Free printable Cinco de Mayo reading comprehension stories with questions and answers. Read and test comprehension online or print for offline use.
Recommended level: 3rd or 4th Grade and up
The Mexican Flag
The Mexican Flag was first created in the 1820's following independence from Spain. The three colors of the flag, green, white, and red, have stayed the same, but their meaning has changed many times over the years.
The current flag was adopted in 1968. The meanings of the colors are: green - hope, white - unity, red - blood of heroes.
At the center of the flag is a coat of arms showing an eagle perched on a cactus and eating a rattlesnake. Underneath is a garland. The left side of the garland is green oak, a symbol of strength. The right side of the garland is a laurel branch, a symbol of victory.
This coat of arms represents an old Aztec legend. According to the story, the Aztec people had to look for a new city to build. They would find the perfect spot where they found an eagle sitting on a cactus and eating a snake. After hundreds of years, the people found the promised place on a small island in Lake Texcoco. Here they built their new city, Tenochtitlan, "Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus." It later became known as Mexico City, the capital city.
When was the first Mexican flag created? in the 1820's 1968 after the American Civil War in the 1820's
What is an old name for Mexico City? Cinco de Mayo Tenochtitlan Texcoco Tenochtitlan
What does the green color in the flag mean? blood hope unity hope
What does the white color in the flag mean? purity hope unity unity
What does the red color in the flag mean? blood of heroes hope religion blood of heroes
What is a garland? a tree a wreath of flowers or leaves a flower a wreath of flowers or leaves
What part of the coat of arms on the flag is a symbol of strength? the laurel branch the rattlesnake the green oak on the garland the green oak on the garland
What do you think Tenochtitlan means? Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus promised land swampy lake Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus
What do you think a coat of arms is? a collection of symbols showing a group's identity a uniform soldiers wear a coat with pockets for swords a collection of symbols showing a group's identity
Why are the eagle, rattlesnake, cactus, and garland on the Mexican flag? They are all symbols of hope. They are the four official symbols of Mexico. They tell the story of an Aztec legend about finding a promised land. They tell the story of an Aztec legend about finding a promised land.
