All Clear 3 (Grade 7) Reading Comprehension Semester II

An amazing place

Svalbard is an island group situated in the Arctic Ocean, half way between Norway and the North Pole. It was discovered in 1586 by an explorer called Willem Barents. It is a very cold place because of its geographical location. In summer, the average temperature is between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius and in the middle of winter, it is minus 12 to minus 16 degrees, but it is often colder than that. In fact, the coldest temperature that was ever recorded on Svalbard was minus 46 degrees Celsius! Its geographical location also means that there is another big difference between summer and winter. In summer, the sun never sets from April 19th to August 23rd and in winter it is completely dark from November 14th to January 25th. Although it is a cold place with very difficult living conditions, more than 2,500 people live on Svalbard on the main island, which is called Spitsbergen. There is even a university there. There are three main industries – coal mining, fishing and tourism. Tourists usually come to see the wild animals, especially polar bears, which live in large numbers on the islands. They can also enjoy winter sports such as skiing and travelling by snowmobile. In summer, you can go hiking and trekking in the mountains but you have to be careful because there are so many polar bears. In fact, the local tourist office recommends that you carry a gun with you in case you meet a polar bear! But Svalbard is also one of the safest places in the world – there is almost no crime there.

1 Svalbard is half way between Norway and the South Pole.   [T, F]

2 It was discovered in 1586.   [T, F]

3 The lowest temperature recorded there was minus 16 degrees Celsius.   [T, F]

4 In winter it is completely dark for four months.   [T, F]

5 There is a university on Svalbard.   [T, F]

6 There are four main industries. T / F   [T, F]

An amazing place

Svalbard is an island group situated in the Arctic Ocean, half way between Norway and the North Pole. It was discovered in 1586 by an explorer called Willem Barents. It is a very cold place because of its geographical location. In summer, the average temperature is between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius and in the middle of winter, it is minus 12 to minus 16 degrees, but it is often colder than that. In fact, the coldest temperature that was ever recorded on Svalbard was minus 46 degrees Celsius! Its geographical location also means that there is another big difference between summer and winter. In summer, the sun never sets from April 19th to August 23rd and in winter it is completely dark from November 14th to January 25th. Although it is a cold place with very difficult living conditions, more than 2,500 people live on Svalbard on the main island, which is called Spitsbergen. There is even a university there. There are three main industries – coal mining, fishing and tourism. Tourists usually come to see the wild animals, especially polar bears, which live in large numbers on the islands. They can also enjoy winter sports such as skiing and travelling by snowmobile. In summer, you can go hiking and trekking in the mountains but you have to be careful because there are so many polar bears. In fact, the local tourist office recommends that you carry a gun with you in case you meet a polar bear! But Svalbard is also one of the safest places in the world – there is almost no crime there.

Read the text again and choose the correct answers.

1 Svalbard is between Norway and                   [a) theSouth Pole, b) the North Pole]

2 It was discovered in         [a) 1856, b) 1586]

3 In summer, the average temperature is between                                  [a) 4 and 6 degrees, b) minus 12 and minus 16 degrees]

4 What happens between April 19th and August 23rd?                         [a) it is completly dark, b) the sun never sets]

5 How many people live in Svalbard?                    [a) almost 2,500, b) more than 2,500]

6 How many main industries are there?          [a) three, b) four]

7 Why do tourists visit?                        [a) to go fishing, b) to see wild animals]

An amazing place

Svalbard is an island group situated in the Arctic Ocean, half way between Norway and the North Pole. It was discovered in 1586 by an explorer called Willem Barents. Because of its geographical location, it is one of the coldest inhabited places in the world. In summer, the average temperature is between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius and in the middle of winter, it is minus 12 to minus 16 degrees, but it is often colder than that. In fact, the coldest temperature that was ever recorded on Svalbard was minus 46 degrees Celsius! Its geographical location also means that there is another big difference between summer and winter. In summer, the sun doesn’t set from April 19th to August 23rd so it is light all the time. In winter, the polar night descends and it is completely dark from November 14th to January 25th. Although it is a cold place with very difficult living conditions, more than 2,500 people live on Svalbard on the main island, which is called Spitsbergen. There is even a university there, as well as a lot of restaurants, cafes and shops. There are three main industries on Svalbard – coal mining, fishing and tourism. Tourists usually come to see wild animals, especially polar bears, which live in large numbers on the islands. They can also enjoy winter sports such as skiing and travelling by snowmobile. In winter, you can also see the Northern Lights – amazing green lights in the sky. In summer, you can go hiking and trekking in the mountains but you should always go with a guide and you have to be careful because there are so many polar bears. In fact, the local tourist office recommends that you carry a gun with you in case you meet a polar bear! But Svalbard is also one of the safest places in the world – there is almost no crime there.

Read the text again and answer the questions.

1 What are the Northern Lights?                                

2 What sports can you do in Svalbard in winter?                                    

3 Why should you carry a gun there?                                      

4 Why is Svalbard one of the safest places in the world?                               

An amazing place

Svalbard is an island group situated in the Arctic Ocean, half way between Norway and the North Pole. It was discovered in 1586 by an explorer called Willem Barents. Because of its geographical location, it is one of the coldest inhabited places in the world. In summer, the average temperature is between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius and in the middle of winter, it is minus 12 to minus 16 degrees, but it is often colder than that. In fact, the coldest temperature that was ever recorded on Svalbard was minus 46 degrees Celsius! Its geographical location also means that there is another big difference between summer and winter. In summer, the sun doesn’t set from April 19th to August 23rd so it is light all the time. In winter, the polar night descends and it is completely dark from November 14th to January 25th. Although it is a cold place with very difficult living conditions, more than 2,500 people live on Svalbard on the main island, which is called Spitsbergen. There is even a university there, as well as a lot of restaurants, cafes and shops. There are three main industries on Svalbard – coal mining, fishing and tourism. Tourists usually come to see wild animals, especially polar bears, which live in large numbers on the islands. They can also enjoy winter sports such as skiing and travelling by snowmobile. In winter, you can also see the Northern Lights – amazing green lights in the sky. In summer, you can go hiking and trekking in the mountains but you should always go with a guide and you have to be careful because there are so many polar bears. In fact, the local tourist office recommends that you carry a gun with you in case you meet a polar bear! But Svalbard is also one of the safest places in the world – there is almost no crime there.

Answer the questions to the text:

1 Where is Svalbard?                                          2 What is the name of the main island in the Svalbard group?            

3 When was Svalbard discovered?        

4 What is the coldest temperature that was ever recorded on Svalbard?                 

5 How many people live on Svalbard?                

6 What are the main industries?