Speed Reading — Aboriginal Flag - Level 3 — 300 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.


This is the text (if you need help).

Australia's government has bought the rights to the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now use or fly the flag for free. The flag was owned by its designer Harold Thomas and a clothing company. This meant that anyone who used the flag had to get copyright permission from them. The $20-million deal to take ownership of the flag's copyright means the public can use it freely. Nova Peris, a former Aboriginal politician, led the Free the Flag campaign. She was overjoyed that the government bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag represents 50,000 years of history and it's a way of unifying...this country." She added: "It's a magical day for all Australians."

Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag in 1971. He wanted all of Australia's indigenous people to have their own flag. His flag was originally used as a protest for indigenous rights. However, it soon became widely used and became an official national flag of Australia in 1995. It now flies on government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the last 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' artwork our own. We marched under the Aboriginal flag, stood behind it, and flew it high as a point of pride." He added: "In reaching this agreement to solve the copyright issues, all Australians can freely display and use the flag to celebrate indigenous culture."

Comprehension questions
  1. Who can use the Aboriginal flag for free?
  2. What is the name of the man who designed the flag?
  3. How much did the government pay for the flag?
  4. What's the name of the campaign that Nova Peris led?
  5. How many years of history did Nova Paeris say the flag represents?
  6. What was the flag used for at first?
  7. When did the flag become an official Australian flag?
  8. Where does the article say the flag now flies?
  9. What did a government spokesperson say the flag was a point of?
  10. What did the spokesperson say Australians can use the flag to celebrate?

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