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
4.Which of the following shows the correct matches of the designs and their designers?
A. by Maria by Ron by Joe by James
B. by Joe by Maria by James by Ron
C. by Ron by James by Maria by Joe
D. by James by Joe by Ron by Maria
The house was quiet at 5 am and Tim’s mother was asleep. Only the sound of the big freezer broke the quiet. He’d dreamt of the cave last night. The purring（轻微颤动声）of the freezer had been the sea .
Tim pulled on a sweater and put some apples into his schoolbag. It was too early for breakfast. He’d eat after he’d been through the cave, sitting on the rocks and staring at the sea.
He wished he had a proper pack. His schoolbag would have to do. What else? Sandwiches—but his mother might wake up if he started pulling out bread for sandwiches, she’d want to know why he had to leave so early. He settled for some biscuits, and left a note stuck to the table:
Gone to Michael’s. Back tonight. Tim.
The sky was high and soft and light outside, though the sun still wasn’t up. Even the highway up the hill was quiet as he made his way down the street. The wind from the sea was fresh and sweet.
The sandhills still breathed heat from yesterday’s sun, though the top of the sand was cool. He ran down to the beach impatiently, but there was no one, just dry sand dancing in the early wind and seabirds marching up and down watching the waves.
The light changed suddenly. The first rays of sunlight stretched（延伸）across the sea . The sun was pushing its way over the edge of the world.
Over the first rocks, along to the point. Tim glanced back. The beach was still empty. The sun sailed higher in the sky.
He could see the cave now, even darker in the morning light. The sand turned silver then dark gold as the water flowed away from it. He had to force himself to go closer. Why was it so much more mysterious now ? But it would be silly to go back now after so much trouble. He needn’t go in all the way …
1. “ He settled for some biscuits ”（in Paragraph 3）means that Tim_______.
A. had to leave the biscuits on the table
B. liked biscuits better than sandwiches
C. had to take biscuits instead of sandwiches
D. could only find some biscuits in the kitchen
2.What made it possible for Tim to see the entry to the cave?
A. The height of the first rocks.
B. The ups and downs of the waves.
C. The change in the position of the sun.
D. The vast stretch of the sunlit beach.
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?
A. The sea looked like a piece of gold.
B. Seabirds flew away when Tim arrived.
C. Tim was the only person on the beach.
D. The sky got dark as Tim reached the cave.
4.In the story , Tim’s mood changed from_______..
A. loneliness to craziness B. anxiousness to excitement
C. helplessness to happiness D. eagerness to nervousness
What kind of person becomes an addict? Someone 21 , with a lot of friends; or someone who is 22 from the rest, with only a few friends, or none at all? The 23 I am trying to make is that anyone can become an addict.
The only way that I 24 this out was by becoming an addict myself. I used to be a guy who was 25 in the popular crowd. Right before high school began, I started being 26 by most of my friends. I had never lived with the 27 that I had no friends, so I did almost anything to 28 the two good friends I still had. One of the things I did was 29 drugs for the first time. This was a big 30 from the way I lived when I was younger. I was a(n) 31 , and the last thing I thought I would get into was drugs. Drugs 32 me from being the best sports player I could be.
I 33 to smoke drugs after I entered high school because that was what my new "cool" friends were 34 . The next three years were filled with many 35 , I was arrested twice, and lost my license for two years. This made me sad and 36 .
I realized I could not live this way; I must stop the 37 of using drugs.
Since then, my 38 and actions have changed and so has my direction in life. I do see a future in water skiing. 39, I haven't killed my chance in 40 . I know that I must keep a clear head first. Keep Coming Back. It works if you work it.
1.A．interesting B．anxious C．popular D．eager
2.A．free B．safe C．absent D．different
3.A．point B．sense C．subject D．promise
4.A．brought B．figured C．held D．kept
5.A．always B．seldom C．almost D．already
6.A．known B．attracted C．preferred D．rejected
7.A．doubt B．hope C．fear D．danger
8.A．meet B．keep C．leave D．move
9.A．collect B．buy C．try D．check
10.A．chance B．change C．decision D．advance
11.A．doctor B．teenager C．amateur D．athlete
12.A．prevented B．protected C．discouraged D．sheltered
13.A．decided B．intended C．continued D．pretended
14.A．at B．into C．on D from
15.A．highs and lows B．pros and cons
C．causes and effects D．days and nights
16.A．lonely B．afraid C．confused D．depressed
17.A．manner B．habit C．spread D．approach
18.A．position B．heart C．attitude D．speech
19.A．Virtually B．Hopefully C．Similarly D．Luckily
20.A. athletics B．acting C．academics D．promotion
----Were you disappointed when you received the book bought through the Internet?
----Well, yes, _____. The back cover was a bit torn, but it didn’t really matter.
A. sort of B. very much C. not at all D. never mind
----Jack can’t concentrate on his lessons recently.
----Yes, that might _____ his low score in the last test.
A. stand for B. apply for C. account for D. call for
Nothing but some ancient Chinese coins _______ in the sunken ship since they began the exploration.
A. were found B. was found C. have been found D. has been found
