Question 3
Many people in Germany work on a voluntary basis in their free time. What does that mean?
German original: Viele Menschen in Deutschland arbeiten in ihrer Freizeit ehrenamtlich. Was bedeutet das?. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- They work as soldiers.
- They work voluntarily and unpaid in clubs and associations. — Correct answer
- They work in the Federal Government.
- They work in a hospital and earn money doing so.
Explanation
Voluntary work (Ehrenamt) is unpaid service for society. Germany has a strong culture of volunteerism: millions are active in clubs, fire brigades, sports associations, and social organizations.
Key terms in this question
- Germany — Germany is a country in central Europe with a parliamentary democracy. It is a member of the European Union and its capital is Berlin.
- voluntary / on a voluntary basis — Doing work voluntarily and without payment, usually for the benefit of society or a community.
- many — A word used to describe a large number or quantity of people or things.
- honorary office / voluntary work — An honorary office is a voluntary, unpaid activity in which a person works for the benefit of others or the community. Examples include volunteering with the fire brigade, a sports club, or a social organization.
- Federal state — A federal state is one of the 16 regions that together form Germany. Each state has its own government, parliament, and areas of responsibility.
- people / human beings — People are all individuals who belong to the human species. The word refers to one or more human beings.
- work / labor — Work is an activity that people do to earn money or accomplish something. It can be physical or mental in nature.
- her / their — A possessive pronoun indicating that something belongs to a woman or to a group of people. It changes its form to match the noun it refers to.