Britain is not just one country and one people; even if some of its inhabitants think so. Britain is, in fact, a nation which can be divided into several 　(1)　 parts, each part being an individual country with its own language, character and cultural 　(2) . Thus Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales do not claim to (3) to "England" because their inhabitants are not (4) "English". They are Scottish, Irish or Welsh and many of them prefer to speak their own native tongue, which in turn is (5) to the others.

　　These cultural minorities (少数名族) have been Britain's original inhabitants. In varying degrees they have managed to (6) their national characteristics, and their particular customs and way of life. This is probably even more true of the (7) areas where traditional life has not been so affected by the (8) of industrialism as the border areas have been. The Celtic races are said to be more emotional by nature than the English. An Irish temper is legendary. The Scots would rather (9) about their reputation for excessive thrift and prefer to be remembered for their folk songs and dances, while the Welsh are famous for their singing. The Celtic (10) as a whole produces humorous writers and artists, such as the Irish Bernard Shaw, the Scottish Robert Bums, and the WelshDylan Thomas, to mention but a few.

　　A. incomprehensible

　　B. temper

　　C. remote

　　D. separate

　　E. understandable

　　F. forget

　　G. generally

　　H. temperament

　　I. preserve

　　J. strictly

　　K. traditions

　　L. reserve

　　M. growth

　　N. apply

　　O. belong