Germany

The official name of Germany is the Federal Republic of Germany. It is a country in Central Europe. It is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.

Germany borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. Germany is composed of sixteen federal states. The nation's capital and most populous city is Berlin and its main financial centre is Frankfurt; the largest urban area is the Ruhr.

Germany is a great power with a strong economy; it has the largest economy in Europe, the world's fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP. As a global power in industrial, scientific and technological sectors, it is both the world's third-largest exporter and importer. As a highly developed country, which ranks ninth on the Human Development Index, it offers social security and a universal health care system, environmental protections, a tuition-free university education, and it is ranked as sixteenth-most peaceful country in the world. Germany is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe, the G7, the G20 and the OECD. It has the third-greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Various Germanic tribes have inhabited the northern parts of modern Germany since classical antiquity. A region named Germania was documented before AD 100. In 962, the Kingdom of Germany formed the bulk of the Holy Roman Empire. Germany has large rivers such as the Rhine, Danube and Elbe.

German classical music includes works by some of the world's most well-known composers. Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel were influential composers of the Baroque period. Ludwig van Beethoven was a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras. Carl Maria von Weber, Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms were significant Romantic composers. Richard Wagner was known for his operas. Richard Strauss was a leading composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. Karlheinz Stockhausen and Wolfgang Rihm are important composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries.

Well-known German authors include Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and Theodor Fontane. The collections of folk tales published by the Brothers Grimm popularised German folklore on an international level.

Due to the different regions, countries and local cultures, Germany has a variety of regional culinary specialties and traditional dishes. Typical dishes of German cuisine are knodel roast pork, meatballs and sausages. The sausage is probably the most typical German dish. Whether made from veal, beef or pork, it is eaten in all sauces, usually in a very small bun, a roll.

Activity 1: Read the text and answer the questions: 

1. What is the official name of Germany?

2. What countries does Germany share borders with?

3. Which seas does Germany share borders with?

4. What is the capital city of Germany?

5. Who are the composers of German classical music?

6. What empire was the Kingdom of Germany an important part of?

Activity 2. Match the words with the correct definitions:

1. populous

2. state

3. economy

4. inhabit

5. folklore

a. (of a person, animal, or group) live in, reside in, or occupy (a place or environment)

b. the state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services and the supply of money.

c. having a large population; densely populated

d. a nation or territory considered as an organised political community under one government.

e. the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.

Activity 3: Further reading - Go online and find interesting things about Germany in order to answer these questions:

Trivia questions about Germany: 

1. When is Germany's national day celebrated?

2. What is the capital city of Germany called?

3. Which mountains are located in the south of Germany?

4. What is the most popular sport in Germany?

5. How many federal states does Germany consist of?

6. Which city in Germany is the main financial centre?

7. Which is the largest urban area in Germany?

8. Which large rivers does Germany have?

9. What are the typical dishes of German cuisine?

10. Who are some well-known German authors?