Question 48
Which of the following lists only contains federal states that were part of the former GDR?
German original: Welche der folgenden Auflistungen enthält nur Bundesländer, die zum Gebiet der früheren DDR gehörten?. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia — Correct answer
- Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia, Saxony
- Saxony, Thuringia, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg
Explanation
The five new federal states that joined the Federal Republic of Germany after reunification in 1990 all come from the territory of the GDR: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.
Key terms in this question
- Federal states — The federal states are the 16 individual states that make up Germany. Each state has its own government and is responsible for certain areas such as education or policing.
- Which — An interrogative word used to ask about a selection from a group (e.g., 'Which party won?').
- territory / area — A territory or area is a defined spatial region distinguished by specific characteristics or boundaries.
- the Federal Government / the Federation — The Federation refers to the central level of government in Germany, as opposed to the individual federal states (Länder). It is responsible for matters that affect the whole country, such as foreign policy or national defense.
- belonged — 'Gehörte' is the past tense of 'gehören' (to belong) and indicates that something or someone was part of a group, organization, or was owned by someone in the past.
- before / in the past / formerly — A word meaning 'in the past' or 'at an earlier time'. It is used to describe something that happened or existed before the present moment.
- federal states — The federal states are the 16 regions that make up Germany, such as Bavaria, Berlin, or Hamburg. Each state has its own government and is responsible for certain areas like education and policing.
- end — The point in time or place where something stops or is completed.