Question

What’s the difference between the British Isles, Britain, the United Kingdom and England?

The British Isles is made up of two large islands: One is called Ireland and the other Britain. Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands and it is divided into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England.

The United Kingdom (UK) is short for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is made up of Scotland, Wales, and England (i.e. the whole of Britain), and also about one-sixth of Ireland, the Northern part. The rest of Ireland is self-governing(自治的).

England is the largest, most populous (人口众多的), and generally speaking, the richest section. English people often use the words “England” and “English” when they mean “Britain” and “British”. This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh angry. The Scots are very proud of their separate nationality. The Welsh too do not consider themselves as England, and have a culture and even a language of their own. Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but is soon grew discontented (不满的), and for forty years the “Irish Question” was the greatest headache of British Parliament(国会). At last, Ireland divided itself into two: Northern Ireland remained loyal(忠诚于) to the Crown(英国王室), and in 1922 the rest of the country broke away to form Irish Free State, now the Republic of Ireland.

1.Which is the largest in area?

 A. The British Iles      B. Great Britain

C. England       D. The United   Kingdom

2. Which is the largest island of the British Isles?.

 A. Ireland         B. Britain

C. England      D. Northern Ireland

3.The United Kingdom is mainly made up of          .

A.3 parts: Scotland, Wales, and England

B.4 parts: Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland

C.2 parts: the whole of Britain and Ireland

D.2 parts: the whole of Britain and Northern Ireland

4. Strictly speaking(严格地说), which is wrong?

A.“English” refers(指) to people of England.

B.“The Scots” refers to people of Scotland.

C.“England” refers to all the people to the UK.

D.Only one-sixth of Ireland belongs to the UK.

5.Who will be happy if we use “England” when we mean Britain?

A. The British          B. People of England

C. People of the Republic of Ireland    D. The welsh

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.C

5.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了英国的组成。英国的全称是大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。它是由苏格兰、威尔士、英格兰(即整个英国),大约六分之一的爱尔兰,北部。其余的爱尔兰自治。不列颠群岛由两个大岛:一个叫做爱尔兰岛，另一个叫不列颠岛。不列颠或大不列颠,是这两个群岛中较大的岛,它分为三个部分:英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段的The British Isles is made up of two large islands: One is called Ireland and the other Britain. Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands and it is divided into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England.  可知The British Isles > Britain  > Ireland> 故选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands不列颠或大不列颠,是这两个群岛中较大的岛。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段的The United Kingdom (UK) is short for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.联合王国(英国)是英国大不列颠和北爱尔兰组成。故选D。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段的English people often use the words “England” and “English” when they mean “Britain” and “British”.英国人经常使用单词“英格兰”和“英语”,意味着“英国”和“英国”。故选C。

5.推理判断题。This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh angry.这有时使苏格兰人和威尔士人生气。故排除CD.The British指的是所有英国人，也包括苏格兰人和威尔士人，因此A项排除。故选B。

考点：教育类短文阅读。