helps address respiratory problems.
c. It does not raise the level of cholesterol.
d. In small quantities, dark chocolate has been said to be medicinal.

8. What does “address” mean in the second paragraph?

a. to locate
b. to identify
c. to deal with
d. to recogn
SNEEZING (Grade 7)
Sneezing happens when our body is trying to remove an
irritation found inside the nose. A special name for this process
is sternutation.

How does a sneeze happen? When your nose is tickled, the

sneeze center in our brain receives a message. Soon, the other parts

of the body that work together to create a sneeze such as the

abdominal muscles, chest muscles, the diaphragm, the muscles of the

vocal chords, the back of the throat, and the eyelids receive this

message. An explosion as fast as 161 kilometers per hour sends the

irritant speeding out of your nose. Examples of irritants in the air are

dust, pepper, or allergens such as pollen. Some experience having a

photic reflex and sneeze as soon as they are under the bright sun. Now,

if it ever happens that a sneeze of yours gets stuck, look towards a

bright light to unstick your stuck sneeze.

Reference: http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/sneeze.html
Questions (Pre-Test Set B)
1. What is sternutation?
a. the voluntary process of expelling dirt and dust from inside our nose
b. the involuntary process of removing an irritation inside the nose
c. a person’s natural reaction to bright light
d. an explosion of allergens

2. Sneezing happens .
a. to release energy
b. to expel an irritant
c. to remove nose hair
d. in response to a cough

3. Which of the following is NOT an example of an allergic reaction?

a. sneezing in a dusty room
b. pepper-induced sternutation
c. photic reflex from sun exposure
d. Sneezing when exposed to pollen

4. Which of the following does NOT help to create a sneeze?

a. abdominal muscles
b. chest muscles
c. nasal passages
d. voice box

5. Which is the best advice to follow to unstick a sneeze?

a. look towards a bright light
b. tickle our nostrils
c. blow one’s nose
d. cough out loud
6. Why must we cover our nose when we sneeze?
a. to prevent the further intake of pepper powder
b. to prevent the allergens from multiplying
c. to prevent irritants from spreading
d. to prevent ourselves from sneezing

7. Which of the following is the best thing to do if you feel a sneeze coming
along?
a. Take cold medicine.
b. Have a body check-up.
c. Move away from others.
d. Open a window that faces a garden.
8. The main idea of this selection is
a. the different kinds of sneeze
b. how sneezing happens
c. the cure for sneezing
d. the origin of sneezing
 DUST (Grade 7)
No matter how often we sweep the floor of our homes, we
are still able to gather together a considerable amount of dust.
Dust is all around us. It gathers on bookshelves, on furniture - old
or new. These particles rest on any still object – undisturbed until
touched or wiped clean.

Dust, which was first believed to be made of dead skin has been

found to be a mix of different things. Some of the common ingredients

of dust particles include animal fur, dead insects, food, fiber from

clothes, beddings, soil and other chemicals. Although most of

household dust comes from the outside through doors, windows and

shoes, other dust particles come from within. Scientists have

discovered that the mix of dust from each household actually depends

on four things: the climate, the age of the house, the number of

persons who live in it and their individual cooking, cleaning and

smoking habits.

Making our homes free of dust may not be possible but

lessening the amount of dust that we keep in our homes will help avoid

possible allergies and allow us to breathe well.

Questions (Pre-Test Set C)
1. Which of the following is NOT true about dust?
a. Dust causes allergies.
b. Dust is made of dead skin only.
c. Dust comes from both within the home and outside of it.
d. The amount of dust in the house may depend on the climate.

2. Knowing the contents of the dust in our homes will determine .

a. how dust can be cleaned up
b. where the dust is coming from
c. what one might add to one’s home
d. the lifestyle of the occupants

3. Among the sources of dust, which is NOT within one’s control?

a. the personal habits of family members
b. the number of persons in the home
c. the age of the house
d. the climate

4. What is the greatest risk that one faces in having a dusty house? A dusty
house might .
a. cause the incidence of allergies
b. be a reason for accidents in the house
c. increase the temperature of the environment
d. result in the early destruction of the furniture

5. Knowing the composition of dust will especially help persons with .

a. motor difficulties c. circulatory system
b. physical disabilities d. respiratory problems
6. In this selection, the word “habits” refers to .
a. one’s unusual behavior
b. being addicted to something
c. the work one occasionally performs
d. the manner by which one repeatedly does a task

7. How did the writer develop this selection about dust?

a. by giving examples
b. by narrating some events
c. by stating the cause and effect
d. by identifying the problem and the solutions

8. Which is an appropriate title of this selection?

a. Keeping the Houses Dust-Free
b. Sources of Dust in Our Homes
c. Effects of Dusty Homes
d. Diseases Due
 PAIN
(Grade 7)
How do we sense pain? The human body has nociceptors
to receive an electrical impulse that is sent to part of the brain
that recognizes pain. Memories of these sensations are formed
to help us avoid painful objects and experiences and prevents us
from repeating past mistakes that may have hurt us in some way.
But pain is more complex. It is not only a physical experience but
an emotional and psychological one as well. When all of these
come together, it is called suffering.

