The Arctic Ice isThawing

Father Christmas mayhave to move his"workshop"from the North Pole because global warmingis

thawing the icebeneath his feet and his reindeers'feet as well.His"workshop"is indire straits.The"plat-

form"forthe"workshop"is melting,said Stefan Norris of the World Wildlife Fundenvironmental group's

Arctic Program.

An eight-nation reportby 250 scientists published recently predicted the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free

in summer by 2100because of a build-up of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere,mainly fromburning fossil

fuels in cars orfactories.The North Pole is getting more and more uninhabitable to FatherChristmas.

__________(46)Youngpeople learn that Father Christmas'"workshop"produces millions ofgifts delivered

by him on aflying,reindeer-drawn sleigh.Hollywood movies like"The PolarExpress"tried to make viewers

believe that FatherChristmas lives at the North Pole._______(47)

The"Fortress ofSolitude"is near the North Pole that could be under threat in a warmerworld. Alan Boldt,

spokesman of theDanish Ministry of Science,suggested ways to rescue Father Christmas._________(48)

Anotheralternative,he argued,woald be building some electrical facilities to ensurethe ice stays on the North

Pole forhim."This should be a subject for the United Nations,"hesaid."Danmark could build windmills to pro-

vide FatherChristmas with power."Denmarksays Father Christmas'real home is Greenland,whichwill help,

Denmark thinks,to strengthen its position inclaiming the sovereignty over the Pole.__________(49)

"Doesn't healready speak Danish?"Boldt said frostily when asked if Father Christmaswould be forced

to learn Danish if Denmark won international recognition of itsclaim to the Pole.Last month's Arctic report

said the region iswarming twice as fast as the rest of the globe,partly because dark ground orwater,once un-

covered,soaks upmore heat than ice or snow.Finland has been most favored by Father Christmasand it has

about 500,000tourists a year to visit its Christmas center in Rovaniemi inLapland._________(50)_________(48)

A.However,Nordicnations all reject it by claiming that their countries are his home.

B.Therefore theNorth Pole is the most attractive place in the world.

C.If Denmark's claimwere accepted internationally,it would have the legal right to search for oiland gas at the North Pole.

D.One of them wouldbe building a giant floating ice rink for the workshop if the Pole thaws.

E.Maybe FatherChristmas has already moved to Rovaniemi.