Ilustracja interaktywna

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As you already know, some English‑speaking countries use animals as their national symbols. But do you know why? Work with the illustration in this section to find out.

Jak już wiesz, niektóre kraje anglojęzyczne mają zwierzęta jako symbole narodowe. Ale czy wiesz dlaczego? Pracuj z ilustracją w tej sekcji, aby się dowiedzieć.

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Ilustracja przedstawia cztery zdjęcia. Na pierwszej widzimy mokrego bobra w akwenie wodnym, na drugim kangura na tle lasu, na trzecim bizona skubiącego suchą trawę, na którym usiadły dwa ptaki, na czwartym małego pieska z płaskim pyszczkiem stojącego na werandzie. — Do you know what countries do those animals symbolise?
Czy wiesz jakie państwa symbolizują te zwierzęta?
Źródło: dostępny w internecie: www.pexels.com [dostęp 18.09.2022], domena publiczna.

Exercise 1

There are 4 names of animals that are regarded as national symbols. Match the words to the countries they represent.

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Źródło: GroMar Sp. z o.o., licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Exercise 1

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Źródło: dostępny w internecie: www.unsplash.com [dostęp 18.09.2022], domena publiczna.

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Źródło: GroMar Sp. z o.o., licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Ilustracja interaktywna przedstawia białą mapę świata na niebieskim tle, na którym podpisane są oceany. Na ilustracji znajduje się osiem punktów interaktywnych, przy których umieszczono kółeczka ze zdjęciami zwierząt. Po kliknięciu w punkt interaktywny wyświetla się plik audio do odsłuchu, a pod nim dodatkowy tekst do przeczytania. Transkrypcje nagrań znajdują się pod ilustracją.

Punkt pierwszy znajduje się na zachodniej części Kanady i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie bobra. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: The beaver played an important role in Canada's development in the 1600s. This animal was made an official national symbol on March 24, 1975.

Punkt drugi znajduje się na wschodniej części Kanady i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie konia. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: The Canadian Horse is arguably more important than the beaver and its origins date back to 1665!

Punkt trzeci znajduje się na zachodniej części Stanów Zjednoczonych i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie orła. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: The Bald Eagle is a symbol of strength of America. It appears on official documents, currency, flags and public buildings.

Punkt czwarty znajduje się na wschodniej części Stanów Zjednoczonych i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie bizona. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: A bison is a symbol of American identity and one of the greatest conservation achievements of all time. They are the largest mammals in North America.

Punkt piąty znajduje się na Wyspach Brytyjskich i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie buldoga angielskiego. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: Did you know that Winston Churchill, one of the most iconic figures in British history, is often called the „British Bulldog”? Churchill was a very brave and determined leader who fought against the Nazis during the Second World War. His traits that are often associated with the English bulldog.

Punkt szósty znajduje się na wyspach brytyjskich i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie lwa. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: The lion is a symbol of strength, bravery, pride and royalty in the United Kingdom. Did you know that England has been associated with lions since the Middle Ages?

Punkt siódmy znajduje się na zachodniej części Australii i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie kangura. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: Everyone associates Australia with kangaroos! Actually, this animal was the earliest symbol of Australia. The first British colonists of the 18th century were amazed with it.

Punkt ósmy znajduje się na wschodniej części Australii i towarzyszy mu zdjęcie ptaka emu. W jego treści pod plikiem audio znajduje się tekst: This Australia's national bird is famous for its incredible speed and funny look. Emus are native to Australia and are the country's largest native bird.

TRANSCRIPTazurewhite

1 - BEAVER

Maple leaf might be the most recognisable symbol of Canada, but the beaver is as important to Canadians. Why is it the country’s emblem? When European settlers first came to Canada, they needed warm clothes. Beaver hats became extremely popular at that time and soon, they were not only sold to settlers, but also shipped to Europe. Then, an image of a beaver was used on the first Canadian post stamp, and the animal became an iconic symbol of Canada. It represents the country’s unique environment and highlights its fascinating history.

