Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Flag Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this reading:
READING
Flag Day is celebrated in the United States on June 14. It commemorates the birth of the country’s flag on June 14, 1777. It was not until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson recommended a day for all Americans to celebrate their flag. His recommendation was passed into law by an Act of Congress in 1949. Flag Day is not, however, an official federal holiday. The state of Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. The U.S. President does have the power to tell other states to observe the day. The President also asks citizens to fly the American flag from their houses for a week. There are Flag Day parades all across America. The largest one is in the town of Troy, New York. This attracts up to 50,000 spectators.
The flag of the United States is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. It consists of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes. There is a blue rectangle, with fifty small, white stars, in the top left corner. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen former British colonies that rebelled against Britain and led to independence. The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S. states. The current flag has been around since 1959, which is when Hawaii, state number 50, joined the United States. There are several nicknames for the flag, including the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. Most Americans are extremely proud of their flag and all it represents. It arouses complex feelings in different people around the world.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
It commemorates the birth
a.
celebrate their flag
2
a day for all Americans to
b.
across America
3.
Flag Day is not, however, an
c.
to 50,000 spectators
4.
fly the American flag
d.
official federal holiday
5.
There are Flag Day parades all
e.
of the country’s flag
6.
This attracts up
f.
from their houses
Paragraph 2
1.
one of the most recognized
a.
against Britain
2
It consists of thirteen horizontal
b.
proud of their flag
3.
colonies that rebelled
c.
red and white stripes
4.
There are several nicknames
d.
symbols in the world
5.
Americans are extremely
e.
feelings
6.
It arouses complex
f.
for the flag
LISTENING GAP FILL
Flag Day is celebrated in the United States on June 14. It commemorates _______________ country’s flag on June 14, 1777. It was not until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson recommended _______________ Americans to celebrate their flag. His recommendation was passed into law by an Act of Congress in 1949. Flag Day is not, however, _______________ holiday. The state of Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. The U.S. President does have the _________________ states to observe the day. The President also asks citizens to fly the American flag from their houses for a week. There are Flag Day parades all across America. The largest _________________ Troy, New York. This _______________ 50,000 spectators.
The flag of the United States _________________ recognized symbols in the world. It consists of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes. There _________________, with fifty small, white stars, in the top left corner. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen former British colonies _________________ Britain and led to independence. The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S. states. The current flag _________________ since 1959, which is when Hawaii, state number 50, joined the United States. There are ___________________ the flag, including the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. Most Americans are extremely proud of their flag and all it represents. It _______________ feelings in different people around the world.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Flag Day is celebrated in the United States on June 14. It commemorates the __________ of the country’s flag on June 14, 1777. It was not until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson recommended a day for all Americans to __________ their flag. His recommendation was __________ into law by an Act of Congress in 1949. Flag Day is not, however, an __________ federal holiday. The state of Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. The U.S. President does have the __________ to tell other states to observe the day. The President also asks citizens to __________ the American flag from their houses for a week. There are Flag Day __________ all across America. The largest one is in the town of Troy, New York. This __________ up to 50,000 spectators.
passed power parades birth attracts celebrate fly official
The flag of the United States is one of the __________ recognized symbols in the world. It __________ of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes. There is a blue rectangle, with fifty small, white stars, in the top left __________. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen former British colonies that __________ against Britain and led to independence. The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S. states. The current flag has been __________ since 1959, which is when Hawaii, state number 50, joined the United States. There are __________ nicknames for the flag, including the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. Most Americans are extremely __________ of their flag and all it represents. It arouses complex __________ in different people around the world.
corner consists proud around feelings most several rebelled
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Flag Day is celebration / celebrated in the United States on June 14. It commemorates the birth of the country’s flag on June 14, 1777. It was not until / by 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson recommended a day for all Americans to celebrate there / their flag. His recommendation was passed into law by an Act of Congress in 1949. Flag Day is not, however, an official / officially federal holiday. The state of Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. The U.S. President does have the powerful / power to tell other states to observe the day. The President also asks citizen / citizens to fly the American flag from their houses for a week. There are Flag Day parades all across / crossed America. The largest one is in the town of Troy, New York. This attracts / attractive up to 50,000 spectators.
