Name: __________________________________________
Date:__________________
Copyright © 2015 www.studentpuzzles.com
Primary Science Reading Comprehension – (Worksheet 13)
Read the scientific article below and circle the letter of the correct answers to the questions about it.
Understanding Glaciers
Glaciers are large, slow-moving land masses or rivers of ice. They’ve existed since the last Ice Age, an era
millions of year ago when the ice covered 32% of the land and 30% of the oceans. Glaciers are created
primarily from fallen snow that has accumulated over many years and been compressed into large masses of
ice. The extreme pressure within glaciers sometimes squeezes most of the air bubbles out of the snow and ice;
making it appear bluish in color. Glaciers currently cover 10% of the Earth’s surface area. They exist in every
continent and in 47 countries. Most glaciers are located in polar areas such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the
Canadian Arctic. There are two major types of glaciers: alpine glaciers which are located primarily on
mountains, and continental glaciers which exist on flat land that is very cold. Glaciers do experience melting
but exist year round rather than seasonally. A glacier’s speed of movement can vary widely from several
meters per hour to several meters per century. Its speed of movement depends on factors such as the air
temperature, the thickness of the ice, and the slope of the underlying terrain. About 70% of the Earth’s fresh
water can be found in the glaciers of the Antarctic. In fact Antarctica alone is believed to contain about 92% of
the world’s glacial ice. The largest glaciers are the vast ice sheets within Antarctica and Greenland which can
extend more than 50,000 square kilometers in size. The glacial ice in Antarctica can be up to 4.7 kilometers (3
miles) thick in some areas. Despite their massive size, volume, and depth, glaciers are believed to be gradually
receding worldwide due to global warming.
1. Glaciers are large slow-moving rivers of:
a. Water
b. Mud
c. Ice
2. 70% of the Earth’s fresh water can be found:
a. In rivers and lakes
b. In Antarctic glaciers
c. In the oceans
3. Most glaciers are located in polar areas like:
a. Antarctica, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic
b. North America
c. South America
4. The depth of glacial ice can be as thick as:
a. 50,000 kilometers (30,000 miles)
b. 47 kilometers (30 miles)
c. 4.7 kilometers (3 miles)
5. Some glaciers can move as fast as:
a. Several miles per hour
b. Several meters per hour
c. Several kilometers per hour
Name: __________________________________________
Date:__________________
Copyright © 2015 www.studentpuzzles.com
Key to Primary Science Reading Comprehension – (Worksheet 13)
Read the scientific article below and circle the letter of the correct answers to the questions about it.
Key to Understanding Glaciers
Glaciers are large, slow-moving land masses or rivers of ice. They’ve existed since the last Ice Age, an era
millions of year ago when the ice covered 32% of the land and 30% of the oceans. Glaciers are created
primarily from fallen snow that has accumulated over many years and been compressed into large masses of
ice. The extreme pressure within glaciers sometimes squeezes most of the air bubbles out of the snow and ice;
making it appear bluish in color. Glaciers currently cover 10% of the Earth’s surface area. They exist in every
continent and in 47 countries. Most glaciers are located in polar areas such as Antarctica, Greenland, and the
Canadian Arctic. There are two major types of glaciers: alpine glaciers which are located primarily on
mountains, and continental glaciers which exist on flat land that is very cold. Glaciers do experience melting
but exist year round rather than seasonally. A glacier’s speed of movement can vary widely from several
meters per hour to several meters per century. Its speed of movement depends on factors such as the air
temperature, the thickness of the ice, and the slope of the underlying terrain. About 70% of the Earth’s fresh
water can be found in the glaciers of the Antarctic. In fact Antarctica alone is believed to contain about 92% of
the world’s glacial ice. The largest glaciers are the vast ice sheets within Antarctica and Greenland which can
extend more than 50,000 square kilometers in size. The glacial ice in Antarctica can be up to 4.7 kilometers (3
miles) thick in some areas. Despite their massive size, volume, and depth, glaciers are believed to be gradually
receding worldwide due to global warming.
1. Glaciers are large slow-moving rivers of:
a. Water
b. Mud
c. Ice
2. 70% of the Earth’s fresh water can be found:
a. In rivers and lakes
b. In Antarctic glaciers
c. In the oceans
3. Most glaciers are located in polar areas like:
a. Antarctica, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic
b. North America
c. South America
4. The depth of glacial ice can be as thick as:
a. 50,000 kilometers (30,000 miles)
b. 47 kilometers (30 miles)
c. 4.7 kilometers (3 miles)
5. Some glaciers can move as fast as:
a. Several miles per hour
b. Several meters per hour
c. Several kilometers per hour