The basic flag of the United States is one of the world’s oldest national flags. Only the basic flags of Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzer land are older.

During the discovery and settlement of what is now the United States, the flags of various European nations were flown over the land, as symbols of possession. Later, in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods, flags representing famous persons, places, and events were flown in the American Colonise.

The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14, 1777. It consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes and 13 white stars in a field of blue, representing the 13 colonies that had declared their independence in 1776. Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795, to give representation to the two new states admitted into the Union, Vermont and Kentucky.

By 1817, there were 20 states in the Union, and it became apparent that adding one stripe for each new state would destroy the shape of the flag. As a result, Congress in 1818 restored the original design of 13 stripes and provided that each state was to be represented by one star. In 1921 Preside William H. Taft made the first official provision for the arrangement of the stars. He ordered that there be six even rows of eight stars each. Previously the arrangement of the stars had been left to the flag- maker’s fancy.

The evolution of the stars and stripes reflects the growth of the United States. After the admission of Hawaii into the Union in 1959, the flag was official changed for the 26th time since its creation.

There are many government flags flown in the United States in addition to the national flag. Among them are the president’s and vice- president’s flags and those of the federal departments and some federal agencies. Each state in the Union has an official flag. The United States Navy uses special flags for signaling.

The basic flag of the United States is _______.

A. the oldest national flag in the world

B. one of the world’ s oldest flags

C. the most beautiful flag in the West

D. as old as the basic flags of some European nations

Before the War of Independence the flags of various European nations flown over the land were symbols of _______.

A. self- rule    B. occupation

C. peace and friendship  D. independence

The first official flag of the United States was adopted ________.

A. before the Independence War

B. right after the Independence War

C. when independence was declared in 1776

D. during the War of Independence which ended in 1783

The 13 red and white stripes and 13 white stars represent _______.

A. 13 independent states

B. the colonies that declared independence in 1776.

C. the U. S. Congress

D. 13 famous figures in the American colonies

How many states were represented on the new flag adopted in 1795?

A. 13.            B. 15.

C. 20.     D. 2.

The basic flag of the United States is one of the world's oldest national flags．Only the basic flags of Austria,．Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland are older．

During the discovery and settlement of what is now the United States, the flags of various European nations were flown over the land, as symbols of possession．Later, in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods, flags representing famous persons, places, and events were flown in the American Colonies．

The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14, 1777．It consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes? and 13 white stars in a field of blue, representing the 13colonies that had declared their independence in 1776．Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795, to give representation to the two new states admitted into the Union, Vermont and Kentucky．

By 1817 there were 20 states in the Union, and it became apparent that adding one stripe for  each new state would destroy the shape of the flag．As a result．Congress in 1818 restored the original design of 13 stripes and provided that each state was to be represented by one star．In 1921 Preside William H．Taft made the first official provision for the arrangement of the stars．He ordered that there be six even rows of eight stars each．Previously the arrangement of the stars had

been left to the flag- maker's fancy．

The evolution of the stars and stripes reflects the growth of the United States．After the admission of Hawaii into the Union in 1959, the flag was officially changed for the 26th time since its creation．

There are many government flags flown in the United States in addition to the national flag．Among them are the president's and vice-president's flags and those of the federal  epartments and some federal agencies．Each state in the Union has an official flag．The United States Navy uses special flags for signaling．   

1.The basic flag of the United States is _____．

A．the oldest national flag in the world

B．one of the world's oldest flags

C．the most beautiful flag in the West

D．as old as the basic flags of some European nations

2.Before the War of Independence the flags of various European nations flown over the land were symbols of         ．

A．self- rule                                                                B．occupation          

C．peace and friendship     D．independence

3.The first official flag of the United States was adopted _____．

A．before the Independence War

B．right after the Independence War

C．when independence was declared in 1776

D．during the War of Independence which ended in 1783

4.The 13 red and white stripes and13 white Stars represent____．

A．13 independent states                         

B．the colonies that declared independence in 1776．

C．the U．S．Congress                          

D．13 famous figures in the American colonies

The basic flag of the United States is one of the world's oldest national flags．Only the basic flags of Austria,．Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland are older．

During the discovery and settlement of what is now the United States, the flags of various European nations were flown over the land, as symbols of possession．Later, in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods, flags representing famous persons, places, and events were flown in the American Colonies．

The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14, 1777．It consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes? and 13 white stars in a field of blue, representing the 13colonies that had declared their independence in 1776．Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795, to give representation to the two new states admitted into the Union, Vermont and Kentucky．

By 1817 there were 20 states in the Union, and it became apparent that adding one stripe for  each new state would destroy the shape of the flag．As a result．Congress in 1818 restored the original design of 13 stripes and provided that each state was to be represented by one star．In 1921 Preside William H．Taft made the first official provision for the arrangement of the stars．He ordered that there be six even rows of eight stars each．Previously the arrangement of the stars had

been left to the flag- maker's fancy．

The evolution of the stars and stripes reflects the growth of the United States．After the admission of Hawaii into the Union in 1959, the flag was officially changed for the 26th time since its creation．

There are many government flags flown in the United States in addition to the national flag．Among them are the president's and vice-president's flags and those of the federal  epartments and some federal agencies．Each state in the Union has an official flag．The United States Navy uses special flags for signaling．   

