GRADE 8

LETRA (LANGUAGE ENHANCEMENT THROUGH READING ASSESSMENT)

Level 1. Word Level

Instruction: Read correctly the words below. Read at least 10 out of the 20 words correctly.
If not, read it again until you master the words.

WORD LIST

tan present triumphant doubt

zen great pheasant gnome
kit drama splice knob
cob prefer chunk half
sub blast catastrophe debris

LEVEL 2. Sentence Level

Instruction: Read the five sentences below correctly. If not, read them again until you can
read them perfectly.

SENTENCES

1. The voices of our elders become easing to the young generations' pure hearts and
clear minds.
2. Young people must humbly recognize the aged men and women as a lot more
experienced.
3. We read about Philippine traditions and rituals, so you can ask me a lot about those.
4. Digital babies have set the world into a wonderland that probably exists in fairy
tales only.
5. Our country is rich in traditions and rituals; however, when students are asked, they
can hardly name one.

Level 3. Paragraph Level

Instruction: Read aloud the following paragraph
Wise Splice from Grannies
by Rachel Ruth M. Espinueva

Let the easing voices of the elders become audible to the young generation.
Young people must recognize that the aged men and women are a lot more
experienced. It would be great to live by the life lessons they wish to impart. It is true
that the present generation lives comfortably in a push-button era. Digital babies
might have set the world into a wonderland that only exists in the fairy tale stories of

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their grandparents’ along with their lullabies once upon a time. However, as they say,
“a crown of snow, there cometh wisdom”. Ancient history can just be repeated such as
the pandemic and catastrophes that nobody knows when to happen or not. There is
nothing to lose or regret when grannies’ cautious pieces of advice and reminders will
be kept and eventually be thankful about. So please listen to their splices filled with
great wisdom.

LEVELS 4-5: STORY LEVEL & STORY + COMPREHENSION LEVEL

Instruction: Read the paragraph below and answer the Comprehension
questions.

Momotaro
(An Adaptation of a Japanese Folklore)
by Shane Carmie C. Sapera

Once upon a time in Japan, there lived an elderly couple with no child.
Aside from loneliness, fear also loomed in the family as ogres from distant
lands often attacked their desolate village.
One day, the woman saw a big, plump peach floating down the river. It
was a humongous peach; the biggest she had ever seen. She fished the fruit out
of the river and took it home. The old woman brought a big knife from the
kitchen and was about to cut the peach in half when a voice echoed from the
sakura-colored fruit saying, “Wait! Don’t cut me!”. Suddenly, the peach split
open, and a beautiful baby boy appeared. Though dumbfounded at first, the
couple took in the boy, and they named him, "Momotaro", meaning "Peach
Boy". Since then, no dull day visited the family.
When Momotaro was about fifteen years old, he went to his father and
said, “Father, you have always been very kind to me. Now, I have grown and I
must do something to help our family and our country. I think I know my
purpose for being born; my purpose is to fight those ogres who do villainous
things. Please allow me.”
The old man was surprised to hear this, but he also knew the ability of his
son. The couple helped Momotaro get ready for his journey to Ogre Island by
providing him with battle tools as well as with dumplings for lunch. Then,
Momotaro commenced his journey.
Along the way, Momotaro met a dog, a monkey and a pheasant. With
Momotaro as their general, the dog, the monkey and the pheasant, who initially
hated each other, all became friends and followed Momotaro. They travelled
and reached their destination. A huge fight occurred between the ogres and
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Momotaro's army but despite the boy's army being small, they ended up being
triumphant.
How ecstatic the old couple were when they saw their son come home
safely! With all the treasures Momotaro brought back home, they became very
rich, and they lived happily ever after.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. In Paragraph Number 3 of the adaptation, Momotaro said, “I think I know my
purpose for being born; my purpose is to fight those ogres who do villainous
things.” The word villainous is synonymous to:
A. great B. amazing C. wrong D. numerous

2. Momotaro is the name given by the old couple to the baby boy they found.
Momotaro in Japanese means .
A. Pineapple B. Peach C. Apple D. Kiwi

3. When Momotaro turned 15, he said, “I think I know my purpose for being
born”. Which of the following is Momotaro’s purpose?
A. To make the couple happy
B. To save the villagers
C. To gather all peaches in the forest
D. To fight ogres who do villainous things

4. Based on the story, which of the following is NOT part of Momotaro's army?
A. pheasant B. monkey C. dog D. snake

5. Since the couple found Momotaro, no dull day visited the family. What does
the underlined part mean?
A. The couple loved colorful things.
B. The couple made peaches their favorite fruit.
C. The couple’s days with Momotaro became happy.
D. The couple was sad and angry when Momotaro came.

