GROUP 1. Look at the Commonwealth Blue Ensign = the Australian flag Read the text before doing the activities! It has three main elements: The British Union Jack flag is in the top left corner – representing the past relations between Australia and Great Britain The Southern Cross constellation (5 stars) is on the right side of the flag -
the Southern Cross is a major constellation in the Southern Hemisphere The large, white, seven-pointed Commonwealth Star is symbolic of the original states of Australia.
A few facts about the history of Australia Before the arrival of the first Europeans the only inhabitants were the Aborigines. The first Englishman to discover Australia in 1770 was Captain James Cook, a British explorer. So at first Australia was a British colony and it was populated by criminals accused of crimes in Great Britain and exiled to the Australian continent as a punishment. For a short time, the Europeans lived peacefully with the Aboriginal people. But soon, wars started over who possessed the land. In 1851 gold was discovered: that’s why lots of people went to Australia!
a. Pourquoi y a-t-il le drapeau du Royaume Uni sur le drapeau Australien ? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. b. L’étoile sous le drapeau du Royaume Uni représente : les mers du Sud les îles qui entourent l’Australie les 1ers états d’Australie, colonie du Royaume uni. c. Que représentent les 5 étoiles à droite du drapeau : L’étoile du Sud L’étoile des neiges La croix du sud La Grande Ourse d. Comment s’appelaient les 1ers habitants de l’Australie ? ………………………………………………………………… e. Quel explorateur Britannique a découvert l’Australie ? Quand ? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… f. Qui envoyait-on en Australie ? Pourquoi ?
g. Question de bon sens : pourquoi des guerres ont-elles éclaté entre les Aborigènes et les colons ?
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h. Pourquoi y a-t-il eu beaucoup d’immigrants à partir de 1851 ?