England
Where does the phrase “The world’s mine oyster” come from?
William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor
Why does Canada have two official languages?
Because of English and French colonial history
On the Aboriginal flag, what does the yellow circle represent?
The sun
Who is the saint associated with Ireland and the legend of driving out snakes?
St. Patrick
What bird is used as a national symbol of the United States?
The bald eagle
Which red cross appears on England’s flag and who does it represent?
St. George’s Cross, representing St. George, England’s patron saint
What does the maple leaf symbolize on Canadian emblems?
Unity, endurance, and nature (national identity)
On the Aboriginal flag, what do the black and red colors represent?
black = the people; Red = the earth/blood
What does the shamrock traditionally represent?
The Holy Trinity (and good luck)
Why are there 13 stripes on the US flag?
They represent the 13 original colonies
In which city did English begin to standardize in the late Middle Ages?
London
Name a Canadian cultural festival that celebrates diversity
Caribana (Toronto Caribbean Carnival) / Multiculturalism Day
Name one famous traditional Aboriginal instrument and how is it used?
The didgeridoo — used in ceremonies and storytelling.
Name one Irish poet or writer
W. B. Yeats (or Seamus Heaney / Oscar Wilde)
What does New Zealand’s Haka dance express?
Unity, strength, and pride
Name the early printer who helped standardize English through the printing press
William Caxton
Name one Canadian author
Margaret Atwood (or Alice Munro)
What constellation on the Australian flag signifies location in the Southern Hemisphere?
The Southern Cross
What short humorous poem is used in Irish literature?
A limerick
Name two symbols of New Zealand and what they represent
Silver fern = identity/growth; kiwi bird = uniqueness/resilience
Give one reason why standardization of English accelerated in the Middle Ages
Growth of London as an administrative center + the spread of the printing press
Give one reason Canada’s bilingualism is protected at the national level.
Constitutional and governmental policies recognizing both English and French (reflecting colonial history and demographics)
Explain briefly why Aboriginal symbols are important to Australian national identity
They reflect Indigenous peoples’ history, culture, spiritual connection to land, and form part of modern national identity.
Give a short explanation of why the “snake legend” about St. Patrick is often considered symbolic rather than literal
Many historians interpret “snakes” as a symbol for pagan practices rather than real snakes; the story represents Christianisation of Ireland
What creature appears on the Welsh flag and what does it symbolize?
The red dragon — strength and courage from Welsh mythology