2 - CANADIAN HORSE

When European settlers came to New France (today’s Canada), they brought different breeds of horses with them. The horses had to adapt to the difficult conditions. After all, the climate and geographical conditions were very different to the ones in France. With time, a Canadian horse was born. Strong, intelligent, and able to work no matter the conditions, it became a popular choice for fur trades. Canadians saw a lot of themselves in their horses: good‑tempered and able to thrive in harsh conditions. It’s no wonder then that the horse became an official symbol of Canada in 2002!

3 - BALD EAGLE

After the United States became a nation, there was a great need to choose a national emblem. However, it was not an easy task. For years, the Founding Fathers, the leaders of the American revolution, debated on the subject. Eventually, in 1782, they chose the bald eagle. Why? Those birds live only in North America. What is more, bald eagles, as other eagles around the world, represent strength, freedom, and courage. As President John F. Kennedy once said: “The Founding Fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the nation. The beauty and proud independence of this great bird symbolises the strength and freedom of America.”

4 - BISON

The bald eagle is not the only symbol of the American nation. The North American bison is another. This huge, stoic animal remains extremely important to Native Americans. Historically, bison were seen as sacred. The tribes used them for food, shelter, and tools. In fact, they were so important, people followed them across the plains. As such, they symbolised a Native American way of life. Unfortunately, about 200 years ago, due to the colonisation efforts, bison went almost extinct. However, thanks to the hard work of the Native American tribes and the government, their numbers are back up again. As such, bison is a symbol of strength and resilience, and a great animal to represent the United States.

5 - BULLDOG

The bulldog is a symbol of Britain for complicated reasons, and it is no longer one of the most popular ones. During the 1700s, the blood sport of bull baiting was very popular in England. Bull baiting involved a dog, typically a bulldog, fighting and often killing a bull. During this time the dog became synonymous with the sport. Fans saw it as a brave animal. At the same time, a fictional satirical character called “John Bull'' was becoming popular in political cartoons. He was portrayed as a no‑nonsense Englishman and was often depicted with a bulldog.

6 - LION

In the Middle ages, the lions were kept at the Tower of London. Those strong and brave animals inspired many medieval warrior rulers who started to use the nickname „the Lion”. The most famous example is Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart. Lions were frequently depicted in English coats of arms. They also appear in sculpture and on sites of national importance. For this reason, the lion has become a national symbol of Great Britain, as seen on, for example, the Royal Crest.

7 - KANGAROO

Without any doubts, there is no Australian animal more iconic than a kangaroo. For one, it doesn’t naturally occur anywhere but in Australia. However, there are more reasons why it’s used as an unofficial emblem of the nation. It’s extremely important to the Aboriginal people. They see the kangaroo as a symbol of strength and agility. Historically, the animal also provided them with the source of food, clothing, and tools. Furthermore, a kangaroo is a symbol of the harsh natural conditions in Australia–the conditions that it can thrive in. For this reason, kangaroos have been used in myths, stories, and paintings. It’s no wonder this fascinating animal is used on Australia’s coat of arms. It symbolises the country’s unique culture and environment.

8 - EMU

Just as the kangaroo, the emu bird can also be seen on Australian coat of arms. This big bird is native to Australia and has a huge meaning to the Australian people. Historically, emu has been used for their meat, eggs, and feathers. They’re also a tourist attraction. Interestingly, the relationship between Australians and emus wasn’t always good. In the 1930s, the Australian government declared a war on the emus because they were destroying wheat crops. Luckily, the brave birds came out of it unharmed and they remain an important, if an unofficial, symbol of Australia.

Exercise 2

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Źródło: GroMar Sp. z o.o., licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Exercise 3

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Źródło: GroMar Sp. z o.o., licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Exercise 4

What animal is a symbol of your nation? Why do you think that is? Write 5‑6 sentences.

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Źródło: GroMar Sp. z o.o., licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.

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Sprawdź się

As you already know, some English‑speaking countries use animals as their national symbols. But do you know why? Work with the illustration in this section to find out.