READING Comprehension 1

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History of one Meridian line

For many years, different countries measured longitude from different meridians. The
French and Algerians, for example, used the Paris Meridian; the Swedes measured from
one that passed through Stockholm. By the 1880s, many people could see the advantages
of measuring from a single meridian.
Why does the Prime Meridian (Zero Longitude) pass through Greenwich?
The International Meridian Conference took place in October 1884 in Washington
DC. Twenty-five nations were represented at the conference by 41 delegates. The
Greenwich Meridian was chosen to become the Prime Meridian of the World. There were
several reasons for this; the main one being that nearly two thirds of the World's ships
were already using charts based on it.
The voting was 22:1 in favour of Greenwich (San Domingo, now the Dominican
Republic, voted against); France and Brazil abstained. The French did not adopt the
Greenwich meridian until 1911.
How long is the Prime Meridian?
From Pole to Pole, the Prime Meridian covers a distance of 20,000 km
Which countries does the Prime Meridian pass through?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Prime Meridian passes through the UK, France and
Spain in Europe and Algeria, Mali, Burkina, Faso, Tongo and Ghana in Africa.
The only landmass crossed by the Meridian in the Southern Hemisphere is
Antarctica.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
1. Which was the meridian used by French and Algerians?
2. Where was the Greenwich Meridian chosen as the Prime Meridian?
3. Why was the Greenwich Meridian chosen as the Prime Meridian?
READING COMPREHENSION 1 UNIT 1
IES SENZ DE BURUAGA BILINGUAL SECTION
4. Which was the vote of France?
5. How long is the Prime Meridian?
6. Which is the only landmass crossed by the Meridian in the Southern Hemisphere?
7. When did France adopt the Greenwich Meridian?
READING COMPREHENSION 1 UNIT 1
IES SENZ DE BURUAGA BILINGUAL SECTION
VALORACIN VALORACIN
COMPREHENSIN
ORTOGRAPHY
EXPRESIN

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