Most Americans have great respect for their flag and every school day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. Written in 1892, this pledge is recited in schools before classes begin and it serves as a sign of unity and identity for the various groups of people who have come from so many different lands and cultures.
Students stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, face the flag which is displayed in the classroom before them and begin, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” Even the immigrants who come from distant lands must recite this pledge to the flag when they become eligible for citizenship.
The American flag is also known as “Old Glory” and over the years has evolved to its present form of fifty stars and thirteen stripes. The stars represent the fifty states and the stripes stand for the original thirteen colonies.
The first version of the flag with its stars and stripes appeared in 1777, but only had thirteen stars. As each new state joined the union, a new star was added. The last star to be added was in 1960 after Hawaii became the fiftieth state. In the future if another state joins the Union, another star will be added to the field of blue. The number of stripes, however, remains consistent and never changes.
The design of the flag may have altered over the years, but the colors, red, white and blue, have remained constant. In 1782 the Congress of the United States proclaimed that red stood for hardiness and courage, white stood for purity and innocence, and blue for justice and perseverance.
It was the flag which inspired the creation of the national anthem: “The Star Spangled Banner” in 1812. President Wilson in 1916 and later President Coolidge in 1927 suggested in proclamations to fellow countrymen that a special day be set aside to honor the flag. In 1949 the American Congress gave official recognition of June 14 as Flag Day.
小题1:According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT true?
A．The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892.
B．Another name of the American flag is “Old Glory” or “The Stars and Stripes”.
C．The design of the flag has stayed the same over the years.
D．June 14 was set aside as Flag Day to honor the flag from 1949 on.小题2:What is the purpose of the Pledge of Allegiance?
A．It opens the school day.
B．It is recited in all schools.
C．It is a sign of unity and nationalism.
D．It makes someone eligible for citizenship.小题3:What do the fifty stars on the flag represent?
A．Purity and innocence.
B．Truth and honesty
C．Bravery and courage
D．The fifty states.小题4:The colors of the American flag ________.
A．have changed from time to time.
B．have always been red, white and blue.
C．used to be only red and white.
D．used to be red and blue.小题5:The best title of the passage would be ________.
A．“Old Glory”: the American Flag
B．The Pledge of Allegiance
C．American National Anthem
D．Flag Day
