Extensive Reading in English for Intermediate Learners #4 - Symbols of the United States

Learn English with EnglishClass101! Don't forget to stop by EnglishClass101.com for more great English Language Learning Resources! -------Lesson Dialog------- ----Formal ---- SYMBOLS OF THE UNITED STATES U.S. SYMBOLS The United States is a big country with many symbols. A symbol is a thing that stands for something else. U.S. FLAG The United States flag is an important symbol. The stars stand for the fifty states. The stripes stand for the thirteen states when the country was new. The first U.S. flag was made when the United States became a country. That flag only had thirteen stars. Stars were added for new states. The U.S. flag got fifty stars in 1959. BALD EAGLE The bald eagle is a symbol of the United States. This strong, beautiful bird lives for a long time. U.S. LANDMARKS The United States has many famous landmarks. Landmarks are important objects, buildings, or places. Many U.S. landmarks honor times in America’s past. The Statue of Liberty welcomes people to the United States from around the world. The word liberty means freedom. Many people have moved to the United States for freedom. The Washington Monument honors George Washington. He was the first president of the United States. The Washington Monument is in Washington, D.C. This city is the capital of the United States. The Lincoln Memorial honors Abraham Lincoln. He was president long ago during the Civil War. Two parts of the United States fought against each other. President Lincoln did not let the country break apart. The president of the United States lives in the White House. Every president but George Washington has lived there. Many important meetings happen at the White House. The Liberty Bell is a huge bell that stands for freedom. The bell rang when the United States became a free country. It also rang at other important times in America’s past. Long ago, the United States only had land east of the Mississippi River. Many people faced dangers to start a new life in the West. The Gateway Arch was built to remember them. Mount Rushmore is a landmark on the side of a mountain. The heads of four U.S. presidents are carved into the rock. Each U.S. symbol stands for people or ideas that are important to Americans. Which symbols do you want to learn more about? --------------------------- Learn English with EnglishClass101! Don't forget to stop by EnglishClass101.com for more great English Language Learning Resources!