Overview
This lecture reviewed sample questions for the UPCAT Language Proficiency subtest, covering both English and Filipino items, including vocabulary, grammar, sentence order, and idiomatic expressions.
UPCAT Language Proficiency Subtest Details
- The subtest includes questions in both English and Filipino.
- Language proportion varies per test (e.g., 80/20 or 50/50 English/Filipino).
- Non-Tagalog speakers should prepare for Filipino questions.
Sample Question Types and Explanations
Vocabulary and Idioms
- "Putting his two cents in" means sharing one's opinion.
- "Emaciated" means abnormally thin or weak; "emancipated" does not fit the context.
Grammar and Sentence Structure
- Conditional sentences require correct verb pairing (e.g., "would have left" with "had not arrived").
- Correct time marker usage: use present perfect ("have been") with "since time immemorial."
Sentence Organization and Cohesion
- Effective paragraph order considers idea flow and logical connections (e.g., cause and effect, negation).
- Example: Jupiter's moons—chronological and attribution-related facts should be sequenced logically.
Filipino Language Proficiency
- Know the difference between "ng" and "nang"; "nang" is used before adverbs or to indicate "how long."
- Sentence construction: recognize logical and proper Filipino sentence structures.
- Idiom: "basang sisiw" (wet chick) means pitiful or in a sorry state.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Idiom — a phrase with a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning.
- Preposition — a word showing relation between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence.
- Present Perfect — verb tense for actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
- Homonym — words that sound alike but have different meanings or spellings (e.g., "ng" vs "nang").
- Emaciated — abnormally thin or weak, often due to illness or lack of food.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice sample questions in both English and Filipino.
- Review grammar rules, idiomatic expressions, and sentence organization techniques.
- Prepare for varied language proportions in the actual UPCAT exam.