Life in society

In Germany, most people in employment…

1. work in small family businesses.
2. work voluntarily for a federal state.
3. are self-employed with their own business.
4. work for a company or public authority.

Germany's economic system is called a…

1. free centralised economy.
2. social market economy.
3. controlled centralised economy.
4. planned economy.

Many people in Germany work voluntarily in their spare time. What does that mean?

1. They work as soldiers.
2. They work voluntarily and without pay in clubs and associations.
3. They work in the federal government.
4. They work in a hospital and earn money.

A social market economy means that the economy…

1. is governed only by supply and demand.
2. is planned and directed by the state without considering supply and demand.
3. follows demand from abroad.
4. follows supply and demand, while the state ensures social balance.

Ms Seger has a child. What must she do to receive parental allowance?

1. She must write to her health insurance fund.
2. She must apply to the parental allowance office.
3. She need do nothing, because she receives parental allowance automatically.
4. She must ask the employment office for permission.

Who decides whether a child in Germany goes to kindergarten?

1. the state
2. the federal states
3. the parents or legal guardians
4. the schools

Which school-leaving qualification is normally needed to begin studying at a German university?

1. the Abitur
2. a university diploma
3. commercial power of attorney
4. a journeyman's examination

In Germany, a person has the best chances of obtaining a well-paid job if they …

1. are Catholic.
2. are well qualified.
3. are a woman.
4. belong to a political party.

In Germany …

1. a person may be married to only one partner at a time.
2. a person may have several spouses at the same time.
3. a person may not remarry after having once been married.
4. a woman may not remarry after her husband dies.

Where must you register when you move home in Germany?

1. at the residents’ registration office
2. at the civil registry office
3. at the public order office
4. at the trade office

In Germany, parents can obtain help with parenting problems from the …

1. public order office.
2. education authority.
3. youth welfare office.
4. public health office.

A married couple wants to open a restaurant in Germany. What do they absolutely need?

1. permission from the police
2. approval from a political party
3. approval from the residents’ registration office
4. a restaurant licence from the competent authority

An adult woman wants to obtain her Abitur in Germany later in life. She can do this at …

1. a higher education institution.
2. an evening secondary school.
3. a lower secondary school.
4. a private university.

The career information centre BIZ at Germany’s Federal Employment Agency helps with …

1. pension calculations.
2. finding an apprenticeship.
3. tax returns.
4. health insurance.

A man aged 30 wants to obtain his Abitur in Germany. Where can he do that? At …

1. a higher education institution
2. an evening secondary school
3. a lower secondary school
4. a private university

At which celebration do people in Germany wear colourful costumes and masks?

1. on Carnival Monday
2. on May Day
3. at Oktoberfest
4. at Pentecost

Where must you go first if you want to get married in Germany?

1. to the residents’ registration office
2. to the public order office
3. to the employment agency
4. to the civil registry office

When does the legally protected night-time quiet period begin in Germany?

1. when the sun sets
2. when neighbours go to bed
3. at midnight
4. at 10 p.m.

A young woman wants a driving licence. She fears the test because German is not her first language. Which statement is correct?

1. She must live in Germany for at least ten years before obtaining a licence.
2. She may not have a licence if she cannot speak German.
3. She must obtain her licence in a country where her language is spoken.
4. She may be able to take the theory test in her first language. More than ten languages are available.

In Germany, a Volkshochschule is an institution …

1. for religious instruction.
2. only for young people.
3. for continuing education.
4. only for pensioners.

What is a Christmas custom in Germany?

1. hiding coloured eggs
2. decorating a fir tree
3. wearing masks and costumes
4. placing pumpkins outside the door

In Germany, if you have parenting problems, you go …

1. to a doctor.
2. to the public health office.
3. to the residents’ registration office.
4. to the youth welfare office.

Most rented apartment buildings in Germany have “house rules.” What do these contain?

