Count state names, not parts of words.
Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are two different states. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, however, is one state with a compound name. Counting words or hyphens can therefore produce the wrong total.
Article 1(1) of the Unification Treaty identifies the five states. Paragraph 2 addresses Berlin as one state. This separate provision explains why Berlin’s reunification does not make the answer six new states.
The other three answers
Wrong totals can result from counting a different unit.
4
Four is too few. A common mistake is combining Saxony with Saxony-Anhalt, but they are separate states.
6
Six is the tempting Berlin mistake. The question means the five expressly added states; Berlin is dealt with separately in the treaty.
7
Seven counts too many. Neither name components such as Western Pomerania nor former administrative districts are additional states in this list.
The question counts an addition, not all of Germany’s states.
Five is not the total number of federal states today. It answers the specific question of how many were added in 1990. A total and a change are different quantities.
“New states” is a term used in the context of reunification. It does not mean that the regions, their names or their history began in 1990. Their status as states of the Federal Republic is what matters for the count.
Article 1: states and Berlin · Unification Treaty ↗Five complete names make five states; Berlin is explained separately.
Check the number against the list. Pay particular attention to Saxony/Saxony-Anhalt and the single name Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Three words for this question
- hinzukommento be added
- To join an existing set.
- zusammengesetztcompound
- Made of several components that together form one name.
- gesondertseparately
- Dealt with in a separate provision or discussion.