12 Questions
What is the population of Belgium compared to the state of Haryana?
Half the population of Haryana
In which region of Belgium do 40% of people speak French?
Wallonia region
What percentage of Belgians speak German?
1%
In Brussels, what percentage of people speak French?
80%
Why was the minority French-speaking community resented by the Dutch-speaking community?
Because they were economically rich and powerful
Which country does Belgium share its borders with?
France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg
Which two major social groups in Belgium had tensions during the 1950s and 1960s?
Dutch-speaking people and French-speaking people
In which region of Sri Lanka are most of the Sinhala-speaking people concentrated?
South
What percentage of the population in the capital of Belgium speaks Dutch?
Minority
What do the 'Sri Lankan Tamils' refer to?
Tamils who are natives of Sri Lanka
Which country became independent in 1948 and faced challenges due to its majoritarian policies?
Sri Lanka
What is one major difference between the situation in Belgium and Sri Lanka based on the text provided?
The major social groups in Belgium are based on language, while in Sri Lanka they are based on religion.
Study Notes
Belgium
- Belgium is a small country in Europe, smaller in area than the state of Haryana.
- It has borders with France, Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.
- Belgium has a population of around one crore, about half the population of Haryana.
- The ethnic composition of Belgium is complex, with 59% of the population living in the Flemish region and speaking Dutch.
- 40% of the population lives in the Wallonia region and speaks French.
- The remaining 1% of Belgians speak German.
- In the capital city Brussels, 80% of people speak French, while 20% speak Dutch.
Tensions between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities
- The French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful, which was resented by the Dutch-speaking community.
- The Dutch-speaking community lagged behind in terms of economic development and education.
- This led to tensions between the two communities during the 1950s and 1960s.
- The tension was more acute in Brussels, where the Dutch-speaking people were a majority in the country but a minority in the capital.
Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka is an island nation, located just a few kilometers off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu.
- It has a population of around two crore people, similar to the population of Haryana.
- The country has a diverse population, with two major social groups: Sinhala-speakers (74%) and Tamil-speakers (18%).
- The Tamils are concentrated in the east of the country, and most Tamil-speaking people are Hindus, while most Tamils are Muslims.
- There are also Christians, who are both Sinhalese and Tamil.
- Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948.
Test your knowledge on European geography with questions about Belgium, its size, population, and borders. Explore the complex ethnic composition of the country and learn interesting facts.
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