KATRINA MAE B.

DAMISEL ENG3
AB ENGLISH MODULE TEST

MODULE I

"A WARTIME PICTURE OF THE BASIC NEGROS ORIENTAL"

1. Here are the details that justify the statement “I knew then that the face of the Oriental Negros
person is basically the face of kindness and quiet courage.”

• Students, professional, and non-professional men who had become the soldiers and officers in
the District headquarters.
• Old settlers in the woods area; the Amparing Diao’s family, the Lacsons, and the Jordans.
• The Tumandoks, the tribal folk higher up the mountain range.
• The evacuated lowlanders: pastors, professors, engineers, priests, doctors, and nurses.

These people, during the World War 2 showed courage and live together in peace despite of
everything that was happening back then; all of the sufferings and pain the war had caused
them, they had endured, remained brave and helped one another.

2. The adjective that best describes the tone of this essay is reminiscent or nostalgic. It tells about
the personal experience and observations of the essayist during the World War 2 in Oriental
Negros.

3. I’d say that the implicit comment on basic human nature is that we, people in times of great
trials, we remain full of hope and courage, helpful, generous even if we don’t have something to
give, we stand side by side and encourages one another, we put aside our differences and
extend hand of friendship, and the most important thing is we spread selfless love to one
another.

“THE DUMMY”

1. The persona installed a “dummy” (robot) to take his place because he got tired of being a
person, which means he doesn’t want to talk, eat, walk, and so on.. he doesn’t want to interact
with people, so in short, he doesn’t want to live his own life, and wanted the dummy to live his
life for him.

2. Here are some ideas that shows that this essay is satirizing:
• “The problems of this world are only truly solved in two ways; by extinction or by
duplication. Former ages had only the first choice. But I see no reason not to take
 advantage of the marvels of modern technology for personal liberation. I have a choice.
And, not being the suicidal type, I have decided to duplicate myself.”

- It shows man’s stupidity in dealing with problems.

The persona said that he isn’t the suicidal type so he won’t kill himself but he decided to
duplicate himself instead and that’s somehow stupid.

• “I discovered that I am tired of being a person. Not just being the person I was, but any
person at all. I like watching people, but I don’t like talking to them, dealing with them,
pleasing them, or offending them. I don’t even like talking to the dummy. I am tired. I
would like to be a mountain, a tree, a stone.”

- I think it’s very ironic because the persona said that he isn’t suicidal but to stop living
and just exist is the same as being dead already.

3. The adjectives that best describe this essay are satiric and ironic.
KATRINA MAE B. DAMISEL ENG3
AB ENGLISH MODULE TEST

MODULE II

A.

1.) The dominant attitude of the review toward the book is biased. He is biased in a way that he
sided with the book. Maybe because he is a fan of the book.

2.) Yes, the reviewer pays attention to the human elements in the book.
- A serial killer is at work. He (she perhaps) is a slasher who abducts and mutilates boy prostitues
and escapes over rooftops.

3.) Recreating the past and the brooding, detailed cityscapes and rich historical set pieces are the
best parts of the Alienist.

4.) The review gives too much space to representing the plot of the story and not enough space to
comments on the writing performance itself because almost 90% of the review talks about the plot.
And the reviewer’s comment is like one paragraph only.

B.

1.) The dominant tone of the review is critical because it criticizes the historical views of Nick
Joaquin.

2.) Colonialism, nationalism, culture and identity.

- “Joaquin treats the Spanish colonization of the Philippines as a phenomenon contingent to
both Spain and the Philippines.”
- “If Joaquin has given the impression that western rule in the Philippines has been enlightened,
it is because we fail to find in his essay any mention of the bitter experience of the colonized.”

3.) Joaquin has given the impression that western rule in the Philippines has been enlightened.

4.) The stand of the reviewer refuting Joaquin’s views of American influence in the Phil. is that
Joaquin doesn’t fully understand the western influence of America in the Phil. This is because we
didn’t find any mention of the bitter experience of the Filipinos being colonized by America.

- “..it is because we fail to find in his essays any mention of the bitter experience of the colonized.”
- “And this experience has been profoundly painful and alienating.”
- “Franz Fanon relates how, working four years as a doctor in North America, he came across the
most extreme forms of alienation.”

