NewsTracker Answers for week of Mar. 16, 2026

Q: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced last week a $24 billion plan to expand military capabilities in the Arctic, where his nation has had to rely on the United States for its defense. Where is Canada?

Circle the area on this map


Q: About 40% of Canada’s land mass is located north of the Arctic Circle. Which country has land closest to the North Pole?

A. Canada

B. Greenland

C. Russia

D. United States


B. Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, has the world’s northernmost point of land. Canada is the next closest to the pole, followed by Russia, Norway, and the United States. President Donald Trump has repeatedly talked about annexing Canada and taking over Greenland from Denmark, both U.S. allies.


Q: At this year’s World Economic Forum, Carney said there was a “rupture” in the U.S.-led world order and middle powers like Canada must unite to resist coercion by aggressive superpowers. Where is the annual economic conference held?

A. Belgium

B. France

C. Switzerland

D. United States


C. World leaders gather every year in the Swiss resort city of Davos to discuss events and trends affecting the economy. Canada and other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were disturbed by Trump’s threats to use tariffs in his attempt to take over Greenland.


Q: Eight countries have Arctic land. Which nation has the least land located north of the Arctic Circle?

A. Finland

B. Iceland

C. Norway

D. Sweden


B. The Arctic Circle, at 66° 34' north of the Equator, cuts through tiny Grimsey Island, which is about 20 miles north of Iceland’s main island. In 2021, Grimsey had a population of 57 people and thousands of puffins and other seabirds that visit the island for breeding.


Q: The Arctic is warming faster than any other part of the world, and its sea ice is melting more in summer than it refreezes in winter. The shrinking ice cover could lead to ...

A. New shipping routes

B. Oil and gas wells

C. Military conflict

D. All of the above


D. Scientists say the Arctic is at its warmest in at least 4,000 years, and the sea ice has declined more than 50% since the first satellite records. The prospect of shorter shipping routes between Atlantic and Pacific ports, as well as potential gas and oil deposits, has led to conflicting national claims. There are fears the warming climate could heat tensions in the region.