Reading Test 8

Read the text. “THE SCOTTISH THISTLE”

         The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. This is how, according to the curious legend, that plant came to be chosen.

         In very ancient times the Northmen once landed somewhere on the east coast of Scotland. They had wicked plans – to settle in the country. The Scots assembled with their arms and moved to the River Tay, the largest in Scotland. As they arrived late in the day, tired after a long march, they put up their camp and rested. They didn’t expect the enemy before the next day.

         The Northmen, however, were near. Noticing that no guards protected the camp, they crossed the Tay. They were going to take the Scots by surprise. To make the least noise possible, they took off their shoes. But one of the Northmen stepped on a thistle. The sudden and sharp pain made him shriek. The alarm was given in the Scots’ camp and there was a fight.

         The Scots appreciated the unexpected help from the thistle and took it as their national emblem. 

Say if the sentences are true(+) or false(-)

    The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland.

The Scots moved to the River Clyde.

They put up their camp in the morning.

They didn't expect the enemy before the next day.

The Northmen were going to take the Scots by surprise.

They took the Scots by surprise.

The thistle saved the Scots.

2. Read the text. "UKRAINIAN SYMBOLS"

The National Flag first appeared in 1848. The flag has two stripes: a blue one above a yellow one. The colours are symbolic – yellow for wheat in the fields and blue for the sky above them. The flag became a symbol of the all-Ukrainian unity.

        The Ukrainian Anthem is a song called “Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished”. Its lyrics were written by Pavlo Chubynskyi and it was published in 1863. The same year it was set to music by Mykhailo Verbytskyi. The catchy melody and patriotic words made this song very popular among Ukrainians. Article 20 of the Constitution of 1996 defines it as the state anthem.

          The National Emblem (Coat of Arms) of Ukraine is a trident. It is the most ancient and dignified of all the Ukrainian symbols. Its history goes back to the first century A. D. the classic shape of the Ukrainian trident was found on the coins of Volodymyr the Great, who ruled in the 10^th century. Then, it was a mark of authority, and a symbol of the ethnic groups which made up the Ukrainian nation.

Complete the sentences.

The National Flag first appeared in ...

The lyrics of the song called "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished" were written by ...

The the song was published in ...

The song called "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished" became the Ukrainian Anthem in ...

The National Emblem of Ukraine is a ...

It is the most ... and dignified of all the Ukrainian symbols.