5.) The reviewer’s refuting doesn’t constitute his own personal bias because everything the reviewer
has written in the review has supporting facts. Like quoting Recto, “the American spirit may take
possession of us.”
KATRINA MAE B. DAMISEL ENG3
AB ENGLISH MODULE TEST

MODULE III

TEST I
1.) In the scenario comparing the act of learning to trust one's intuition with the idea of
learning to swim, there are some similarities/analogies, and that they generate the
definition of intuition in a number of ways. One is that the properties of water correspond
to the ways on how to acquire knowledge of a certain thing without one's inference or
reasoning. Understanding these properties can be compared to how one understands a
certain thing or the nature of a certain situation in his own way or manner. As described in
the statement, one can access the knowledge he/she is intending to gain while setting aside
beliefs and prejudices. This is also similar to understanding the many ways of overcoming
the difficulties of swimming and the unknown properties of water. It should also be taken
into consideration that these analogies can generate the idea of intuition by one's own
understanding of the importance of these things, and on how they can make one's
knowledge significant. Altogether, these thoughts greatly fall under one's understanding of
intuition and on how to learn a lot about certain things and situations.

2.)

3.) An example in the essay about acquiring intuition.

“The more keenly a person feels things, the more discontented he is, the chances are the
more ripe he is for the development of intuition.”

TEST II

1.) Yes, there is an order followed in the presentation of the symbolic scenes and situations. The
visual scenes represent the developmental stages, experiences of youth, and the changes
through the years. Like the first date, first kiss, etc.

2.) The adjectives best describe youth are young, innocent, curious, confused, reckless.

3.) I think that the boy doesn’t fully understand what youth is. He may understand some part of it
but not all. He may understand everything what he’s father said. But he didn’t get the real
meaning of it. He even compared it to a poem. “It was beautiful, he said more beautiful than his
poem.” Clearly, the boy didn’t get the real meaning of youth.

4.) I think that what the boy understands about youth is that it is beautiful and also, confusion and
growth are parts of youth.
TEST III

A Reflective Essay About Me

Magnificent threads sewn together to form luxurious clothes that act as a second set of skin. In
a teen’s world, it is a way to show who you are. Clothes help express a personality, they can give off a
persona, and they can help raise self-esteem. Even though clothes are able to show off personality and
attitudes, they are stored away in closets. Not being able to express yourself, feeling contained and
trapped is what being in the closet is like. For a portion of my life, I have not been able to show my
personality.
In a closed confined space, I felt as if I would not be able to reach out to people and express
myself for who I really am. For a long time, I thought that people would hate me for trying to express
myself. Discriminatory remarks and fear kept me shut in and less active with my life. At a young age, I
told myself to keep my parents happy and live a normal life, stick to the status quo, and not to
disappoint them. For a lot of people in the closet, it is not fun. Closets restrict individuality, but
expressing your identity is not easy because of the consequences from exposing such a label. But there
will be a moment where your brain has no link to your actions, and everything you do becomes instinct.
Once I got into high school, I felt it was necessary for me to have a label, to stand out and have a
title for myself. I wanted to know who I was; I needed to know who I am. I wanted to express myself
through clothing I had. After going through a large portion of my life trying to hide my originality, I
thought high school was the most appropriate place to express myself.
I started to wear my closet, instead of coming out of it. The next metamorphosis I felt in my life
started to occur when a conversation took place which lead to thoughts being painfully strained out.
Every time I heard myself about to say who I was, I felt a ringing in my ear and a change in my breathing
pattern. Emotions gushed out between us, and from that moment, a label would be placed on my
forehead for all to read. I was not ready to accept myself, but I was not going to live with restraints over
my life anymore.
I have grown a lot from this experience and I have learned a lot about myself. To me, clothes are
more than just an appearance, it is who you want to be and who you want to portray yourself as, but
expressing yourself should not be a hard task to do. Closets are for clothes, not people.
KATRINA MAE B. DAMISEL ENG3
AB ENGLISH MODULE TEST

MODULE IV

TEST I

1.) The “wrong turn” in the essay means that man’s intelligence peaked several thousand
years ago and from then on there has been a slow decline in our intellectual and emotional
abilities. Although we are now surrounded by the technological and medical benefits of a
scientific revolution, these have masked an underlying decline in brain power which is set to
continue into the future leading to the ultimate dumbing-down of the human species.

