Exercise 1 Exercise 2

THE FOX AND THE STORK PETE’S CATCH

The fox and the stork were formerly good friends. Pete considered himself a fine fisherman. He stood
They often visited each other. One day, the fox invited the on the riverbank as he held his fishing line with the
stork to dinner because he wanted to play a joke on her. At patience only a fisherman knew. His heart beat faster as he
the dinner table, the fox put soup in a very shallow dish felt a tug on the line. He was excited as he planted his feet
before the stork. The fox could easily lap the soup, but the firmly on the ground. He gave a big pull expecting to find
poor stork could only wet the end of her long bill. So, she a big fish at the hook of his fishing line. Disappointment
left the dinner table as hungry as when she came. clouded his face as he stared at his catch.
“I’m sorry you did not like the soup,” said the fox.
“Oh, please, don’t apologize,” said the stork
sweetly. “I hope you will come and dine with me soon.” 1. What do you think did Pete catch?
So came the day when fox visited the stork. The
stork served their dinner in a jar with a very long neck and 2. What kind of fisherman was Pete?
a narrow mouth. All the fox could do was lick the outside
3. What did Pete do?
of the jar.

1. How did the fox feel when he saw where the stork
served dinner?

2. What do you think happened?

3. Was the stork right in what she did?

 Exercise 3 Exercise 4

THE RED SWEATER THE GRADUATION GIFT

Lourdes opened her piggy bank. She counted her “Thank you! O thank you, Father!” cried Jun
money carefully and went straight to a downtown store. embracing his father tightly. “This is the best gift I have
She looked with longing at the bright new sweater on received in my whole life. I have prayed and longed to
display at the store window. She wanted to inquire about own one and my prayer has been answered.”
the price but as she was about to go in, she stopped and “I am very glad about that,” Father said putting his
hesitated. She counted her money again, then shook her arms around his son. “I waited for your graduation to buy
head. At last, she looked at the sweater with regret and one.”
returned the money into her pocket. “I am not very happy about the bicycle,” put in
Mother. “I hope it will not be a source of trouble.”
“You don’t know it, Mother, but I have been riding
Rene’s bike every now and then,” said Jun. “I can ride
1. How did Lourdes feel about the sweater? very well now.”
One afternoon as Mother was tending her garden,
2. What did she intended to do? she saw Jun passed by on his bicycle. Suddenly there was
a crash! People were looking at the direction where Jun
3. Did she finally get the sweater?
has turned on a curb.

1. What do you think happened?

2. What made Jun happy on his graduation day?

3. What do you think happened to Jun’s bicycle?

 Exercise 5 Exercise 6

NOEL’S PET BIRD BOUND FOR A NEW HOUSE

Noel’s pet bird was free to fly around the house. But As the Bicol Express sped on its way from the Paco
its frequent visits were made in the kitchen much to the Station, Raul peeped out of the train window.
annoyance of their helper. It would fly straight to the table “Look! Mother,” Raul called to his mother who was
where it would pick something to eat. sitting beside him. I can see the streets and the houses
One warm day, the bird was attached by sticky from here. I can have a good view of Makati now.”
flypaper spread on the kitchen. It pecked at a still “Yes,” answered a woman who was sitting across
struggling fly on the flypaper. The paper of course got them. “Almost all of the squatters’ shanties have been
stuck to its bill. The bird raised one foot to let itself loose, demolished by the government men.”
but its foot got stuck, too. Soon both its feet were stuck “That is for the good of squatters themselves,” put
tight on the flypaper. No amount of pulling, struggling and in an old woman. “They were relocated and given lands on
bird noise helped the bird in its misfortune. It flew to a which to build their houses. Many of them were sent to
brook nearby the flypaper dangling from its feet. their own provinces with a little money for transportation
and for their basic needs.”
1. Since when do you think, was the bird been Noel’s pet? Raul’s mother sighed as she looked at the bundle of
clothes under their seat, their only possession. Were she
2. What do you think did the bird want to do when it flew and her son not among those that these people were
to a brook nearby? talking about? Could they really have a home of their own
now?
3. Do you think the bird was finally able to remove the
sticky paper from its feet? 1. What is the living standard of the mother and her child
2. Where do you think did Raul and his mother come
from?
3. Where do you think were Raul and his mother going? fruits and vegetables?
Exercise 7
Exercise 8
WELL-EARNED MONEY
WHAT HAPPENED
Mang Jose was helping the driver load baskets of
fruits and vegetables in a jeep. His neighbor, Mang Ambo, As dawn came, Dante felt very cold so he wrapped
approached and admiringly remarked: himself with his blanket. He could hear the splashing of
“That’s money again.” water somewhere and he thought he was dreaming.
Mang Jose laughed and looked at Mang Ambo. Suddenly he heard his father’s voice shouting to his
“That’s true, Ambo,” Mang Jose answered. “But it is well- mother. “Wake Dante up!” He heard as in a dream. Then
earned money. You can see how my family and I work he heard tried to open his eyes but he could not. He felt
from morning till late in the afternoon. Raising fruits and someone shaking him so he tried to sit up on his bed.
vegetables in not an easy work but it pay dividends. I even “Come, Dante,” his mother said. “Put some of your
support our government’s program of cultivating idle clothes in a bag. Don’t forget to include a blanket and a
lots.” sweater.” Before Dante could ask a question, he saw
“I understand,” Mang Ambo said nodding his head, Father row a banca at the foot of the stairs. Dante stared.
“We are just beginning to plant now.” Overnight, the fields around their house had turned into a
“It is not yet late,” observed Mang Jose. “Six vast sea.
months from now you will see the fruits of your labor.”

