There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove flew around a house where someone was dying then his soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that Satan (撒旦) can turn himself into any bird except for a dove. But it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used it on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.
The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, often representing the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology(神话) it was associated with Iris, the goddess who brought messages from the gods on Mount Olympus. In Scandinavian mythology the rainbow was a bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people. In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is often taken as a common symbol for marriage.
Nowadays the rainbow is used by many popular movements for peace and the environment, representing the possibility of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.
The olive tree has always been a valuable source of food and oil. In Greek mythology, the goddess Athens gave the olive tree to the people of Athens who showed their thanks by naming the city after her. But no one knows for sure when or why it began to symbolize peace. There is probably a connection with ancient Greece. The winners of the Olympic Games were given crowns (冠) of olive branches. The symbolism may come from the fact that the olive tree takes a long time to produce fruit, so olives could only be grown successfully in long periods of peace. Whatever the history, the olive branch is a part of many modern flags symbolizing peace and unity. One well-know example is the United Nations symbol.
Which of the following is the most important in making the dove a modern symbol of peace?
A.Greek mythology |
B.The European tradition |
C.Ancient legends |
D.Pablo Picasso |
How many examples does the writer give to show the rainbow as a universal symbol of peace?
A.Six. |
B.Three. |
C.Four. |
D.Five. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The olive branch was regarded as a symbol of peace because it was given as gift by the goddess Athens. |
B.The name of the capital of Greece comes from the name of the goddess Athens. |
C.Olive trees do not produce fruits when there are wars in the world. |
D.The winners in the Olympic Games were given crowns of olive branches because they symbolized peace. |
The United Nations takes the olive branch as its symbol because________.
A.it represents hope in the future |
B.it has economic value for the world |
C.it often gives prizes to countries |
D.its duty is to keep peace and union |
From the passage we can conclude that ______.
A.all the symbols mentioned above are based on traditional beliefs |
B.all modern ideas come from Greek mythology |
C.all the symbols mentioned above are used on flags |
D.the UN has officially accepted the three symbols as symbols of peace |