Countries Of The World: France By National Geographic Kids, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.26.18 Word Count 690 Level MAX

Image 1: A view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Paris, or, "the city of lights," is perhaps one of the more famous cities in France. The city is filled with a rich history stemming back from the Middle Ages. Photo from: Getty Images/James Farley.

France is the largest country in Western Europe. It has long been a gateway between the continent's northern and southern regions. Its lengthy borders touch Germany and Belgium in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Pyrenees Mountains and Spain in the south.

The country also borders the Mediterranean Sea in the southeast. In the east, it borders the Alps, Switzerland and Italy. France has a very diverse landscape. There are beaches on the southeast coast, which is home to the French Riviera. In the south and east there are towering mountains, including Europe's tallest peak, Mont Blanc. This mountain rises to 15,781 feet within the French Alps.

Wide, fertile plains dominate most of the north and west, making France the agricultural epicenter of Europe. The sprawling, forested plateau of the Massif Central occupies France's southern interior. It is a range of ancient mountains and extinct volcanoes.

Nature

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. France has ample land area to provide habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. More than 25 percent of its territory is covered with forest. Another 50 percent is countryside or farmland.

Lowland forests are home to deer and wild boar. The woodlands of the Alps and Pyrenees provide refuge for rare chamois antelope, ibex, brown bears and alpine hares, among many other species. The Mediterranean coastline is a stopover of millions of migrating African birds. These include flamingos, vultures, egrets and bee-eaters.

The French government has made a broad commitment to preserving open spaces and the wildlife they contain. About 10 percent of the country has been set aside as national or regional parklands and nature reserves.

People And Culture

France is one of the oldest nations on Earth. It is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Europe. These deep and broad influences have made France a world leader throughout history in nearly all aspects of culture, including cuisine, wine-making, politics, philosophy, music, art, film, fashion, literature and sports.

Government And Economy

Over the years, France has been through many political crises. Its current government is a combination of presidential and parliamentary systems. The president is elected by the people and is head of state. A prime minister, chosen by the president, works with the elected parliament to pass laws.

France is among the world's largest economies. The country produces many items that other countries buy, including its most famous products: wine and cheese. Other exports include automobiles, electronics and clothing.

Tourism is also a huge industry in France. Some 75 million people visit the country every year, more than any other country.

History

There is evidence that early relatives of humans first settled in France nearly two million years ago. By 300,000 B.C., Neanderthals arose there. By 40,000 B.C., Cro-Magnons had arrived. Over time, Celtic tribes from central Europe moved into the region. When the Romans occupied the territory in the second century B.C., they named it Gaul.

Julius Caesar established full Roman control over Gaul in 51 B.C., but by 400 A.D., Rome was in decline. Gaul was attacked by neighboring tribes, including Visigoths, Vandals and the Germanic Franks, from which France would eventually get its name. In the year 843, a treaty created the territory of West Francia, which would later become France.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Over the next thousand years, West Francia was ruled by a series of powerful kings. Several wars were fought over who would rule France, including the Hundred Years' War, from 1337 to 1453. In 1789, a violent period of change called the French Revolution began, eventually ending in the overthrow of the monarchy.

Napoleon Bonaparte, a general during the French Revolution, declared himself leader of France in 1799. He began a campaign of wars with the country's neighbors. He was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. France was reduced to its former borders.

France later suffered great losses in both World War I and World War II. It has since emerged, though, as an important and prosperous world power.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the inference below.

France's rich cultural heritage is due in large part to the country's diversity.

Which selection from the article provides the BEST support to the statement above?

(A) Wide, fertile plains dominate most of the north and west, making France the agricultural epicenter of Europe. The sprawling, forested plateau of the Massif Central occupies France's southern interior. It is a range of ancient mountains and extinct volcanoes.

(B) These deep and broad influences have made France a world leader throughout history in nearly all aspects of culture, including cuisine, wine-making, politics, philosophy, music, art, film, fashion, literature and sports.

(C) France is among the world's largest economies. The country produces many items that other countries buy, including its most famous products: wine and cheese.

(D) Tourism is also a huge industry in France. Some 75 million people visit the country every year, more than any other country.

2 Which section MOST highlights France's geography?

(A) Introduction [paragraphs 1-3]

(B) "Nature"

(C) "People And Culture"

(D) "Government And Economy"

3 Which sentence from the article is BEST supported by Map 2?

(A) Its lengthy borders touch Germany and Belgium in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Pyrenees Mountains and Spain in the south.

(B) In the south and east there are towering mountains, including Europe's tallest peak, Mont Blanc.

(C) About 10 percent of the country has been set aside as national or regional parklands and nature reserves.

(D) In the year 843, a treaty created the territory of West Francia, which would later become France.

4 Which inference could be drawn based on the information in the article and images?

(A) France's popularity with tourists is due to the country's strong economy.

(B) France's relations with neighboring countries have been unstable throughout history.

(C) France's varied landscape and abundant wildlife are a source of pride for the country.

(D) France's ethnic diversity is connected to its geographical position.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.