1. Did Mang Jose give Mang Ambo some pointers on how 1. What did Dante hear?
to raise fruits and vegetables?
2. What do you think will happen to Mang Ambo if he 2. What do you think made Dante’s place flooded
continues with his project? overnight?
3. Do you think Mang Ambo will also harvest plenty of
3. Where do you think would Dante’s father take his
family?

Exercise 9
Exercise 10
BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHERS
A CHANGE
One afternoon, Nori was waiting for Gina to pick
her up. They had agreed to see a ball game. When Gina “Why are you back so soon?” asked Mother as she
did not arrive, Nori went to the game by herself. “I guess saw Rex coming. “Where is your Father?”
she forgot again to stop for me,” Nori thought unhappily. “He is out driving his jeep, Mother,” answered Rex.
Nori was right when she reached the school ground “Why would he be driving his jeep without his
she was Gina talking and laughing with Nina. license?” asked Mother worriedly. “He will be doubly
“Gina used to be my best friend but now she’d fined when he gets caught. Didn’t you go out with your
rather be with Nina. No wonder, the two of them talk Father to get back his license? What happened? Didn’t he
movies or parties,” she thought. “I can’t do anything if she get back his license?”
prefers to go with Nina. After all, they are birds of the “Easy, Mother,” said Rex laughing. “It did not take
same feathers.” Father an hour to get back his license. We didn’t have to
wait long. He had no case. That is the reason why we are
back soon. The employee from whom Father got his
license attended to him at once.”
1. Who used to be the best of friends?
1. Why do you think did Father drive his jeepney?
2. Why did Gina and Nori drift apart as friends?
2. Was Mother right in saying that a person driving
3. What do you think did Nori do? without license will be punished?
 3. Why is Pagsanjan a favorite spot for excursionists?
3. Why was it easy for Father to get back his license?

Exercise 11 Exercise 12

AT PAGSANJAN FALLS A BETTER DRIVER

After driving for three hours, the excursionists “Your father is here now,” Mother said. “You may
reached Pagsanjan Falls tired and hungry but happy. After set the table, Sonia. He must be very hungry.”
eating under the coconut palms lining the riverbanks, they “Father looks very happy, Mother,” observed Sonia
rested for a while. They saw a woman in white bathing as she saw her father park the jeep in front of their yard.
suit walking on the rocks by the riverbank. They also saw “Maybe he has good news,” Mother answered.
other excursionists trying to balance themselves on a big “I have many passengers today,” Father said as he
rock above them. There was much shouting and giggling was coming in. “And still better news is that I was not
having a wonderful time when they suddenly heard a caught for any traffic violations.”
scream. Then they saw something white fell from the “That’s really good news. You have become a law
rocks. There was a long silence after that. abiding driver,” Mother remarked happily.

1. What happens when jeepney drivers do not follow

1. What do you think happened? traffic rules and regulations?

2. Why was there a long silence after the screams? 2. Why had Sonia’s father become a better driver?
3. Do good drivers help the community?

Exercise 13

YOU AND YOUR SAFETY

Not long ago, a group of Grade Six boys and girls

kept a careful record of all cuts, bumps, falls and other
accidents that happened to them for a period of three
months. A study of their accident record showed many of
the accidents took place in school. Some of these accidents
occurred in the classrooms and in the halls of school
buildings. But more injuries took place in school shops
and on playgrounds.

1. What accidents are likely to occur on the playground?

2. How can you keep yourself safe from accident?

3. Why do injuries often take place in school shops?