1) Describe the geographical and ethnic composition of Belgium.

The geographical and ethnic composition of Belgium is given below :

Geographical composition :

• Belgium is a small country in Europe. It is smaller in area than the State of Haryana in India.
• It has borders with the Netherlands, France, and Germany.
• Its population is a little over one crore. It is half of the population of Haryana state.

Ethnic composition :

• 59 percent of the population lives in the Flemish region. They speak the Dutch language.
• 40 percent of people live in the Wallonia region. They speak French.
• The remaining one percent speak German.
• Brussels is the capital of Belgium. Here, 80 percent of people speak French and 20 percent speak Dutch.
• Thus, Belgium is a country of diversities based on languages. Dutch-speaking people are in majority in the country, but a minority in the capital city of Brussels.

2)What was the cause of tension between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s? OR Why did the Dutch-speaking people resent in Belgium?

• The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful.
• On the other hand Dutch-speaking, the community got the benefit of economic development and education much later.
• This was the cause of tension between the two communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

3)Why was the conflict more acute in Brussels?

• The conflict between the two communities was more acute in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.

4)Describe the geographical and ethnic composition of Sri Lanka.

The geographical and ethnic composition of Sri Lanka is given below :

Geographical composition :

• Sri Lanka is an island nation just a few kilometers off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu.
• Its population is about 2 crore.

Ethnic composition :

• The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 percent) and Tamil-speakers (18 percent). ‘
• Tamil-speakers are further divided into two groups – Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
• Sri Lankan Tamils are the natives of Sri Lanka. The Indian Tamils’ forefathers migrated from India as plantation workers during the colonial period.
• Sri Lankan Tamils live in the north and east of the country.
• Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhist, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.
• There are about 7 percent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.

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