6. Which of the following is one of the “villainous things” the ogres did to the
villagers?
A. They stole treasures.
B. They took away villagers.
C. They ate the villagers’ food.
D. They destroyed the villagers’ houses.

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7. Which of the following life lessons is NOT reflected in the story?

A. Be respectful to all creatures.
B. One’s ability is used to doing good.
C. Poverty is not a reason to give up.
D. Do not be too quick in doing decisions.

LEVELS 6-7: LOCAL MATERIAL LEVEL & LOCAL MATERIAL +

COMPREHENSION LEVEL
Instruction: Read the paragraph below and answer the Comprehension
questions.

LOCAL TEXT MATERIAL

Confessions of a Kdramaholic
by Michelle M. Felstead

During the summer, I would usually go out with my family to enjoy the
warmth of the summer sun, the feel of the sand beneath my feet, and the sight of
the ocean resembling thousands of diamonds scattered across a wide, blue-green
blanket.
However, this year was different. I found myself in the comfort of
solitude inside my room. I spent most of my time focused on the television
screen with Netflix on, binge-watching Korean dramas (Kdramas). Would you
believe it if I told you that I had watched the complete episodes of 'Crash
Landing on You' in a single day? Yes, I stayed up all night just to finish this
series. Even though I made an effort to stop and return the next day, as the next
episode's preview flashed, I trapped myself in a loop, uttering the lines, “Okay,
this will be the last!” until I finished watching the whole thing. After completing
one series, a trailer automatically played, so I checked it out. That deceived me!
I was once more caught binge-watching ‘Descendants of the Sun’.
After some sleepless nights, I made the decision to take a break and talk
to my buddies. Guess what? I confidently gave reviews about the shows I had
watched. My pals gave me several recommendations, which increased my
excitement. Additionally, I looked up "The Best Kdrama to Watch" on Google,
which provided me with an extensive list of Kdrama shows.
With this exposure to Kdrama, I began to appreciate Korean culture,
including its food, music, ideals, and even its language. I loved singing along to
Black Pink and felt so cute saying "ahn nyong ha se yo" to my buddies.
However, being enthralled with this craze made me neglect other important

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things. Every time Mom gave me errands, I got very cranky. Because I wasn't
getting enough sleep, I started becoming sick. I suddenly realized that I spent
too much time watching, and I had become a Kdramaholic. I neglected my well-
being and my family's relationship. With this, I learned my lesson that whatever
is taken too much is bad.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. I have a confession to make. I spent the rest of my free time watching
Kdrama all day, so I forgot to attend your birthday party. What is the synonym
of the underlined word?
A. admission
B. appeal
C. announcement
D. request

2. I spent most of my time focused on the television screen with Netflix on,
binge-watching Korean dramas. The word binge-watching means
____________
A. watching alone
B. watching attentively
C. watching K-drama within 24 hours
D. watching multiple episodes in one sitting

3. What does the narrator usually do during summer? The narrator usually
___________
A. goes on outings with the family
B. watches Korean dramas
C. does mom errands
D. stays up all night

4. What did the narrator search on Google that led her to have an extensive
list of Kdrama series to watch?
A. The Best Kdrama to Watch
B. Kdrama and Korean Culture
C. The Reviews of the Kdramas
D. The Kdrama Recommendations

5. Why do you think the narrator could not stop watching Kdrama?
A. The narrator appreciated Korean culture

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B. The narrator wants to avoid mom’s errands

C. The narrator is feeling cute learning the Korean language
D. The narrator was engrossed with the succeeding episode previews

6. In paragraph 3, the statement “I confidently gave reviews about the series

I watched” implies that the narrator is
A. Challenged, if her friends also watched the series she watched.
B. Proud that she can express her thoughts about the series she watched.
C. Pleased that her friends did not watch the series that she finished
watching.
D. Excited that her friends should also watch the series she finished
watching.

