LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

Part I: Sample Test Items

1. What does this excerpt from the Rigveda reveal about the Hindu belief on the god Purusha?

A thousand heads hath Purusha, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet

One every side pervading earth he fills a space ten fingers wide
The Purusha is all that yet hath been and all that is to be,
The Lord waxes greater still by food
So mighty is his greatness: yea, greater than this is Purusha,
All creatures are one-fourth of him, three-fourths eternal life in heaven

A. Purusha is the personification of natural phenomena

B. The god Purusha is the source of mercy and salvation for all
C. Purusha is the primal source of all creation
D. Purusha is powerful and supreme over all earth
2. In which Jane Austen novel do the following lines appear?

It is a truth universally acknowledged; that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

A. Mansfield Park
B. Northanger Abbey
C. Pride and Prejudice
D. Sense & Sensibility

Part II: Analyzing Test Items

1. The first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.

A. Yasunari Kawabata C. Wole Soyinka
B. Rabindranath Tagore D. Po Chu-I

2. Filial piety is a basic tenet of this school of thought.

A. Taoism C. Hinduism
B. Confucianism D. Buddhism

3. This ethical concept suggests a sense of obligation or indebtedness which explains the sense of patriotism and
nationalism of the Japanese.
A. on C. giri
B. seppuku D. Kami

4. What insight is suggested by this haiku from Basho?

Poverty’s child –
He starts to grind the rice
And gazes at the moon.

A. Nature has a soothing effect on the human spirit.

B. Child labor is a reality in many Asian nations
C. The poor dreams and are hopeful of better things in their life.
D. Life is never-ending routine of work and leisure.
5. He is the leading figure of the Negritude movement.
A. Leopold Senghor C. Wole Soyinka
B. Dennis Brutus D. David Diop
LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

6. The plot development of the Ramayana.

A. Circular C. Linear
B. En medias res D. Pyramid

7. The South African novelist and short story writer whose major themes are on exile and alienation, won the Nobel
Prize for Literature in 1991.
A. Ousmane Sembene C. Bessie Head
B. Nadine Gordimer D. Barbara Kimenye

8. This novel is based on the pilgrimage of the Buddhist monk Xuangzang to India in search of sacred texts.
A. The Tale of Genji C. Record of a Journey to the West
B. Dream of the red Chamber D. On Learning to be an Indian

9. Fine arts and literature flourished during this dynasty which is viewed as the Golden Age of Chinese civilization.
A. Han C. Ch’in
B. T’ang D. Shang

10. This excerpt from Soyinka’s Telephone Conversation indicates the universal issue of _________.

“ARE YOU DARK?OR VERY LIGHT?” Revelation came.

“You mean- like plain or milk chocolate?” Her assent was clinical, crushing its light Impersonality.
Rapidly, wave length adjusted, I chose, “West African sepia.” – and as an afterthought, “Down in
my passport.”

A. gender discrimination C. human rights violation

B. colonial mentality D. racial discrimination

11. The Hindu belief that life is an illusion is __________.

A. dharma C. maya
B. artha D. kama

12. In which Jane Austen novel do the following lines appear?

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in

possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

A. Mansfield Park C. Pride and Prejudice

B. Northanger Abbey D. Sense and Sensibility

13. Which novel by Thomas Hardy begins with the hero selling his wife and daughter to a sailor who is on his way to
Canada?
A. Return to the Native C. Under the Greenwood Tree
B. Tess of d’Urberville D. The Mayor of Casterbridge

14. In what Shakespearean play do the following lines appear?

What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason!

How infinite in faculties! In form and moving, how express and
admirable!

