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 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 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.

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 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

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

A. 13.                                 B. 15.

C. 20.                                 D. 2.

【答案与解析】本文介绍美国国旗的历史。

1. B。事实细节题。根据The basic flag of the United States is one of the world’s oldest national flags可知答案为B。

2. B。事实细节题。根据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可知答案为B。

3. D。推理判断题。根据The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14, 1777可知国旗创立于1777年7月，在美国独立战争期间(1776-1783)，答案为D。

4. B。事实细节题。根据It consisted of 13 alternate red white stripes and 13 white stars in a field of blue, representing the 13 colonies that had declared their independence in 1776可知答案为B。

5. B。事实细节题。根据Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795可知答案为B。