7. Is the statement “Whatever is taken too much is bad” valid?

A. No, because too much is a good thing.
B. Yes, because having too much of something will make you sick.
C. No, because an excessive amount of something is a blessing
D. Yes, because even good things when excessively used or done, can be
harmful.

LEVELS 8-9: ACADEMIC TEXT LEVEL & ACADEMIC TEXT+

COMPREHENSION LEVEL
Instruction: Read the paragraph below and answer the Comprehension
questions.

ACADEMIC TEXT MATERIAL

A Wake-Up Call to Combat Bullying
by Michelle M. Felstead

The Philippines has the most bullying cases out of all 70 countries. This is
what the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported in February 2023, based on data
from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). The Child
Protection Network Foundation (CPNF) verified that 17.5 million students, or
65% of all students in the country, were bullied. Bullying is a pervasive issue
that affects individuals across various social settings.

It involves someone hurting or threatening a weaker person, often forcing

them to do things they don't want to do. The consequences of bullying can be

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profound, leading to worry, sadness, and a loss of confidence. One of the most
effective ways to combat bullying is through education.
Raising awareness helps children learn how to cope with bullying
situations. When someone is being bullied, it's crucial for them to know how to
speak up calmly but assertively. If they find it difficult to speak up, they can
remove
themselves from the situation and seek help from teachers or other responsible
adults.

Bullying has also extended into the digital realm, known as

cyberbullying. UNICEF reports that cyberbullying occurs on social media sites,
chat services, game platforms, and mobile devices. To prevent cyberbullying,
individuals should ensure that nothing they upload online could harm or
humiliate others.
When individuals witness someone else being bullied, it's essential to stand up
for the victim. Doing nothing is equivalent to condoning bad behavior, and it
may lead the bully to believe that their actions are acceptable.

Moreover, addressing bullying is a collective responsibility that involves

not only teachers and parents but also students themselves. The data must be a
wake-up call. Although these efforts may seem small, they collectively
contribute to making a big difference in ending bullying.

In a nutshell, the prevalence of bullying in the Philippines is a concerning

issue that demands attention and action from society as a whole. By raising
awareness, educating individuals, and fostering a culture of kindness and
respect, we can work together to create a safer environment for all. It's crucial to
remember that every effort counts in the fight against bullying.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. The Child Protection Network Foundation (CPNF) verified that bullying
affected 17.5 million or 65% of all students nationwide. Which of the following
words is synonymous with the underlined word ___________?
A. approved B. confirmed C. inferred D. supported

2. Bullying is a pervasive issue in many social situations. Which of the

following words is closest in meaning to the underlined word?
A. limited [Link] C. specific D. widespread

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[Link] what issue did the Philippines rank first according to PISA?
A. bashing B. bullying C. cyberbullying D. stealing

4. How many countries did PISA include in the ranking for the most number
of bullying cases?
A. 17.5 B. 65 C. 69 D. 70

5. It is important to stand up for others because ________________.

A. bullying is bad.
B. no one will help the victim.
C. when you do nothing, you tolerate bullying.
D. when you do nothing, no one will report to the teacher

6. Which of the following statements BEST represents the role of students in

stopping bullying?
A. Students should let the victims of bullying handle it themselves.
B. Students are responsible for joining the bullies in school.
C. Students should report bullying to teachers or administrators, but not
intervene
themselves.
D. Students have a responsibility to actively intervene and speak out against
bullying when they witness it.

7. Which action will you take to show your concern for a victim of bullying?
A. Ignore the bullies and carry on with your own business.
B. Join in the bullying to avoid becoming a target yourself.
C. Reach out to the victim and offer support or assistance.
D. Reach out and encourage bullying behavior and participate in it.

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