2.) The works of “man the toolmaker” is leading the world in a dangerous direction because
as man’s intelligence improve, the more he creates things that contribute to the improvement
of the society physically. But he doesn’t realize that it destroys him as an individual. Take for
instance the creation of the atomic bomb, a huge leap in technology and knowledge that, once
created, destroyed the lives of millions. Knowledge can be used for or against us, depending on
who is holding the strings. Of course we want to be the ones holding those strings, standing
behind the defenses of our war weapons, but what if the tables were turned and our "smarts"
and technology could not save us?

3.) “In itself (knowledge) will never make us ethical men.”

The whole of our existence seems to often be that of scientific advancement.
Technology and the cold, hard facts are often placed above human values. A country's, or an
individual's, power is marked by its technology, its "smarts." So everyone constantly strives to
outsmart one another. Of course, with technology comes great power. The power to build and
create and the power to destroy. This is why knowledge will never makes us ethical men.

4.) I think that “another road”, or “another man” means the other side of man. The one
who place human values above knowledge and power. I think that what the essay refers to as
the ultimate saving direction of mankind is genuine concern for the wellbeing of our fellow man,
our fellow inhabitants of this world. If everyone started placing more worth on the life of our
fellow man, of every human being, our problems would begin to wrap themselves up.
TEST II

1.) Revivalism in this essay is the reviving the former customs or styles in the Philippines. One of
the features of post-War revivalism was the idealization of a Hispanized Philippine culture.
Philippine nationalism has advanced far beyond the stage when revivalism can be more
progressive.

2.) Revivalism has been proved to have revolutionary consequences and objectives.
- Kennedy observes, “Even this traditional or revivalist type of nationalism had its revolutionary
aspects. Gandhi’s revival of the village textile industries in India, to give one example, had a very
traditional look about it in the 1920s and 1930s, but his attempts to weaken the castre barriers
of Hindu society and to share the grievances of Muslim Indians were, by the standards of Hindu
orthodoxy, revolutionary in the extreme.”

3.) Romanticism has given way to a more sober analysis of national problems.

TEST III: Analysing an issue essay.

Population is an asset - can't you see that?

Ever since I could remember, the Reproductive Health Bill has been an issue in the Philippines,
and trust me, it gets too redundant. It has underwent several revisions, and is now known as the
Responsible Parenthood Bill, though society cannot accept it as a whole. You know the quote, “You can’t
please everybody”, and quite frankly, most Filipinos as well.
The bill would have been fine since it was targeting the health of women, but there were certain
parts in which the Catholic church and the masses have denied - contraception, abortion, sex education,
and family planning. Sadly, the bill is a package. You take it or you leave it. Simple as that.
I am anti-RH bill for several reasons but I emphasize on the economic perspective and this is
how it goes. The population of the Philippines is an asset. How? When the youth get jobs, eventually
they will continue the jobs of the senior generation and even give more because of the surplus
population. And to be honest, the Philippines isn’t overpopulated. The distribution of the citizens are
uneven. That’s all there is. People are trying to squeeze themselves into cities with modern technology,
that’s why the provinces are so spacious. Everyone is in Manila, Baguio, etc.
Next, take a look at this situation: if the Filipino population recedes, what will happen to the
economy of the Philippines? It will crash. And we cannot let this happen. By 2050, the Philippines is
predicted to be the 16th country that has a bright economy, jumping from around the 49th place now in
2012. Imagine the huge economic leap! And we’re supposed to sacrifice this for contraceptives and
abortion? HELL NO.
If you want to read the whole RH Bill, go ahead, and decide which side you’re on. It’s now against the
future. I hope you make the right choice.
KATRINA MAE B. DAMISEL ENG3
AB ENGLISH MODULE TEST

MODULE V

A.
1.) Socratic irony: “..but the fellow issued an ultimatum in his letter to Santa: either he gets
a car for Christmas or drums, or he exposes him to his kid brother as a fake.”

