（一）

The United States covers a large part of the North ___1___ continent[洲]， when this land first became a nation. After ___2___ its freedom[自由] from England， it has 13 states. Each of the states had a star on the American flag[旗子]. As the nation ___3___， new states were formed and there ___4___ new stars on the flag. ___5___ a long time， there were forty-eight states. In 1959 two ___6___ stars were added[加] to the flag， standing for[代表] the new states of Alaska and Hawaii.

___7___ were the first people of the land and great number of people came from England. It is ___8___ that reason that the language of the U.S. is English and ___9___ its culture and customs[文化习惯] are more ___10___ those of England than any other country in the world.