A. Hamlet C. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

B. Romeo and Juliet D. King Henry IV
LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

15. What is the title of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s ‘Tale of Horror’?

A. Bleak House C. Heart of Darkness
B. Frankenstein D. Tell-Tale heart

16. Identify the poem from which the lines are taken:
“I LOVE THEE WITH A LOVE I SEEMED TO LOSE WITH MY LOST SAINTS- I LOVE THEE
WITH THE BREATH, SMILES, TEARS, OF ALL MY LIFE! – AND, IF GOD CHOOSE, I SHALL BUT LOVE THEE
BETTER AFTER DEATH.”
A. Sonnet 53 C. Sonnet 15
B. Sonnet 43 D. Sonnet 14

17. What sound device is exemplified in the first two lines of Poe’s ‘The Raven’?

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”
This I whispered and an echo murmured back the word, Lenore!”
Merely this and nothing more.
From The Raven
Edgar Allan Poe

A. Anaphora C. Assonance
B. Onomatopoeia D. Alliteration

18. What atmosphere do the images create?

A. Confusion C. Longing
B. Contentment D. Solitude

19. What figure of speech is exemplified in the following lines from Shakespeare’s ‘As You like It’?

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou are not so unkind as man’s ingratitude

A. Allusion C. Personification
B. Apostrophe D. Metaphor

20. Who did Abraham Lincoln call “the little woman who started the Civil War”?
A. Rosa parks C. Harriet Beecher Stowe
B. Sojourner Truth D. Zora Neale Hurston

21. In the following dialogue, what Filipino value is affirmed by Mario’s statement?

Gloria: So, for a measly apple, you lost a job you needed so much –
Mario: I wouldn’t mind losing a thousand jobs for an apple for my daughter!

A. Parental sacrifice for children C. Family happiness over job security

B. Material comfort for the family D. Child’s care above morality

22. Which famous painting is described in the poem?

LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

He saw the terror and violence, and he

Depicted sorrow, too, and infamy.
Corpses are dragged across a blood soaked floor.
What gods the victims did implore?

A. The Gladiator C. The Spolarium

B. Death in Rome D. The Execution

23. “He” in these lines of poetry refers to

A. Juan Luna C. Resurrection Hidalgo
B. Jose Rizal D. Emilio Aguinaldo

24. The foremost Filipino sonneteer.

A. Trinidad Tarrosa Subido C. Nina Estrada Puyat
B. Angela Manalang Gloria D. Rita Gaddi Baltazar

25. The pre-war writer of local color who excelled in presenting the simple life of the Ilocano peasants is
A. Arturo Rotor C. Amador Daguio
B. Francisco Icasiano D. Manuel Arguilla

26. The Food expert who wrote on Filipino Cuisine is

A. Pura Santillan Castrence C. Gilda Cordero Fernando
B. Doreen Gamboa Fernandez D. Carmen Guerrero Nakpil

27. The writer acknowledged to have introduced modernism in Philippine poetry in English is
A. Jose Garcia Villa C. Hilario Francia Jr.
B. Angela Manalang Gloria D. Cirilo Bautista

28. The literary awards started in 1950 is the

A. Commonwealth Literary Awards C. Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Literary Awards
B. Republic Cultural Heritage Awards D. Stonehill Awards

29. Which writers’ organization tried to create a wide reading public for Filipino writers by printing low-cost books?
A. The Veronicans C. Philippine Book Guild
B. Barangay Writers Project D. Philippine Writers League

30. Aliguyon, the most notable Ifugao hero immortalized in the epic Hudhud has been written as a long poem by
A. Amador T. Daguio C. Ricaredo Demetillo
B. Manuel A. Viray D. Vidal A. Tan

31. He is known as the Ruler of the Olympians and is respected as the protector of the Greeks.
A. Hephaestus B. Zeus C. Poseidon D. Hades

32. During the Titanomachy, Zeus freed his brothers and sisters from their father, Cronus. As a result, the brothers and
sisters gave Zeus the honor of being their leader , thus, earning the right to rule over the sky. What does this show
about the Greeks?
A. The Greeks value heroism. C. The Greeks value honor.
B. The Greeks value respect. D. All of the above.

33. Modern Cosmology is a speculative science which examines the beginning of the universe. Modern cosmology
includes the Big Bang Theory. In Greek mythology, the universe was said to have started with Chaos. Out of Chaos
LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

emerged Gea, the goddess who represents the earth, Tartarus, representing the land of the dead, and Eros who
represented desire. What can be said about the early Greeks regarding their belief about creation?

