News
About Us
Contact Us

Heritage Site Reading Answers

Bhaskar Das

Aug 26, 2025

Heritage Site Reading Answers contains 13 questions and belongs to the assessment system of the IELTS General Reading test. Heritage Site Reading Answers must be answered within 20 minutes. In this IELTS reading section, question types include: Choose the correct letter, and write the correct number.

Heritage Site Reading Answers offers a comprehensive overview of Greenland, the world's largest island, which combines rich Arctic history, resource-based industries, and unique biodiversity, while balancing modernization with environmental conservation. To practice similar reading tests, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Topic:

A.Greenland is an autonomous country within the Danish Realm, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for more than a millennium and is the world’s largest island. Three-quarters of Greenland is covered by the only permanent ice sheet outside of Antarctica. It is the least densely populated country in the world. The Arctic Umiaq Line ferry acts as a lifeline for western Greenland, connecting the various cities and settlements.

B.The first people to set foot in Greenland arrived around 4-5000 years ago from North American continent via Canada when the sea froze in the narrow strait at Thule in northern Greenland. No less than six different Inuit cultures have immigrated in several waves. Greenland’s population today is descended from the last immigration, the Thule culture, which arrived in around the 9th century AD. Greenland’s shores have been inhabited since prehistoric times by Palaeo-Eskimo groups. Several thousand Greenlandic Inuit reside in the Denmark proper. The majority of the population is Lutheran. Nearly all Greenlanders live along the fjords in the south-west of the main island, which has a relatively mild climate. More than 17,000 people reside in Nuuk, the capital city. European settlement and exploration of Greenland did not occur until 986 C.E. when Norwegians and Icelanders settled on its west coast. These people were eventually known as the Norse Greenlanders and they were formally taken over by Norway in the 13th century.

C.In that same century, Norway entered into a union with Denmark which effectively started Greenland’s relationship with that country as well. In 1946, the United States offered to buy Greenland from Denmark but the country refused to sell the island. Greenland’s current head of state is Denmark’s queen, Margrethe II. Because of its very high latitude, Greenland has an arctic to subarctic climate with cool summers and very cold winters. Because of this, its citizens can practice very little agriculture and most of its products are forage crops, greenhouse vegetables, sheep, reindeer and fish. Greenland mostly relies on imports from other countries. Greenland’s topography is mainly flat but there is a narrow mountainous coast. Most of Greenland’s land area is covered by an ice sheet (as shown in the map) and two-thirds of the country is subject to permafrost.

D.Fishing (shrimp, halibut, salmon, and cod) is the country’s most important industry. Zones of processing plants have been constructed in the south and southwest. Some of the world’s largest halibut fishing areas are in Disko Bay. In the north and east seas, foxes, and polar bears are hunted. Seabirds are hunted for their meat, and down. Reindeer are herded and there is extensive sheep breeding in the southern area. Gold, niobium, tantalum, uranium, iron, and diamonds are mined. Deposits of cryolite, zinc, and lead, which were important to Greenland’s mining industry, have been largely worked out. Copper, coal, oil, and molybdenum deposits also exist but are difficult to extract.

E.The country is gradually shifting its electricity production away from fossil fuel to hydropower. Greenland has gradually modernized its economy but still depends heavily on its fishing industry, and fish products are its largest export. The country must import most machinery and transportation equipment, food, fuel, and consumer products. Tourism is being developed. Greenland has benefited from greatly improved air transport and telecommunications in recent years. Greenland’s surrounding waters support a diverse range of marine life, and some of the areas are important bird and nature protection areas and the glacier fjord Jakobshavn Isfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

F.The exploration wells to be drilled in 2010 are located over 150 km from these areas. Greenland waters contain a number of known fish species and fishing is an important industry. Furthermore, 22 known marine mammal species including whales, walruses and seals regularly inhabit Greenland, and its responsibility to protect it. To safeguard this biodiversity loss and seek opportunities to sustainably benefit from its resources, authorities adopted a precautionary approach by conducting impact assessments of projects that may affect the environment. Greenland has a strong legal framework with biodiversity recognizing that its resources of worldwide importance are legally protected and a responsibility to local communities. Laws are a valuable source of data and behaviours of key species.

Questions 28-33

The text has six sections, A-F.

Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number i-ix.

LIST OF HEADINGS

i. Formal Demographic structure of Greenland

ii. Treasure in the Heart of Greenland

ill. Politics and Profession in Greenland

Iv. Lifeline of Greenland

v. Physical features of Greenland

vi. Efforts to protect Biodiversity

vii. Tourism in Greenland

viii. Wild life of Greenland

ix. Growing economy strategies

28. Section-A

Answer: iv. Lifeline of Greenland

Supporting statement: “The Arctic Umiaq Line ferry acts as a lifeline for western Greenland…”

Keywords: lifeline, ferry, connecting settlements

Keyword Location: Section A, Line 5

Explanation: This section introduces Greenland’s geography and highlights how the ferry connects settlements, acting as a “lifeline.”

