The Polar Bear

     The polar bear is a very big white bear. We call it the polar bear because it lives inside the Arctic Circle near the North Pole. There are no polar bears at the South Pole.

     The polar bear lives in the snow and ice. At the North Pole, there is only snow, ice, and water. There is not any land. People cannot see the polar bear in the snow very well because its coat is yellow-white. It has a very warm coat because the weather is cold north of the Arctic Circle.

   This bear is three meters long, and it weights 450 kilos (kilograms). It can stand up on its back legs because it has very wide feet. It can use its front legs like arms, the polar bear can swim very well. It can swim 120 kilometers out into the water. It catches fish and sea animals for food. It goes into the sea when it is afraid.

      Polar bears are thought to be the national treasure animal in Russia. However，some people want to kill the polar bear for its beautiful white coat. The governments of Russia say that no one can kill polar bears now. They do not want all of these beautiful animals to die.

1. What can the polar bear do?
2. What does it eat?
3. Where does it go when it is afraid?
4. Why do some people want to kill the polar bear?
5. What do the governments of Russia and the United States say?