A. The early Greeks understand the concept of creation.

B. The early Greeks associated creation in weaving stories of mythology.
C. The early Greeks understand the importance of understanding the logic of creation.
D. The early Greeks believe that creation is a product of mythology.

34. Birth, death and after life are constant stories in the mythologies of the world. What universal idea about life is
reflected in using these motifs?
A. That life has a beginning and an end. C. That life is impermanent.
B. That life is a never ending cycle. D. That life is lived only once.

35. The middle ages reflected these mythological creatures as symbol of purity. They are shown even in modern films
as representation of love and beauty.
A. Trolls B. Dragons C. kappa D. Unicorns

Part III: Enhancing Test Taking Skills

1. He is known as the Ruler of the Olympians and is respected as the protector of the Greeks.

A. Hephaestus B. Zeus C. Poseidon D. Hades

2. During the Titanomachy, Zeus freed his brothers and sisters from their father, Cronus. As a result, the brothers and
sisters gave Zeus the honor of being their leader , thus, earning the right to rule over the sky. What does this show
about the Greeks?

A. The Greeks value heroism. C. The Greeks value honor.

B. The Greeks value respect. D. All of the above.

3. Modern Cosmology is a speculative science which examines the beginning of the universe. Modern cosmology
includes the Big Bang Theory. In Greek mythology, the universe was said to have started with Chaos. Out of Chaos
emerged Gea, the goddess who represents the earth, Tartarus, representing the land of the dead, and Eros who
represented desire. What can be said about the early Greeks regarding their belief about creation?

A. The early Greeks understand the concept of creation.

B. The early Greeks associated creation in weaving stories of mythology.
C. The early Greeks understand the importance of understanding the logic of creation.
D. The early Greeks believe that creation is a product of mythology.

4. Birth, death and after life are constant stories in the mythologies of the world. What universal idea about life is
reflected in using these motifs?
A. That life has a beginning and an end. C. That life is impermanent.
B. That life is a never ending cycle. D. That life is lived only once.

5. The middle ages reflected these mythological creatures as symbol of purity. They are shown even in modern films
as representation of love and beauty.
A. Trolls B. Dragons C. kappa D. Unicorns

6. A story says that Hera was jealous of yet another woman-interest of Zeus, Io. Zeus turned Io to a cow to protect her
from the wrath of his wife who saw how he transformed himself as a cloud to escape the watchful eyes of Hera and
be close to Io. Seeing this, Hera asked Argus, a monster with a hundred eyes of different colors to watch over Io so
that she will never become human again. But Hermes played his lyre and killed Argus, following the order of his
father, Zeus. Fearing Hera’s wrath, Hermes took the eyes of Argus and gave them to Hera who put these eyes in
the tail of her favourite bird. The story reflects the origin of which bird?

A. Hummingbird B. Peacock C. dove D. Eagle

7. What does the story of Hera and Io show about Zeus?

LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

A. His superiority over his dominions

B. His infidelity.
C. His weakness as a god and as a husband.
D. His need for a woman.

8. The story presented is an example of which type of myth?

A. Saga C. Folktale or fairytale
B. Pure myth D. None of the above

To the ancient Egyptians, their ruler was both god and king, a descendant of the sun
god, Ra. His power was absolute, and no one could question his decisions or repeal his
judgments. Because the ruler was a god, no one was allowed to address him directly or to talk
about him. Instead people called him pharaoh, meaning, “the Great House.”

9. What information can be inferred from the passage?

A. A god has no name. C. Ra is both god and human.
B. A name demystifies a god. D. A god has no address.

10. What is the moral of the fable below?

Four bulls were such great friends that they always ate together. A Lion watched them for many
days with longing eyes, but since they were never far apart from each other, he was afraid to
attack them. At length he succeeded in making them jealous of one another, and their jealousy
eventually turned into a mutual aversion. When they strayed far away from each other, the Lion
fell upon them singly, and killed them all.
-Asian Mythology

A. Only by working together can the greatest good for all be achieved.
B. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
C. The quarrel of friends are the opportunities of enemies.
D. Never underestimate the viciousness of your enemy.

