BELLRINGEROctober 30, 2012

Sec. 2 Vocabulary

NavigableMultinationalMultilingualRepublic

Chapter 6: WESTERN EUROPE TODAYSection 2: France and the Benelux Countries

I. FranceA. The largest country in western Europe, France is slightly smaller than the state of Texas. It has high mountains, a large flat plain, and several rivers, including the Seine and the Loire. Most rivers are navigable.

B. France’s economy depends on agriculture and manufacturing. Most people, however, work in service industries. Tourism is also important.

C. France produces more food than any other nation in western Europe and is the world’s second-largest food exporter after the United States. Its success is due to fertile soil, mild climate, and modern farming methods.

• D. Although they have regional differences, the French share a strong national loyalty. They speak French, and about 90 percent of them are Roman Catholic.

E. The French government is a republic - a strong national government headed byelected leaders, including a powerful president or prime minister.

• F. Three-fourths of France’s people live in cities. Paris, the capital and largest city, is home to many universities, museums, and other cultural sites.

GROUP WORK:USING THE MAP… LIST THE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATED WITH FRANCE.

II. The Benelux CountriesA. The name Benelux comes from

combining the first letters of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

B. All three countries are densely populated, have high standards of living and are parliamentary democracies with constitutional monarchies.

C. Belgium has long been a trade and manufacturing center.

D. Belgium has two main cultural and language groups. The Flemings in the north speak Flemish, a language based on Dutch. The south is home to the French speaking Walloons. Tensions sometimes arise between the two groups.

E. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.Netherlands means “lowlands” because nearly half of the country lies below sea level.

F. The Dutch use a system of dikes and pumps to create polders, drained landwith rich farming soil.

G. The Delta Plan Project consists of huge barriers that keep the North Sea from overflowing the countryside during storms.

H. The Netherlands ranks third in the world in the value of its agricultural exports. However, most people work in service industries, manufacturing, and trade.

I. About 90 percent of the Dutch people live in cities and towns. Amsterdam is the capital and largest city.

J. Luxembourg is one of Europe’s smallest countries.

K. The country is prosperous. Many multinational companies, or firms that do business in several countries, have their headquarters in Luxembourg.

L. Most of the people of Luxembourg are multilingual, or able to speak several languages.

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