Question

every two years, new superstars shine at the olympics. these icons might be runners or swimmers, skaters or snowboarders. they might also be pandas or platypuses, or perhaps even historic hats. that’s because, in addition to stellar athletes, the olympic games feature distinctive mascots.
these mascots are more than just cute characters—you could say they act as international ambassadors. before each summer or winter olympics, organizers in the host city create mascots for the olympic games that will take place there. the mascots are designed to embody the olympic spirit and to represent the culture of the host city and nation.
let’s meet a few of these meaningful mascots.
olympic summer games
sydney 2000
say g’day to syd, olly, and millie! syd the platypus, olly the kookaburra, and millie the ant - eating echidna are well qualified to represent the 2000 olympics and sydney, australia. all three animals are native only to australia and surrounding islands, showing how unique their home is. you might notice that the trio doesn’t include a kangaroo or koala—organizers wanted to spotlight less famous aussie fauna. with one swimmer, one flyer, and one expert dirt digger, the three critters symbolize the nation’s water, air, and earth.
their names have meaning, too. olly is derived from “olympics,” while millie commemorated the start of the new millennium. maybe you can guess where the name syd comes from?
question 2
which best describes the difference between the french and australian olympic mascots?
a. the french mascots are based on a historical emblem, while the australian mascots represent native fauna.
b. the french mascots represent native fauna, while the australian mascots are based on a historical emblem.
c. the french mascots represent natural resources, while the australian mascots are based on creatures from legends.
d. the french mascots are based on creatures from legends, while the australian mascots represent natural resources.

Explanation:

The text only details that Australian Olympic mascots (Syd, Olly, Millie) are based on native Australian fauna that symbolize the nation's water, air, and earth. No information about French Olympic mascots is provided in the given passage, so none of the options can be confirmed as correct from the provided text. However, if we only evaluate based on the accurate detail about Australian mascots: the Australian mascots represent native fauna. Among the options, only option B correctly states this part about Australian mascots (even though the French mascot claim is unsubstantiated by the text, it is the only option with a correct claim about the Australian mascots provided).

Answer:

B. The French mascots represent native fauna, while the Australian mascots are based on a historical emblem.