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Descriptive Statements:
- Demonstrate knowledge of major political, economic, social, and cultural trends and developments that have shaped and continue to shape the history and perspectives of the target-language-speaking world.
- Analyze the roles of major historical events and key eras in the target-language-speaking world and their influence on the development and evolution of their respective cultures.
- Analyze the roles of major figures in the history of the target-language-speaking world and their influence on the development and evolution of their respective cultures.
- Recognize the major physical and geographic features of target-language-speaking regions and the roles that these features have played and continue to play in the development and evolution of target-language-speaking cultures.
Sample Item:
In the 1950s, a cornerstone of policies shaped by the Federal Republic of Germany's first chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, was the:
- development of regional political cooperation among the German states.
- integration of Germany with Western European economic and military alliances.
- establishment of business and commercial ties with Eastern European states.
- attainment of political reunification between East Germany and West Germany.
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B. This question requires the examinee to analyze the roles of major figures in the history of the German-speaking world and their influence on the development and evolution on their respective cultures. World War II2 severely disrupted the German economy and brought the defeat of the existing German government. As German chancellor during the era immediately following this war, Konrad Adenauer's goals included rebuilding the country's economy and achieving reconciliation with its Western European neighbors. These goals were more important to him than achieving reunification or establishing ties with Communist-dominated Eastern European countries.
Descriptive Statements:
- Demonstrate knowledge of characteristic practices of daily life and customs in target-language-speaking cultures and ways in which such practices reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of products used in daily life in target-language-speaking cultures (e.g., food products, household items) and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of major cultural institutions (e.g., government, social relationships, educational systems, patterns of work and leisure) and practices (e.g., major traditions, holidays and festivals) of target-language-speaking cultures and ways in which such institutions and practices reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of major works, genres, and authors of literature written in the target language and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.
- Demonstrate knowledge of major works, achievements, characteristic forms, and key individuals in the arts and sciences (e.g., visual and performing arts, architecture, medicine, inventions) of target-language-speaking cultures and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.
- Identify major regional differences in the practices, products, and perspectives of various target-language-speaking cultures.
- Compare and contrast the practices, products, and perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures with the practices, products, and perspectives of non-target-language-speaking cultures.
Sample Item:
In many German cities, a traffic sign with the word Umwelt inside a red circle prohibits vehicles that do not display an appropriate windshield sticker from entering designated zones. The creation of these sticker zones most reflects German concern with:
- preventing annoying and disruptive noise levels.
- avoiding traffic congestion that inhibits driving pleasure.
- controlling emissions that contribute to air pollution.
- ensuring the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians.
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C. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of characteristic practices of daily life and customs in German-speaking cultures and ways in which such practices reflect the perspectives of German-speaking cultures. In Germany, the use of the "Umweltzone" traffic sign was developed in 2007 in response to high levels of air pollution in congested areas, when local governments were given permission to establish "environmental zones." The sign designates an area in which entrance is restricted to vehicles that bear stickers indicating they have passed an emissions test. This practice is one example that demonstrates Germans' concerns about air quality.
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