Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct option that best fits each of the numbered blanks. Antarctica is the coldest, emptiest, and driest place on Earth. Almost the entire continent—99% of it—(18) ________ about 5 meters thick! The coldest temperature ever recorded on the planet was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius, registered on July 21th, 1983 here at Vostok Station. This land is wild, dry, and unforgiving, where winds can howl at speeds up to 320 km/h. There’s even a place ...

Antarctica is the coldest, emptiest, and driest place on Earth. Almost the entire continent—99% of it—(18) ________ about 5 meters thick! The coldest temperature ever recorded on the planet was minus 89.2 degrees Celsius, registered on July 21th, 1983 here at Vostok Station. This land is wild, dry, and unforgiving, where winds can howl at speeds up to 320 km/h. There’s even a place called the Dry Valleys, where (19) ________ more than a million years!

Antarctica remained a mystery until its discovery in 1820. It’s a continent that (20) ________. Instead, 30 countries run 80 research stations spread across this great wilderness. In the summer, the population grows as over 4,000 scientists from around the world work here. Tourists, too, are drawn to its otherworldly beauty—(21) ________ it during the 2018-2019 season.

In this icy desert, there are no trees or bushes. The only plants (22) ________ are algae, moss, and fungi. Still, it’s not entirely lifeless. Penguins thrive here, huddling together in huge colonies and nesting on the ice. In the waters surrounding Antarctica, one can see seals, whales, and orcas, but on land, (23) ________. Antarctica may seem harsh, but it’s home to a cool frozen ecosystem!