Question

Australian Flag Designs by Readers of the Sun-Herald

We received dozens of responses after inviting readers to send in their designs for a new flag. The designs we received include:

James Anthony, Drummoyne

James reduces the Union Jack down in size and changes its shape to become a reminder of the British tradition rather than canceling it altogether. At the same time he suggests enlarging the stars of the Southern Cross. His design attempts to use the best of both worlds in a newly designed flag.

As he says, “the British part of the Australian Flag is too big and the Australian bits are too small. When you make the stars bigger the Australian flag can look impressive.”

Joe Bollen, Turranmurra

Joe’s flag has the main elements of a risen sun, white horizon(地平线), red earth at the base and the Southern Cross. He intends to make the risen sun a special Australian symbol on the flag. He believes it represents life. The Southern Cross shows that we live in the Southern Hemisphere. (半球)

Maria Ieraci, Sydney

Maria deleted the Union Jack but otherwise kept the flag as is with the Southern Cross and Federation Star. She says, ‘There is only one correct way to change the Australian flag” and that is “to drop the Union Jack ---- when Australia becomes a Republic”, which she hopes will be before 2010.

Ron Bennett, Sydney

Ron recommends using the Aboriginal colors but replacing their image of the sun with the map of Australia. He says, “Australia is unique being an island continent with an instantly recognizable outline at that” and “this will leave no doubt as to which country the flag belongs.”

1.Which of the four designs can remind you of the past of the country?

A．Joe’s

B．Maria’s

C．Ron’s

D．Jame’s

2.The Southern Cross in some of the designs represents _________.

A．the spirit of the nation

B．the position of the country

C．the tradition of Britain

D．the expectations of the people

3.What does the Union Jack refer to?

A．the British flag

B．A former British ruler

C．group of stars

D．A former symbol of Australia

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.D

2.B

3.A

【解析】文章介绍了澳大利亚新国旗的几种设计方案。

1.Ｄ细节题。根据第二段James reduces the Union Jack down in size and changes its shape to become a reminder of the British tradition rather than canceling it altogether.可知Ｄ正确。

2.B 细节题。根据第四段最后一句The Southern Cross shows that we live in the Southern Hemisphere. (半球)可知B正确。

3.A 推理题。根据第二段的James reduces the Union Jack down in size以及第四段的the British part of the Australian Flag is too big and the Australian bits are too small.可以推断出the Union Jack是指英国国旗。