- It works to make vice laughable and/or reprehensible and thus bring social pressure on
those who still engage in wrongdoing.

“I’ve grown fat eating leftover spaghetti, lasagna, cheesy hotdog, pizzas, and hamburgers. As
for the rest of the foods known to civilization, my kids’ immune systems rapidly reject like
foreign bodies.

2.) No, because even though she has bothersome kids she misses the way they make a mess
out of everything, when the kids go back to school.

“There I sat overweight, and tone deaf meditating on the lawnmower, and the ball, and I
already began to miss the raucous, ravenous bunch, and summer’s brightest presence.”

B. Write an essay of about 500 words making use of the ironic or satiric literary device.

Reflection of Insecurities

A girl stares at the reflection and her heart sinks low. She frowns. Why couldn’t her parents
make her a better-looking person? They could have went to a lab and gotten her chromosomes all
genetically rearranged. It would have been a difficult process and maybe cost twice their life income put
together, but it was their daughter after all! Shouldn’t parents go through infinity and beyond for their
children? Don’t they want the best for them? With the perfect arrangement, the girl could have been
like a super model. No, better than a super model. With the perfect genes, the girl could have been an
absolute-gorgeous-flawless-totally-better-than-everyone-that-all-the-guys-would-drule-over-super-
mega-hot-model that everyone wants to be. All those so-called “super”-models would drop down onto
their giraffe knees and bow down. But instead of being an absolute-gorgeous-flawless-totally-better-
than-everyone-that-all-the-guys-would-drule-over-super-mega-hot-model, a girl looks in the mirror and
is stuck in an oompa-loompa’s body that no one, no one at all, wants to have because it is purely
disgusting.
The girl turns to the side in order to carefully analyze every curve and imperfection she was
unfortunately born with. Look at those feet. They would crush the old woman’s house; you know, the
old woman who lives in a shoe. Even a shoe, the size of a house, would not be big enough for those feet.
The girl’s eyes move up her legs but that does not take long because they are short and stump-like; sort
of like a munchkin’s and no, not the cute ones at Dunkin Donuts. These legs have curves the size of the
Appalachian Mountains themselves. Talk about thunder thighs! The girl is surprised how she can even fit
into Hollister’s jeans or even into Pink’s yoga pants but then realizes, it is because she has no butt. Her
butt is not even a butt. It’s like a sidewalk; flat with one crack.
Glaring upward at her torso, the girl’s eyes pierce the sight of her pudgy stomach and so she
squeezes it, attempting to make it smaller. Apparently, we want to take the “hour-glass” figure to an all
time high. It is true by pushing the sides of your torso in, almost crushing the ribs causing you to die,
makes a girl look tiny in the waist. However, on the other hand, it also makes a girl look as if they
haven’t any lungs but that is okay because who needs to breath anyway? The girl looks at her chest. No
type of curves there. Plastic surgery would do the trick. The surgeon could slice open the girl’s chest
with a sharp, tiny knife and insert loads of fat into two separate sides of the chest. That would make
everything better because now, the girl has boobs that are so big, she has to order a personalized bra
with the name brand: I’M FAKE. That will certainly get boys’ attention. No need to worry about them
looking at the girl’s hideous face, the giant beach balls will cover her entire head completely. Without
these imaginary, dreamy breasts, the girl can look up and see her face. She sighs and huffs “if only.”
This girl may be an ordinary girl, but she is one in a million of the other “ordinary” girls. When the
female population looks in the mirror, they see nothing but negativity. They use pounds of makeup they
borrowed from the clown school and hair products they use not only to ruin their hair but endanger the
environment too. Some even try to quit eating so they become sticks. But, it is okay because now, a girl
doesn’t have to travel far for elephants, trapeze, and clowns. A girl doesn’t have to care about
demolishing the ozone layer because we will all die on this planet anyway. A girl does not have to eat.
Because they believe they are so ugly and fat, they can merely wither away to nothing leaving
thousands, and thousands of people left in the world, heartbroken.