1. rules for using public transport.
2. a list of all tenants in the building.
3. rules that all residents must follow.
4. the address of the nearest public order office.

Which honorary service must German citizens undertake when called upon?

1. club coach
2. election worker
3. library supervisor
4. teacher

The skills needed for work will change rapidly. What can people do?

1. It does not matter what one learns.
2. Adults must keep learning after vocational training.
3. Children learn everything needed for work at school and need not learn afterwards.
4. Everyone must stop working earlier because everything changes.

Why must you state whether you belong to a church on a German tax return? Because …

1. there is a church tax linked to income and wage tax.
2. it is important for German statistics.
3. people who do not belong to a church must pay more tax.
4. the church is responsible for the tax return.

What is an Easter custom in Germany?

1. placing pumpkins outside the door
2. decorating a fir tree
3. painting eggs
4. launching fireworks

Pentecost is a …

1. Christian holiday.
2. German remembrance day.
3. international day of mourning.
4. Bavarian custom.

Which religion has shaped European and German culture?

1. Hinduism
2. Christianity
3. Buddhism
4. Islam

In Germany, the last four weeks before Christmas are called …

1. the Day of Repentance and Prayer.
2. the harvest festival.
3. Advent.
4. All Saints’ Day.

From which country have most migrants come to Germany?

1. Italy
2. Poland
3. Morocco
4. Turkey

In East Germany, migrants came mainly from …

1. Vietnam, Poland and Mozambique.
2. France, Romania and Somalia.
3. Chile, Hungary and Zimbabwe.
4. North Korea, Mexico and Egypt.

Foreign workers recruited by West Germany in the 1950s and 1960s were called …

1. undeclared workers.
2. guest workers.
3. temporary agency workers.
4. shift workers.

From which country did the first guest workers come to Germany?

1. Italy
2. Spain
3. Portugal
4. Turkey

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Baden-Württemberg?

1. at the municipal public order office
2. at the consumer advice centre
3. at the state agency for civic education
4. at the churches

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Bayern?

1. at the municipal public order office
2. at the state agency for civic education
3. at the consumer advice centre
4. at the churches

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Berlin?

1. at the municipal public order office
2. at the churches
3. at the consumer advice centre
4. at the state agency for civic education

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Brandenburg?

1. at the churches
2. at the municipal public order office
3. at the state agency for civic education
4. at the consumer advice centre

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Bremen?

1. at the municipal public order office
2. at the state agency for civic education
3. at the churches
4. at the consumer advice centre

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Hamburg?

1. at the municipal public order office
2. at the consumer advice centre
3. at the churches
4. at the state agency for civic education

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Hessen?

1. at the state agency for civic education
2. at the consumer advice centre
3. at the municipal public order office
4. at the churches

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?

1. at the state agency for civic education
2. at the churches
3. at the municipal public order office
4. at the consumer advice centre

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Niedersachsen?

1. at the state agency for civic education
2. at the municipal public order office
3. at the consumer advice centre
4. at the churches

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Nordrhein-Westfalen?

1. at the churches
2. at the municipal public order office
3. at the consumer advice centre
4. at the state agency for civic education

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Rheinland-Pfalz?

1. at the churches
2. at the consumer advice centre
3. at the municipal public order office
4. at the state agency for civic education

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Saarland?

1. at the churches
2. at the state agency for civic education
3. at the consumer advice centre
4. at the municipal public order office

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Sachsen?

1. at the state agency for civic education
2. at the municipal public order office
3. at the churches
4. at the consumer advice centre

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Sachsen-Anhalt?

1. at the churches
2. at the state agency for civic education
3. at the municipal public order office
4. at the consumer advice centre

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Schleswig-Holstein?

1. at the consumer advice centre
2. at the municipal public order office
3. at the state commissioner for civic education
4. at the churches

Where can you obtain information about political issues in Thüringen?

1. at the churches
2. at the consumer advice centre
3. at the state agency for civic education
4. at the municipal public order office