Context: Catalan bears varying degrees of similarity to the linguistic varieties subsumed under the cover term Occitan language (see also differences between Occitan and Catalan and Gallo-Romance languages). Thus, as it should be expected from closely related languages, Catalan today shares many traits with other Romance languages.

Question: What is Catalan a variety of?
Answer: Occitan language

Question: What are the degrees of similarity with Occitan and Gallo-Romance languages?
Answer: varying degrees

Question: What are there besides degrees of similarity with Occitan?
Answer: differences

Question: What does Catalan share with other Romance languages?
Answer: many traits

Question: Why does Catalan share many traits with other Romance languages?
Answer: closely related