29. Section-B

Answer: i. Formal Demographic structure of Greenland

Supporting statement: “Greenland’s population today is descended from…”, “Nearly all Greenlanders live along the fjords…”

Keywords: population, immigration, capital city

Keyword Location: Section B, Lines 2–6

Explanation: The section covers Greenland’s population history, cultural roots, settlement patterns, and religion.

30. Section-C

Answer: v. Physical features of Greenland

Supporting statement: “...has an arctic to subarctic climate…”, “...mainly flat…”, “...covered by an ice sheet…”

Keywords: climate, ice sheet, topography, permafrost

Keyword Location: Section C, Lines 4–7

Explanation: The focus is on Greenland’s climate and geographical features like flat land, ice, and permafrost.

31. Section-D

Answer: viii. Wild life of Greenland

Supporting statement: “...foxes, and polar bears are hunted…”, “Seabirds are hunted…”, “...reindeer are herded…”

Keywords: polar bears, seabirds, reindeer, hunted

Keyword Location: Section D, Lines 3–6

Explanation: The passage outlines the wildlife species found and hunted in Greenland.

32. Section-E

Answer: ix. Growing economy strategies

Supporting statement: “The country is gradually shifting...”, “Tourism is being developed...”, “...improved air transport and telecommunications...”

Keywords: tourism, hydropower, modernization, exports

Keyword Location: Section E, throughout

Explanation: Discusses Greenland’s transition from fossil fuels and development of various economic sectors.

33. Section-F

Answer: vi. Efforts to protect Biodiversity

Supporting statement: “...adopted a precautionary approach...”, “...resources of worldwide importance are legally protected...”

Keywords: biodiversity, impact assessments, legal protection

Keyword Location: Section F, Lines 5–8

Explanation: Focuses on Greenland’s biodiversity and legal actions to preserve it.

Questions 34-40

Choose the correct letter.

34. 75% of the area of Greenland is covered with

A. Mountains

B. ice

C. valley

D. Forest

Answer: B. ice

Supporting statement: “Three-quarters of Greenland is covered by the only permanent ice sheet…”

Keywords: 75%, ice sheet

Keyword Location: Section A, Line 4

Explanation: The phrase “three-quarters” confirms that 75% is covered with ice.

35. Greenland is considered to have been populated since prehistoric times by

A. many Pre-Historic groups

B. Inuits

C. various Paleo-Eskimo groups

D. Early man

Answer: C. various Paleo-Eskimo groups

Supporting statement: “Greenland’s shores have been inhabited since prehistoric times by Palaeo-Eskimo groups.”

Keywords: prehistoric, Palaeo-Eskimo

Keyword Location: Section B, Line 4

Explanation: This line clearly identifies the earliest inhabitants.

36. Greenland citizens practice very little agriculture due to

A. very high altitude

B. very hot weather

C. very dense population

D. very cold winters

Answer: D. very cold winters

Supporting statement: “...can practice very little agriculture and most of its products are forage crops...”

Keywords: very cold winters, agriculture

Keyword Location: Section C, Lines 4–5

Explanation: The arctic to subarctic climate results in minimal farming.

37. Greenland's geography is

A. mainly flat

B. mainly oval

C. mainly round

D. mainly semi-oval

Answer: A. mainly flat

Supporting statement: “Greenland’s topography is mainly flat but there is a narrow mountainous coast.”

Keywords: mainly flat

Keyword Location: Section C, Line 6

Explanation: The geography is described as primarily flat.

38. To fulfill the requirement of its people, Greenland mostly relies on

A. trade out

B. trade in

C. not in trade

D. producing for their own

Answer: B. trade in

Supporting statement: “Greenland mostly relies on imports from other countries.”

Keywords: relies on imports

Keyword Location: Section C, Line 5

Explanation: The country imports most of what it needs.

39. The country is gradually shifting from fossil fuel to hydropower for its

A. Petrol production

B. Diesel production

C. Electricity production

D. Fuel production

Answer: C. Electricity production

Supporting statement: “The country is gradually shifting its electricity production away from fossil fuel to hydropower.”

Keywords: electricity production, hydropower

Keyword Location: Section E, Line 1

Explanation: This clearly indicates a shift in electricity generation methods.

40. Greenland has a unique natural ecosystem and this, …………... has to be saved.

A. water bodies

B. native animals

C. habitats

D. Biodiversity

Answer: D. Biodiversity

Supporting statement: “...biodiversity recognizing that its resources of worldwide importance are legally protected…”

Keywords: biodiversity, protection

Keyword Location: Section F, Lines 6–7

Explanation: The paragraph stresses the importance of protecting biodiversity.

Check IELTS reading samples:

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

Comments

No comments to show
Practice Paper
Also Check
IELTS Overview
IELTS IELTS Exam Dates
IELTS IELTS Results
IELTS IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS IELTS Reading
IELTS IELTS Speaking Topics
IELTS IELTS Preparation
IELTS IELTS Listening
IELTS IELTS Exam Pattern
IELTS IELTS Practice Papers
IELTS IELTS Coaching in India
IELTS IELTS Cutoff
IELTS News