People may wonder{#blank#}1{#/blank#} different words are used to describe these four countries England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You can clarify this question{#blank#}2{#/blank#}you study British history.

    First there was England. Wales was linked to it in the thirteenth century. Now when people refer to England you find Wales included as well. Next England and Wales were joined to Scotland in the seventeenth century and the name was changed to "Great Britain". Happily this{#blank#}3{#/blank#} without conflict when King James of Scotland became King of England and Wales as well. Finally the English government tried in the early twentieth century to form the United Kingdom by getting Ireland connected in the same peaceful way. However, the southern part of Ireland was {#blank#}4{#/blank#}and broke away to form its own government. So only Northern Ireland joined with England, Wales and Scotland to become the United Kingdom and this was shown to the world in a new flag{#blank#}5{#/blank#} the Union Jack.

Museums Rethink What to Do with Their African Art Collections

Recently, a discussion is happening in museums around the world over the volume of African art in their collections. Officials in Germany and the Netherlands have announced plans to return art and artifacts (文物) taken from Africa during the{#blank#}1{#/blank#}period. And more museum staff are meeting on the topic across Europe.

According to the most commonly{#blank#}2{#/blank#}figures from UNESCO（United Nations Educational, Scientifie and Cultural Organization）, 90% to 95%of sub-Saharan cultural artifacts are{#blank#}3{#/blank#}outside Africa. Many were taken by force long ago and ended up in museums across Europe and North America.

At the Africa Museum in Belgium, director Guido Gryseels says 85 percent of the-museum's collection comes from the Congo-the site of Belgium's{#blank#}4{#/blank#}colony in Central Africa. For decades, Congolese leaders have asked for these objects to be returned. Most of their{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, and those by African countries to other museums, have been refused.

But recent events in Europe have{#blank#}6{#/blank#}the possibility of returns at a much larger scale. In addition to the plans announced in Germany, last year France conducted a study of how much African art French museums are holding and made{#blank#}7{#/blank#}about what to do with it.

The study recommended the return of a wide range of objects taken by force. The suggestion got mixed{#blank#}8{#/blank#}in France, where there are at least 90000 African items in museums.

In France, some people have suggested returns could leave shelves{#blank#}9{#/blank#}in French museums. Cecile Fromont, a French historian of Central African art, says that's not going to happen. One way of thinking about it, she says, is that more African art can go on display.

However, Guido Gryseels of the Africa Museum in Belgium{#blank#}10{#/blank#}that attitudes are changing. He says he's in discussion with the Congo to return works.