Eskimos live in the Polar areas between latitude 66 N and the North Pole. There are Eskimos in Northern Canada, Greenland and Siberia. This means that they are the only people who have their origins both in the Old World (Europe and Asia) and in the New World (America).

            It is difficult to make an accurate estimate but there are probably about 50,000 Eskimos. Eskimos are not usually tall but they have powerful legs and shoulders. They have yellowish skin and straight, black hair. Eskimos have common language and can understand members of another group although they may come from many thousands of miles away. The most important unit in Eskimo society is the family. Marriage is by mutual consent: the Eskimos do not have a special marriage ceremony.

            In the Eskimo community, the most important people are the older men. They control the affairs of the group, the economic system of the Eskimo communities’ work like a commune: they share almost everything. Eskimos live by hunting, fishing and trapping. When they go to hunt seals, they sail in kayaks (light boats made from skins) and when they hunt animals, they travel across the ice in sleds pulled by teams of dogs. The Eskimo snow house (called an igloo) is very well known, but in fact, Eskimos usually live in houses made of wood and turf. When not hunting and working, Eskimos like to carve: they use ivory and wood and they often make very beautiful objects.

1. There are about _____________________________________________ Eskimos in the world.
2. Eskimos usually live in ________________________________________________________.
3. Eskimos are ______________________________ but have ____________________________.
4. They live by _________________________________________________________________.
5. They travel by _____________________________________when they hunt seals and animals