It is difficult to think of a nation as an abstract collection

of people living on a patch of territory. It is easier to think

of as a person. This is why we sometimes call Great Britain__1__

"Britannia" and the United States "Columbia", and think of

it as stately women. We also use masculine symbols in our__2__

personification of nations. In 1712 John Arbuthont, a Scot,

wrote a political satire in that the characters were supposed __3__

to be typical members of different nationalities. The Englishman

was John Bull. This name, which was sufficient flattering to be __4__

adopted generally, combined the most common English first

name with a last name indicated strength. John Bull is usually __5__

pictured as a partly businessman with a union Jack on his hatband.

After the American War of Independence began in 1783, the United __6__

States was knownfor "Brother Jonathan". Jonathan was a biblical __7__

name associated with simple people from rural areas, and it seemed

fitting since the United States is rural and unsophiscated, and since __8__

American considered their type of simplicity a virtue compared to __9__

the wickedness of European cities. It is possible, however, that the

name was originated with President George Washington, who would __10__

often say, when faced with a hard problem, "Let us consult Brother

Jonathan", referring to his secrectary, Johnathan Trumbull.