KURIOS

CHRISTIAN COLLEGES FOUNDATION, INC.

Mark Japhet C. Salcedo

Activity No. 3 Reading Skills

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1. Look for 10 unfamiliar words in the story. Write down the sentences with the unfamiliar
words underlined. Provide its dictionary meaning and use in another sentence.

a) In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king, whose ideas, though
somewhat polished and sharpened by the progressiveness of distant Latin neighbors,
were still large, florid, and untrammeled, as became the half of him which was barbaric.

b) untrammeled – not deprived of freedom of action; not restricted or hampered

c) The citizens have untrammeled lives under their poor government.

a) He was a man of exuberant fancy, and, withal, of an authority so irresistible that, at

b) exuberant – filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement

c) The comedian radiates an exuberant vibe to the audience.

a) When every member of his domestic and political systems moved smoothly in its
appointed course, his nature was bland and genial;

b) genial – friendly and cheerful

c) Rios is a genial person in class.

Activity No. 3 Reading Skills

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a) Among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become semified was that
of the public arena, in which, by exhibitions of manly and beastly valor, the minds of his
subjects were refined and cultured.

b) notions – a conception of or belief about something

c) The Filipinos has a wide notion concerning religion.

a) Among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become semified was that
of the public arena, in which, by exhibitions of manly and beastly valor, the minds of his
subjects were refined and cultured.

b) semified – a made up word, reduced in half or made partial

c) Jin’s thought about his college course has been semified by what his parents are
telling him.

a) When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to interest the king,
public notice was given that on an appointed day the fate of the accused person would
be decided in the king's arena, a structure which well deserved its name, for, although
its form and plan were borrowed from afar, its purpose emanated solely from the brain
of this man, who, every barleycorn a king, knew no tradition to which he owed more
allegiance than pleased his fancy, and who ingrafted on every adopted form of human
thought and action the rich growth of his barbaric idealism.

b) emanated – to come out from a source; to give off or out

c) The aroma emanated from a freshly made perfume.

Activity No. 3 Reading Skills

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a) When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to interest the king,
public notice was given that on an appointed day the fate of the accused person would
be decided in the king's arena, a structure which well deserved its name, for, although
its form and plan were borrowed from afar, its purpose emanated solely from the brain
of this man, who, every barleycorn a king, knew no tradition to which he owed more
allegiance than pleased his fancy, and who ingrafted on every adopted form of human
thought and action the rich growth of his barbaric idealism.

b) ingrafted – to graft onto a stock

c) The students’ discipline was ingrafted and enhanced with the help of the school’s
teaching.

a) This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most florid fancies, and
with a soul as fervent and imperious as his own.

b) fervent – having or displaying a passionate intensity

c) Uriel’s fervent love for his sport lead him to greater opportunities.

a) Had it not been for the moiety of barbarism in her nature it is probable that lady
would not have been there, but her intense and fervid soul would not allow her to be
absent on an occasion in which she was so terribly interested.

b) moiety – each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided

c) The salary of the father will be divided into two moieties.

a) Had it not been for the moiety of barbarism in her nature it is probable that lady
would not have been there, but her intense and fervid soul would not allow her to be
absent on an occasion in which she was so terribly interested.

b) fervid – intensely enthusiast or passionate

c) The arena was filled with IU’s fervid fans.

Activity No. 3 Reading Skills

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2. Provide the details in the text that represent the following elements of a short story.

a) Setting – an arena in an olden time

b) Characters and their Roles

 King – the king rules the kingdom; the one who built the arena
 Princess – the king’s daughter; the one who had an affair with his lover
 Princess’ lover – the man who loved the princess; put to the arena for trial
 Lady behind the door – the one who will marry the man if her door will be
opened
 The tiger – will slaughter the man to death if it’s door will be opened

c) Climax of the Story

The climax of the story was when the man was put into the day of trial. He was
nervously standing there choosing over a life-or-death situation that will dictate his life’s
fate. He asked for a sign from the princess as he glances because he knew the princess
would know something.

d) Theme of the Story

I think the themes that will best fit the story are power and love. The king’s
power has no match for everyone who commits crimes. No one can be exempted in this
kind of justice system because the king got the power all by himself. There can be any
kinds of love. As for the princess and the accused youth, it can be considered as a tragic
love. It’s because their fate wasn’t theirs to decide.

3. Write your own ending of the story and provide 3 reasons why it should be its ending.

The man opened the door while everyone was holding their breath. A raging tiger
attacked him and slaughtered him to death. The people watching was in pity of the accused
youth and the princess felt pain and sorrow within her heart as she saw his man who loved her
beyond all odds. She knew days before the awaited trial that she would be asked, but her ego
and jealousy overpowered her over her love towards the man. She wanted a sacrificial love
rather than she suffering by seeing his man marry the lady that she despised.
Mark Japhet C. Salcedo

Activity No. 3 Reading Skills

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Three reasons why it should be its ending:

1. Considering the state of the princess, she’s a semi-barbaric and is raging with
jealousy.
2. She would rather choose the man to die out of love than forever see his man with
the lady that she hates.
3. Nevertheless, there’s nothing she can do anymore because she’s not someone to
decide for her fate with the man due to his father’s power and decision.

4. Comment on the structure of the story. Can we consider the author as a good storyteller?
Provide supporting statements to your answer. You may use excerpts from the story.

For me, the structure of the story was a seven out of ten. It does not have to do with the
theme or flow of the story but it’s lacking in some part. It would have been better if the
characters have names so it would be easy to remember and be immersed in their roles. Also,
the usage of words is not for everybody. Some readers won’t easily understand each word that’s
used in the story. However, the author is a good storyteller. It is a nice story as the author left a
question that the readers will decide. It is a mystery to everybody yet lessons can be learned
from the story.