The basic flag of the United States is _____．

A．the oldest national flag in the world

B．one of the world's oldest flags

C．the most beautiful flag in the West

D．as old as the basic flags of some European nations

Before the War of Independence the flags of various European nations flown over the land were symbols of         ．

A．self- rule             B．occupation     

C．peace and friendship       D．independence

The first official flag of the United States was adopted _____．

A．before the Independence War

B．right after the Independence War

C．when independence was declared in 1776

D．during the War of Independence which ended in 1783

The 13 red and white stripes and13 white Stars represent____．

A．13 independent states                

B．the colonies that declared independence in 1776．

C．the U．S．Congress                

D．13 famous figures in the American colonies

阅读理解

　　On the fourth Thursday in November, Americans celebrate the festival of Thanksgiving. This festival is a time when the family comes together for a meal and gives thanks to God for the blessings they have received. The first Thanksgiving festival was celebrated by the early American settlers who gave thanks to God for their good harvest.

　　In America, Thanksgiving is a family holiday. It is on that holiday that all the family make a special effort to get together. The feast is always held on Thursday and most people have a four-day holiday from school and work. Thus they are able to travel a great distance to he with their family.

　　The Thanksgiving meal is traditionally turkey, which was the food for the first Thanksgiving. The table is filled with fruits, walnuts and many kinds of vegetables. For dessert the main choice is usually pumpkin pie. The meal is a time for the members of the family to talk to each other. There will he talking before the meal, during the meal and long after the meal.

　　On Thanksgiving morning there are sporting events and parades in many cities to mark the day. The family dinner is usually held in the afternoon around 4 o'clock. The mother will prepare the meal and the father will carve the turkey. He will preside at the head of the table. The meal will begin with a short prayer of thanksgiving to God for the blessings the family received. The father will also thank the family for coming together on this day. During the meal there is plenty of food for everyone present. The meal is a very joyful time. When the meal is over some will help with the dishes and others will return to the living room to talk or watch television.

　　In many ways the festival of thanksgiving is similar to the Chinese festival of Mid-Autumn Day. It is a time for the family to get together for dinner.

1．on Thanksgiving Day the family comes together ________.

[　　]

A．to have the Thanksgiving dinner

B．to give thanks to God for the blessings they have received

C．to talk with one another

D．all of the above

2．Why does the writer say Thanksgiving is a family holiday in America?

[　　]

A．It is a holiday for those who have a family.

B．People try to get back to he with their family wherever they are.

C．People celebrate this holiday only at home and will not go out on this particular day.

D．Each family has its own way of celebrating this holiday.

3．________ was the food for the first Thanksgiving according to this passage.

[　　]

4．What is one similarity between Thanksgiving and Mid-Autumn Day in China?

[　　]

A．They are held at about the same time of the year.

B．Family members make a special effort to get together.

C．People cat the same traditional food on both days.

D．The celebration activities are more or less the same.

5．Today is November 4th, Thursday. Which of the following is Thanksgiving Day?

[　　]

阅读理解。

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　On the fourth Thursday in November, Americans celebrate the festival of Thanksgiving．This festival is a time when the family comes together for a meal and gives thanks to God for the blessings they have received. The first Thanksgiving festival was celebrated by the early American settlers who gave thanks to God for their good harvest.

　　In America, Thanksgiving is a family holiday. It is on that holiday that all the family members make a special effort to get together. The feast is always held on Thursday and most people have a four-day holiday from school and work. Thus they are able to travel a great distance to be with their family.

　　The Thanksgiving meal is traditionally turkey, which was the food for the first Thanksgiving. The table is filled with fruits, walnuts and many kinds of vegetables. For dessert the main choice is usually pumpkin pie. The meal is a time for the members of the talking before the meal, during the meal and long after the meal.

　　On Thanksgiving morning there are sporting events and parades in many cities to mark the day. The family dinner is usually held in the afternoon around 4 o'clock. The mother will prepare the meal and the father will carve the turkey. He will preside at the head of the table. The meal will begin with a short prayer of thanksgiving to God for the blessing the family received. The father will also thank the family for coming together on this day. During the meal there is plenty of food for everyone present. The meal is a very joyful time. When the meal is over some will help with the dishes and others will return to the living room to talk or watch television.

　　In many ways the festival of Thanksgiving is similar to the Chinese festival of Mid-Autumn Day. It is a time for the family to get together for dinner.

1．On Thanksgiving Day the family comes together except ________.

[　　]

A．to have the Thanksgiving dinner

B．to thank God for the blessing they have received

C．to talk with one another

D．to cook turkey together

2．Why does the writer say Thanksgiving is a family holiday in America?

[　　]

A．It is a holiday for those who have a family.

B．People try to get back to be with their family wherever they are.

C．People celebrate this holiday only at home and will not go out on this particular day.

D．Each family has its own way of celebrating this holiday.

3．Which of the following was the food for the first Thanksgiving according to this passage?

[　　]

4．What is one similarity between Thanksgiving and Mid-Autumn Day in China?

[　　]

A．They are held at about the same time of the year.

B．Family members make a special effort to get together.

C．People eat the same traditional food on both days.

D．Their celebration activities are more or less the same.

5．Today is November 4th, Thursday. Which of the following is Thanks-giving Day?

[　　]