Patriotic Symbols

The American flag is often called the “Stars and Stripes.” It has thirteen stripes and fifty stars, one for each state. There are many rules for the flag: for example, you should display it only during the day, and you should fold it in a special way. In some schools there is a flag in each classroom, and children stand in the front of the flag every day and say the “Pledge of Allegiance”:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

And to the Republic for which it stands

One nation, under God, invisible, with liberty and justice for all.

One of the most famous symbols of the U.S. is the Statue of Liberty. France gave the statue to the U.S. in 1884 as a symbol of friendship and freedom. It is in New York Harbor, and it was the first sight many immigrants saw when they arrived in the U.S.

The eagle became the official national symbol of the U.S. in 1782. It carries an olive branch (a sign of piece) and arrows (signs of strength). You can see the eagle on the back of a dollar bill.

“Uncle Sam” is a cartoon symbol of the U.S. Government. He has appeared in magazines, newspapers and on posters for the last 150 years. During the War of 1812 against England a man named Samuel Wilson sold meat to the U.S. government for its soldiers. Everyone called him Uncle Sam. The first Letters of Uncle Sam, “U.S.”, were the same as the first letters of the United States. After the war, cartoons of Uncle Sam as the U.S. government began to appear.

The U.S. has an official song, “The Star-Spangled Banner”. It is sung at many sporting events and public celebrations. It was written by Francis Scott Key. He was on a British ship, which was attacking Fort McHenry outside Baltimore. The attack started on September 13^th, 1814 and continued all that day and night. Suddenly, early in the morning of September 14th, they saw the American flag flying from the fort. Key was so excited he began to write down his feelings in a poem. At first “The Star-Spangled Banner” was sung to an old British drinking song. Later, music was written by John Stafford Smith. In March 1931 Congress officially approved the song as the national anthem.

Every state in the U.S. has its own flag, its own symbol and its own song too. These are not as well known as the national ones, but they are used in all state ceremonial events.

2. а) Перевести письменно на английский язык следующие вопросы:

- Как называется официально эта страна?

- Какие исторические события упоминаются в тексте?

б) Ответить письменно на вопросы на английском языке.

- How was the official song of the state written?

- What does the American flag symbolize?

- Which symbols has America?

- What does “U.S.” mean?

3. Составить предложение из данных слов.

state in flag every own the U.S. has its.

4. Вставить соответствующее притяжательное местоимение.

He began to write down … feelings in a poem.

5. Выбрать нужное неопределенное местоимение (some, any).

I haven’t seen …body today.

6. Выбрать правильный предлог. (on, in, at)

I study... college.

6. Выбрать правильный модальный глагол.

You … display the flag only during the day, and you … fold it in a special way.

a) can;

b) may;

c) must;

e) should.

8. Выбрать правильную видовременную форму сказуемого.

The song was written on a British ship, which … Fort McHenry outside Baltimore.

f) is attacking

g) had attacked

h) attacked

9. Выбрать глагол в соответствующем времени пассивного залога.What … … in all state ceremonial events?

i) is used

j) is using

k) are used

l)