The flag of the United States is one of the most recognition / recognized symbols in the world. It consists / consist of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes. There is a blue rectangle, with fifty small, white stars, in the top / up left corner. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen former British colonies that rebels / rebelled against Britain and led to dependence / independence. The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S. states. The currant / current flag has been around since 1959, which is when Hawaii, state number 50, joined the United States. There are several nicknames for the flag, included / including the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. Most Americans are extremely proud / pride of their flag and all it represents. It arouses complex feelings in different people around the world.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Flag Day is (1) ____ in the United States on June 14. It commemorates the birth of the country’s flag on June 14, 1777. It was not (2) ____ 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson recommended a day for all Americans to celebrate their flag. His recommendation was (3) ____ into law by an Act of Congress in 1949. Flag Day is not, however, an (4) ____ federal holiday. The state of Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. The U.S. President does have the power to tell other states to observe the day. The President also (5) ____ citizens to fly the American flag from their houses for a week. There are Flag Day parades all across America. The largest one is in the town of Troy, New York. This attracts (6) ____ to 50,000 spectators.
The flag of the United States is one of the most recognized (7) ____ in the world. It consists of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes. There is a blue rectangle, with fifty small, white stars, in the (8) ____ left corner. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen former British colonies that (9) ____ against Britain and led to independence. The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S. states. The (10) ____ flag has been around since 1959, which is when Hawaii, state number 50, joined the United States. There are several nicknames for the flag, including the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. Most Americans are extremely (11) ____ of their flag and all it represents. It (12) ____ complex feelings in different people around the world.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
celebrates
(b)
celebration
(c)
celebrated
(d)
celebrate
2.
(a)
until
(b)
by
(c)
since
(d)
for
3.
(a)
past
(b)
passed
(c)
passing
(d)
passes
4.
(a)
office
(b)
officially
(c)
officials
(d)
official
5.
(a)
asks
(b)
asked
(c)
ask
(d)
asking
6.
(a)
up
(b)
in
(c)
of
(d)
down
7.
(a)
symbolize
(b)
symbols
(c)
symbolic
(d)
symbol
8.
(a)
up
(b)
high
(c)
top
(d)
above
9.
(a)
rebels
(b)
rebellion
(c)
rebellious
(d)
rebelled
10.
(a)
current
(b)
currency
(c)
currant
(d)
currants
11.
(a)
pride
(b)
proud
(c)
proudly
(d)
prides
12.
(a)
arouse
(b)
arousing
(c)
arousal
(d)
arouses
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the thirb of the country’s flag
2.
an ioicalff federal holiday
3.
atlcreebe the day as a state holiday
4.
erbosve the day
5.
Flag Day aspdrae
6.
This attracts up to 50,000 ascptrsote
Paragraph 2
7.
one of the most recognized lsbyosm
8.
thirteen horizontal red and white petssir
9.
colonies that rebelled tsagina Britain
10.
There are several nkcaiensm for the flag
11.
Americans are extremely rupdo
12.
It arouses mploxce feelings
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
official federal holiday. The state of Pennsylvania is the only U.S. state to celebrate the day as a state holiday. The U.S.
( 1 )
Flag Day is celebrated in the United States on June 14. It commemorates the birth of the country’s flag on
( )
the American flag from their houses for a week. There are Flag Day parades all across America. The largest
( )
celebrate their flag. His recommendation was passed into law by an Act of Congress in 1949. Flag Day is not, however, an
( )
proud of their flag and all it represents. It arouses complex feelings in different people around the world.
( )
1959, which is when Hawaii, state number 50, joined the United States. There are several nicknames for the
( )
flag, including the Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, and The Star-Spangled Banner. Most Americans are extremely
( )
June 14, 1777. It was not until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson recommended a day for all Americans to
( )
President does have the power to tell other states to observe the day. The President also asks citizens to fly
( )
one is in the town of Troy, New York. This attracts up to 50,000 spectators.
( )
horizontal red and white stripes. There is a blue rectangle, with fifty small, white stars, in the top left
( )
The flag of the United States is one of the most recognized symbols in the world. It consists of thirteen
( )
corner. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen former British colonies that rebelled against Britain and led
( )
to independence. The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S. states. The current flag has been around since
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
the commemorates It flag country’s the of birth
2.
their all flag Americans a to day celebrate for
3.
President the U . have The S does power
4.
Flag are There America across all parades Day
5.
to up attracts This spectators 50,000
6.
one symbols of in the the most world recognized
7.
horizontal thirteen stripes white and red
8.
states The fifty stars represent the fifty U.S.
9.
There several for flag are nicknames the
10.
in people arouses feelings different It complex
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Flag Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Flag Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Flag Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