The mind is not alone in recognizing pain. The nervous system is

also able to store such information. Even when a person loses a finger

or a limb, the pain that was once felt may become a chronic one – one

that keeps recurring. The best way to avoid this is to prevent pain

memories from forming. The use of anesthesia prevents the mind from

creating these memories. Drugs that prevent pain such as analgesics

help lessen the pain sensed

Questions (Pre-Test Set D)
1. What are "nociceptors?"
a. electrical impulses c. nerve receptors
b. memories of pain d. sensations of pain
2. How do memories of pain help us?
a. These constantly remind us of what hurts.
b. These help dull the senses.
c. These help us re-experience the pain.
d. These inform us on what to watch out for.

3. Suffering is the complex mix of .

a. physical, mental and spiritual experiences
b. physical, psychological and social influences
c. physical, sociological and cognitive factors
d. physical, emotional and psychological experiences

4. Which of the following is an example of how memories of pain help us?

a. A baby crying at the sight of the needle
b. Drinking a pain killer once a headache starts
c. Asking if a dental procedure will hurt
d. We relive these experiences through our dreams

5. Which is an example of helping the body avoid the creation of memories

for pain?
a. Avoiding the use of anesthesia
b. Drinking a painkiller once a headache starts
c. Talking about a painful experience with a friend
6. Being given an anesthetic before a dental procedure In the selection, how was the
word 'chronic' used inhrase “chronic pain?"
a. continuous
b. in-born
c. throbbing
d. worsening

7. Which of the following adjectives best describes our memories’ role in managing pain?
a. curative
b. corrective
c. preventive
d. restorative

8. In the selection, what does it mean to ‘sense pain’?

a. create pain
b. recognize pain
c. remember pain
d. understand pain
Answer key

Dark
Sneezing Dust Pain
Chocolate
1.d 1.b 1.b 1.c
2.c 2.b 2.d 2.d
3.a 3.c 3.d 3.d
4.c 4.d 4.a 4.b
5.a 5.a 5.d 5.d
6.c 6.c 6.d 6.a
7.c 7.c 7.a 7.c
8.c 8.b 8.b 8.b

The Brain Air Currents Ecosystems

Diving

1.d 1.d 1.d 1.b

2.a 2.d 2.b 2.c
3.a 3.d 3.b 3.d
4.b 4.a 4.b 4.a
5.b 5.b 5.d 5.b
6.b 6.c 6.d 6.c
7.b 7.b 7.b 7.d
8.a 8.d 8.b 8.b
 DIVING
(Grade 7)
Humans do not have the capacity to breathe underwater
unaided by external devices. A diver who wants to stay underwater
for more than a few minutes must breathe air on a special mixture
of gases. He can wear diving suits and have air pumped to him
from above or he can carry tanks of air on his back and breathe
through a hose and a mouthpiece.

Early divers discovered that it is not enough to supply air to

breathe comfortably underwater. The diver’s body is under great

pressure in deep water because water weighs 800 times as much as

air. Tons of water push against the diver deep in the sea. When this

happens, his blood takes in some of the gases he breathes.

When the diver rises to the surface, the water pressure becomes

less. If he rises too quickly, the gases in his blood form bubbles that

make breathing difficult. He suffers from bends, causing him to double

up in pain.
Questions (Post-Test A)
1. What is the purpose of the diving suit?
a. to track the diver’s location
b. to make the diver stay afloat
c. to dive to the bottom of the sea faster
d. to pump air from the surface of the sea

2. The hose and the mouthpiece of the diver are used .

a. for breathing c. for lightning the way
b. for finding direction d. for communicating
3. The second paragraph informs the reader that .
a. water is heavier than air
b. it is easy to float on the water
c. it is exciting to stay under water
d. it is difficult to breathe while diving

4. It is easy for swimmers to float in the water’s surface because

.
a. they can see where they are heading for
b. there is lesser water pressure
c. there is more air to breathe
d. there is minimal danger.

5. From the phrase ‘a diver suffers from bends,’ the reader can guess that a bend is
.
a. a reverse turn c. a wrong direction
b. an intense pain d. an incorrect information

6. To avoid pain when rising to the surface, a diving instructor should tell a
swimmer to .
a. “go up as fast as you can”
b. “swim to the surface slowly”
c. “avoid bringing things from undersea”
d. “inspect your hose and mouthpiece first”
7. Which statement is true in the selection?
Water pressure .
a. is heavier on the sea surface
b. is greater in the deep part of the sea
c. feels more while one is going up the surface
d. is the same on the surface and in the deep part of the sea
8. Who among the following readers will benefit most from this selection?

a. the sea divers

b. the coast guards
c. the sea travelers
d. the swimming instructors
 THE BRAIN
(Grade 7)
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.

 Questions
hich 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 c. discuss ideas
b. recall facts 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.” c. “Hold tight!”
b. “Don’t drop it!” 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 c. the cerebrum
b. the medulla 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
AIR CURRENTS (Grade 7)
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 (Post-Test Set C)
1. The northeast monsoon wind blowing from Siberia causes .
a. heavy rains c. hot temperature
b. windy days 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 c. very hot
b. very cold 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 c. thick
b. Thin d. modern

5. Among these different air streams in the Philippines, which is the most
appropriate for wearing very heavy clothes?
a. trade winds c. southeast monsoons
b. easterly winds 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
ECOSYSTEMS (Grade 7)
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.

 POST-TEST SET D
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
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.