People's Education Press – Junior High School Geography, Grade 7, Semester 2: Frozen Fantasy: Who Rules the Polar Regions?

Welcome to Earth's ultimate extremes —the polar regions. Here, it is not only a kingdom of ice and snow but also the world’s climate "regulator."

Geographical Features: The Struggle Between Land and Sea

Arctic Region: Centered on the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by the northern edges of Asia, Europe, and North America. This is the "sea encircling land".
Antarctic Region: Centered on the Antarctic Continent, surrounded by the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. This is the "land encircling sea," with the highest average elevation, known as the "Ice Plateau."

Natural Resources and Conservation: Cross-Regional Reflections

The poles are far from barren; they harbor abundant mineral resources, such asuranium, iron, and coal. However, excessive development poses significant environmental risks. We can draw parallels withthe Brazilian government taking various measures to strengthen rainforest protection, which mirrors the need for polar conservation. If rainforests are Earth’s "lungs," then the poles are its "refrigerators," both essential for maintaining global ecological balance.

Core Concept: Polar Bears in the North, Penguins in the South

The geographical distribution of polar species reveals a long evolutionary history. Polar bears cannot cross tropical zones to reach Antarctica, and penguins cannot swim across the equator to the Arctic. This "geographical isolation" has created distinctly different biological landscapes between the two poles.

QUESTION 1

Which of the following descriptions about the geographical features of the polar regions is correct?

The Antarctic region is mainly oceanic and is called the "Arctic Ocean"

The Arctic region is mainly land-based and is the continent with the highest average elevation

The Antarctic region is a land area centered on the Antarctic Continent

The Arctic region is surrounded by the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans

QUESTION 2

Why can polar bears and penguins never "meet" in nature?

Because they are hostile toward each other and would fight over territory

Geographical isolation caused them to evolve separately and live at opposite ends of the Earth

Polar bears cannot withstand the extreme cold of Antarctica

QUESTION 3

Which key strategic resource found in the polar regions is specifically mentioned in the text?

Gold

Uranium (Uranium)

Wood

QUESTION 4

What is the main purpose of comparing polar conservation with Brazil’s tropical rainforest protection?

To prove that Antarctica is warmer than rainforests

To emphasize the ecological importance of the poles as global climate regulators

To explain that tropical trees could be grown in Antarctica

QUESTION 5

Which of the following is NOT an alternative name for Antarctica?

Ice Plateau

White Desert

Earth's Lungs