11. One of the most popular love stories in Greek mythology is the story of Cupid and Psyche. Psyche’s undying love
and devotion to her husband earned the respect of the Gods. What was Psyche’s mistake that nearly broke up her
marriage?

A. Psyche had an affair.

B. Psyche listened to the evil suggestion of her sisters to leave her husband.
C. Psyche defied her husband by looking at his face in the middle of the night.
D. Psyche stopped loving her husband.

12. The gods and goddesses of world mythology, in most cases, act like human beings. What term can be best used
to refer to their characteristic?
A. Anthropomorphic C. God-like
B. Ethereal D. Anthropocentrism
13. Philippine mythology has fewer characters similar to the Olympians. Instead of these gods, Philippine mythology is
rich in characters like
A. Supernatural – cafre, aswang, duwende, etc.
B. Sea creatures- sirena, syokoy,etc.
C. Angels – cherubs, guardian angels, etc.
D. Representational characters – malakas at maganda, etc.

14. The mythological background of the Trojan war is said to be caused by Paris, the prince of Troy. Eris, the
goddess of discord, brought to a party a golden apple with an inscription- for the fairest. Hera, Athena and Aphrodite
all made a quick claim on the apple. Fearing that he may anger any of the goddess, Zeus decided to send the three
women to Paris. Each of the three goddesses offered a bribe to Paris: Hera promised him unlimited political power ;
Athena assured him that he would always be victorious in battle and Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful woman
in the world, as his wife. Being young and romantic, he gave the apple to Aphrodite. Who was this beautiful woman
offered to Paris as bribe?

A. Penelope , queen of Ithaca C. Helen of Troy

B. Persephone, queen of the underworld D. Hera, queen of Olympus
LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

15. As a result, Hera and Athena helped Troy’s enemy, Greece, in the war while Aphrodite helped Troy. What does
this show?
A. Serious decisions have serious consequences
B. Paris was wrong in choosing Aphrodite as the winner
C. Hera and Athena harboured ill feelings
D. Zeus ordered the goddesses to take sides in the war.

16. The Trojan war is technically set due to the abduction of Helen by Paris. This is remembered in the modern times
referring to Helen as
A. The woman who started the war
B. The face that launched a thousand ships
C. The woman who left the husband
D. The face which surpassed all beauties.

17. Apollo was the god of sun and poetry. He has mastered the craft of prophesy and earned the reference as the god
who mostly reflected of Zeus . What is his Roman name?
A. Mars B. Neptune C. Jupiter D. Apollo

18. In the story of Odysseus, as they were sailing back to Ithaca after the Trojan war, they passed along a narrow
straits and were tested by the monster Scylla and the giant whirlpool, Charybdis. These two women used to be
beautiful maidens who earned the anger of Amphitrite. What was the cause of the anger?

A. Amphitrite was jealous because her husband, Poseidon, took a liking to the two.
B. Amphitrite was envious of the beauty of the two women.
C. Amphitrite was worried about the condition of Odysseus.
D. Amphitrite lost in a beauty contest organized by Zeus.

19. The following are theories which could be adapted to study the different myths except

A. Jungian archetypes C. Evolutionism

B. Structuralism D. Feminism

20. She is the wife of Zeus and considered as the goddess of fertility and of the Earth.

A. Hera C. Aphrodite
B. Athena D. Artemio
LET 2009 Review Domain 4: Literature

Sample test 10. D 23. A

1. C 11. C 24. B
2. C 12. C 25. A
Part ll: Analyzing test items 13. D 26. C
1. B 14. A 27. D
2. B 15. B 28. C
3. C 16. B 29. B
4. C 17. D 30. A
5. A 18. D 31. B
6. C 19. B 32. D
7. B 20. C 33. A
8. C 21. A 34. A
9. B 22. C 35. D

Part lll: Enhancing test taking skills

1. B
2. D
3. A
4. A
5. D
6. B
7. C
8. B
9. B
10. C
11. C
12. C
13. A
14. A
15. C
16. B
17. D
18. A
19. D
20. A