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2014 ‫מועד אפריל‬ - 39 - ‫ פרק ראשו ן‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Reading Comprehension

This part consists of two passages, each followed by several related questions. For each
question, choose the most appropriate answer based on the text.

Text I (Questions 13-17)

(1) Since ancient times, flags have been used as symbols of countries, kings, and social
groups. In the Bible, each of the twelve tribes of Israel carried a flag as they traveled
through the desert. The armies of the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, and Romans carried
banners when they went to war.

(5) During the 15th and 16th centuries, European explorers would place their country's

flag in the new lands that they discovered. This showed that their king or queen now
ruled over that land. In modern times, explorers have planted flags at the North and
South Poles, on top of high mountains, and even on the moon, as a way of saying, "We
got here first."

(10) Most countries' flags have two or three colors and simple designs. These may

symbolize natural features of the country. Canada's flag shows the leaf of a maple tree,

and Lebanon's flag has a picture of a cedar tree. Other flags represent ideas and beliefs.

For example, Ireland's flag is green, orange, and white. These colors symbolize the

country's Catholic and Protestant religious groups and the hope for peace between them.

(15) Some symbols appear on the flag of more than one country. The same symbol can

represent different things. On the flag of the United States, the fifty stars stand for the

fifty states. But the star on Vietnam's flag is a symbol of communism. The green in

Pakistan's flag is a symbol of Islam. But in the flag of Sierra Leone, green represents

farming, which is important to the country's economy.

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.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