LMT_Dec_19_2022_Vol_116_issue_03
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lmtimes.ca • Last Mountain Times • Monday, <strong>Dec</strong>ember <strong>19</strong>, <strong>2022</strong><br />
13<br />
Winter quiz<br />
Canadian winters are long and harsh. Some people love<br />
the cold season for the abundance of winter sports, while<br />
others hate it for the treacherous, icy roads. No matter how<br />
you feel about this snow-filled time of year, here’s a fun quiz<br />
to help you learn more about it. Good luck!<br />
1. In what year did the infamous ice storm hit Quebec?<br />
A. <strong>19</strong>88<br />
B. <strong>19</strong>98<br />
C. 2008<br />
2. On February 11, <strong>19</strong>99, Tahtsa Lake, British Columbia,<br />
set a Canadian record for the most snowfall in<br />
a single day. How much snow fell?<br />
A. 145 cm<br />
B. 172 cm<br />
C. 206 cm<br />
3. What’s the lowest temperature<br />
ever recorded on Earth?<br />
A. -77 C<br />
B. -89 C<br />
C. -98 C<br />
4. What’s the name of the cold, thick fog<br />
that forms a thin layer of ice on the ground?<br />
A. Frost<br />
B. Freezing rain<br />
C. Sleet<br />
5. Which of these clothing items won’t keep you<br />
warm?<br />
A. A mitt<br />
B. A muff<br />
C. A mantilla<br />
6. What does the word igloo mean in Inuktitut?<br />
A. House<br />
B. Dome<br />
C. Shelter<br />
3 interesting winter sports<br />
Do you love winter sports like downhill<br />
skiing, ice skating and tubing? If you’re<br />
interested in trying an uncommon<br />
winter sport, here are three you may<br />
want to explore.<br />
1. ICE DIVING<br />
Did you know that scuba diving isn’t<br />
only done in blue waters full of tropical<br />
fish? In fact, with a bit of training, the<br />
right equipment and suitable clothing,<br />
you can also dive under the ice in the<br />
winter.<br />
Ice divers say the calm waters, fascinating<br />
light effects and flurry of air<br />
bubbles that rise and collect on the underside<br />
of the ice make this sport a<br />
truly unique experience. Divers enter<br />
and exit the water through a hole cut in<br />
the ice. For safety, they’re attached to a<br />
rope that connects them to a buddy<br />
above the ice the<br />
entire time. Ingenious,<br />
isn’t it?<br />
2. THE YOONER<br />
The Yooner is a<br />
fun sliding sport<br />
inspired by the paret,<br />
a small wooden<br />
sled that originated<br />
in France.<br />
It’s similar to<br />
downhill skiing,<br />
but you can ride a<br />
Yooner even if you<br />
don’t know how to<br />
ski. A Yooner<br />
consists of a seat<br />
mounted to a<br />
single ski. To improve comfort and reduce<br />
shocks, it has a robust suspension<br />
system. There’s also a brake so<br />
that you can hit the slopes without fear.<br />
Laughter and fun are guaranteed.<br />
3. SNOW KAYAKING<br />
You probably imagine a small boat moving<br />
along a quiet river when you think<br />
of a kayak. How ever, kayaks don’t only<br />
float; they also glide. Therefore, some<br />
people ride down snowy slo pes on<br />
their kayaks. The paddles aren’t used<br />
for rowing. Instead, they help the kayaker<br />
turn. This sport has become increasingly<br />
popular and has had its own<br />
world championship since 2007.<br />
There are many daring winter sports.<br />
Do you know any others?<br />
7. Which of these animals doesn’t hibernate in<br />
winter?<br />
A. Groundhogs<br />
B. Bats<br />
C. Bears<br />
Fascinating facts about snowy owls<br />
Have you ever seen a snowy owl?<br />
It’s one of the largest members of<br />
the owl family. Here are some interesting<br />
facts about this majestic<br />
bird:<br />
ANSWERS<br />
1. B.<br />
2. A.<br />
3. C.<br />
4. A.<br />
5. C. A mantilla is a lace or silk kerchief. Mitt is<br />
short for the word mitten, and a muff is a tube<br />
made of warm material that’s open at both<br />
ends so you can stick your hands inside to<br />
keep them warm.<br />
6. A.<br />
7. C. Bears don’t technically hibernate;<br />
they overwinter. In other words, they spend<br />
the winter resting in their shelter and only<br />
enter<br />
a light sleep state.<br />
• It’s sometimes called a polar owl<br />
or Arctic owl<br />
• It mainly eats lemmings, hares<br />
and ducks<br />
• It’s about 50 centimetres tall<br />
and has a wingspan of nearly<br />
1.5 metres<br />
• Unlike most owls, it hunts during<br />
the day and night<br />
• It has thickly feathered legs that<br />
keep<br />
it warm in temperatures as low as<br />
-50 C<br />
• It has rigid feather disks around<br />
its eyes that reflect sound waves<br />
to its ears<br />
to help it find prey in the dark<br />
• It likes to survey its territory<br />
and spends a lot of time perched<br />
in high places<br />
• Adult male snowy owls are almost<br />
entirely white, while females have<br />
brown spots<br />
The exact number of snowy owls in<br />
the wild is unknown. However, it’s estimated<br />
that fewer than 30,000 adults<br />
remain in North America and fewer<br />
than 200,000 globally.<br />
Snowy owls prefer to live in open<br />
areas with few trees. Consequently,<br />
they’re ty pically spotted in<br />
marshes, grasslands and fields.
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