1) Scientists discovered a huge dinosaur in __________.

          a) Brazil
          b) Argentina
          c) Cuba 


2) Artifacts are __________ made by people in the past.

          a) objects
          b) foods
          c) arrowheads
 


3) Al Gore won a Nobel Peace Prize for __________.

          a) his work to stop global warming
          b) his work to stop dynamite blasting
          c) making a documentary

 

4)  Alfred Bernhard Nobel invented dynamite in __________.

         a) 1833
         b) 1867
         c) 1896

5)  Nobel Prizes are awarded in __________.

        a) May
        b) January
        c) December

ANSWERS:
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. C



Welcome to GeoTrek (Issue 12)
This is the first of three special GeoTrek issues that you will receive this year. Each GeoTrek issue will examine a region or country in detail with respect to physical geography, culture, and news. Please e-mail the editors at ed3@weeklyreader.com to let us know how you used this GeoTrek issue in your classroom.

Before You Read
Help students find the Arctic on a globe. Ask: What is the Arctic like? What kinds of animals live there? How might the Arctic change if the temperature became warmer?

Vocabulary
caribou: a type of reindeer

food chain: the order in which creatures eat one another
fossil fuel: a nonrenewable resource that gives off gases when burned that contribute to global warming

global warming: the slow rise of Earth's temperature

kamiks: boots

Inuit: people who live in the Arctic

native: local

Background
• What is the Arctic Circle? The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line that circles the globe at about 66 degrees north latitude. It outlines the Arctic, where the North Pole is located.
• Why do polar bears need sea ice? Polar bears use sea ice to hunt. They stand at the edge of f the sea ice and wait for a seal to come to the water’s surface to breathe. When a seal pops up, the polar bear pounces on it.
• How serious is the threat to polar bears? About 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears live in the wild. Scientists estimate that warmer temperatures could kill off half the world’s polar bear population by 2050. 

Think Critically
• How might having fewer polar bears affect the people in Kenneth-John Putulik’s town?
• Polar bears are adapted for life in the cold Arctic. How might their bodies and habits adapt, or change, to adjust to warmer temperatures in the Arctic?

Extend the Lesson
The Arctic is one of two polar regions. Have students research
and write a report on the other polar region—the Antarctic. Ask: What kinds of animals live in the Antarctic? Do any people live there? How does the Antarctic compare to the Arctic?

Web Resources
• For more on Arctic wildlife, visit www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/wildlife.html.
• To learn more about the Arctic, visit www.arctic.noaa.gov.


Teaching Activity:

Get Writing! Do you think polar bears should be on the endangered species list? Why or why not? Write two paragraphs explaining your opinion. Include at least two facts supporting your argument.