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2016 ‫מועד דצמבר‬ - 39 - ‫ פרק ראשון‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Reading Comprehension

This part consists of two passages, each followed by several related questions. For each
question, choose the most appropriate answer based on the text.

Text I (Questions 13-17)

(1) The Inuit are the native peoples of the Arctic regions of Greenland, Alaska, and
Canada. Traditionally nomadic, the Inuit once subsisted by hunting and fishing. This
lifestyle demanded forms of shelter that could be either carried with them or constructed
anew out of materials found wherever they camped. In the summer, the Inuit lived in

(5) portable tents made of animal skins stretched over a frame. For the winter, they devised
a unique type of dwelling called an igloo.

In constructing an igloo, the Inuit made ingenious use of the only building material
readily available to them in winter: snow. The snow was cut into blocks of uniform
size and shape. A first layer of blocks was set up in a circle on the ground. Each

(10) additional layer was positioned slightly inward so that the structure curved upward to
form a dome. Small holes were cut in the walls to let in fresh air, and a low, arched
entrance was attached to one side.

A substance as soft and cold as snow hardly seems like a construction material that
can provide protection from the cold. But the combination of firmly packed snow and a

(15) domed shape actually makes for a remarkably sturdy structure. As for warmth, the air
trapped in the snow has an insulating effect. In addition, the body heat of the people
inside, together with the heat given off by seal-oil lamps, causes the igloo's walls to melt
slightly. During the night, the walls refreeze, creating a layer of solid ice that further
insulates and reinforces the igloo.

Questions

13. It can be understood from the first paragraph that the Inuit -

(1) came to Greenland from Alaska and Canada
(2) moved around a lot
(3) learned to make igloos from other nomadic peoples
(4) were unable to hunt and fish during the winter

)‫© כל הזכויות שמורות למרכז ארצי לבחינות ולהערכה (ע"ר‬

.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