Prefixes Super and Ex-English 5

Reflexive Pronouns Worksheet

Checking of Assignment

1. What is a reflexive pronoun?

2. On what part of the sentence is a reflexive pronoun used?

3. To what part of the sentence does a reflexive pronoun point to?

Review

Do you have a special friend? Do you sometimes want to be in his/her shoes? Write the name of that person in the oval below and write his/her qualities which you want to have in the rectangular boxes.

Review

Today we will read a story about a girl who has a special friend.

(Read the story silently, observing the standards set.)

Presentation

The day had finally arrived: the day of my big solo. Everyone was there– my mom, my dad, and my little brother. Uncle Dennis and Aunt Lucy even fetched my grandma from the province so she wouldn’t miss the big event.

And it was a big event– our first ever Choir Concert. The whole class was dressed up and I had on a new dress that went on sale just in time for the event.

My name was on the cover of the program. It was printed in bright yellow with a daisy chain drawn around it. “Ella Huelar…Soloist.”

I couldn’t believe it when I saw my name. Not that it was my name. But that it wasn’t Grace Santos’s name. Grace and I had been classmates since kindergarten. She was always there wherever I was and she was always ahead of me.

Superstar

Dance class needed a big finish for the recital? Grace was chosen.

Selling Girl Scout cookies? ‘Oh, I’m sorry,” the lady at the front door would say, “I just bought twenty boxes from Grace Santos. Such a nice girl.” Yeah, whatever,” I said to myself.

Softball? She played first base while I watched from my position in the outfield.

And the school plays? Grace would have the leads while I was cast as her mother or sister or neighbor. I even played her dog once.

The only time I ever came in ahead of Grace was at roll call. Huelar came first before Santos. Every time! Believe me, I counted that as a victory!

The day of the choir concert tryout was nerve wracking. We waited in the library while Mrs. Zamora called us one at atime into the choir room.

When Mrs. Zamora got to the H’s, my heartbeat sped up each time she came to the door. By the time she actually called my name, my body was shaking.

When I came back to the library, Grace smiled at me. Mrs. Zamora called her name and Grace calmly followed her. She was still calm and smiling when her tryout was over.

When Mrs. Zamora made the announcement at the end of the week of who had made the special choral group, I wasn’t surprised when Grace’s name was on her list and mine wasn’t. “So,” I said under my breath, “what else is new?”

Sudden clapping brought me out of my sulking. Everyone was looking at me. I’ve missed something here, I thought.

Mrs. Zamora beamed down at me and said “Ella, you will have to start practicing with me during your breaks. The solostake extra preparation.”

Solo? I got the solo? I glanced over at Grace. She grinned and gave me thumbs-up sign. Oh, that’s another thing. She was always so nice.

Now, the day had come. We filed onto the stage and took our places. I was in the front center. Mrs. Zamora raised her baton and we began singing. I could see my mother leaning forward in her seat, her camera already flashing for pictures. My Dad was smiling and winking at me.

My big moment was there. The spotlight flicked over me and then circled me in its bright light. Mrs. Zamora nodded and pointed her baton at me. That baton must have shot out a secret stunning ray because I froze right there on the spot.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. Most of all, I couldn’t sing. The note started up and then stuck right there in my throat. The choir kept singing softly behind me. Mrs.Zamora began to look a little frazzled.

“You can do it, Ella,” Grace whispered from behind me. “I know you can.” I wasn’t sure as she was.

My turn came again. I took a deep breath, opened my mouth and sang out as loudly as I could. All that came out was a rusty-sounding squeak. But in the same moment, from behind me, came the pure tone of the right one. Grace gave me a gentle poke. My voice lifted and matched hers. When the next note came, it was all me.

The rest of the solo went well. And when the concert was over, the applause was thunderous. We even received a standing ovation. Well, okay, it was our parents and they were easily pleased, but a standing ovation was a standing ovation.

When we filed off the stage my family met me with praises and hugs.

Grace flashed me her usual sunny smile. “It was nothing. You’ve always been there for me. All these years and all the things we’ve done together!” Grace gave me another hug. “What are friends for!”

‘You’re right,” I said slowly, beginning to like the feeling of being her friend. This time I hugged her. “That’s what friends are for.”

– Adapted from “The Big Solo”by Cynthia Marie HammondChicken Soup for the Preteens Soul

a. What was the big event in Ella’s life?b. How did Ella feel towards Grace in the beginning

of the story? Cite an evidence to support your answer.c. In what instance or event did Ella finally get ahead of Grace?d. How did Grace show that she was a true friend?e. What did Ella realize at the end?f. Explain the phrase, “That’s what friends are for.” Can you think of an instance in your life when the

phrase was very applicable?

Comprehension Check-up

The title of the selection “Superstar” is made up of a prefix (super-) and a root word (star). Super- and ex are prefixes.super- means ‘superior’ or ‘more than’.

It can also mean ‘of great excellence’ or ‘very large or powerful’.

ex- means formerIt is always followed by a hyphen followed in turn by a position, profession or job.

Remember

Study the chart:Application

Prefixes

Examples: Examples used in sentences:

super- supermarket(a big market) supernatural(more than natural) supercook(excellent cook)

That supermarket is the biggest in the world.The bleedings of the Saints are supernatural events. He is a supercook. People fall in line just to taste his famous delicacies.

ex- ex-mayor Alfredo Lim is the ex-mayor of Manila.

Add the prefix ex- or super- to the following words. Explain what the new words mean and use them in sentences.Example: Secretary ex-secretary

Meaning: former secretarySentence: Edgardo Angara is an

ex-secretary of the Department of Education and Culture.

Oral Practice

1. president _______________________meaning: _______________________sentence:_______________________

2. power _______________________meaning: _______________________sentence:_______________________

3. minister _______________________meaning: _______________________sentence:_______________________

Oral Practice

4. hero _______________________meaning: _______________________sentence:_______________________

5. man _______________________meaning: _______________________sentence:_______________________

Oral Practice

A. Match the variants in the box with their definitions. Write the letter of your answer in the appropriate blank.

a. superhighway d. superhumanb. superpower e. supersonicc. superfine f. supernova

_1. star that suddenly becomes 100 million times brighter than the sun.

Oral Practice

a. superhighway d. superhumanb. superpower e. supersonicc. superfine f. supernova

_2. a road designed for high-speed traffic._3. exceeding human power, size or capability._4. an extremely powerful nation_5. higher than the speed of sound waves.

Written Practice

B. Answer the following in complete sentences.1. Who are the ex-lady Presidents of the Philippines?2. Give the names of three ex-senators of the Philippines.3. Who is the last ex-mayor of your city or town?4. Why would an ex-convict find it hard to land a

job?5. Does an ex-bus driver ever forget how to drive a car?

Written Practice

Complete each sentence that follows by filling in the blank with the appropriate prefix. Be sure to use a hypen with ex- or super-.

a. The ___ mayor of Boac has been in office for two terms.

Evaluation

b. The anchor woman is an ___ beauty queen of the 1970’s.c. The U.S., Russia, and China are today’s ____ powers.d. A ___ jet on the ship’s deck was 150 feet high.e. My uncle is an ___ seminarian.

Evaluation

Answer Activity 5 on page 79 of your Reading Textbook

Assignment