8. Name three countries and three cities in Western Europe and any pertinent information about each.

Austria, Spain, France.

Austria: The name Austria derives from a Germanic word 'austro', meaning 'east' The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the world. The sewing machine was invented by Josef Madersperger, an Austrian. Approximately one quarter of the population of Austria lives in Vienna.

Spain: The Spanish name for Spain is España. The Spanish language is spoken in many areas of the world due to the early influence of the Spanish Empire. The largest city and capital of Spain is Madrid.

France: Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre and monuments like the Eiffel Tower. The country is also renowned for its wines and sophisticated cuisine.

Paris, London, Barcelona

Paris: Paris, France's capital, is a major European city and a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine.

London: London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic 'Big Ben' clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations.

Barcelona: Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain's Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. The fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí dot the city.