Extreme Environments: reading informational text; The Arctic Circle 3

Read the passage, then answer the practice question.

Think about a globe. At the top, you'll find the Arctic Circle. This imaginary line around the earth is very far north. It includes parts of these countries and territories:

In the winter, the sun doesn't rise in parts of the Arctic Circle. This means there can be up to 24 hours of darkness. But in the summer, the opposite happens. The midnight sun rises and shines for 24 hours a day. Imagine that!

What’s it like to live in the Arctic Circle? Well, many people may find this extreme climate inhospitable. After all, the winters are long and very cold. Winter temperatures stay well below freezing all season long. The wind chill is so cold that it can freeze your skin in seconds. Blinding storms can make travel very difficult. People can and do live here, though. In fact, people have made the Arctic home for thousands of years. And today, there are many thriving communities that probably don’t seem too different from your own—well, apart from the weather, maybe! There are communities with shopping, movie theaters, schools, and more.

Tromsø is a thriving city in Norway, inside the Arctic Circle.

Many different animals make their homes in the Arctic. Unlike Antarctica, which is home to very few land animals, there are many that live in the Arctic. Polar bears, reindeer, rabbits, musk oxen, foxes, and lots of other animals make their home in the Arctic Circle. These animals are well-adapted to their environment. Many have thick fur or hair and feet that are good for walking on snow. The Arctic waters are also filled with life. Whales, seals, sharks, and many other kinds of marine creatures live in these icy, northern seas.