A student is writing a research report about the Iditarod Trail, an annual dog sled race in northern Alaska. Read the paragraphs from her report and the directions that follow. Alaska's Iditarod National Historic Trail has a long and rich history of travel and trade routes, including during the Gold Rush of the nineteenth century. Located close to the Arctic Circle, the one-thousand-mile trail system is known for its rugged terrain and harsh winters. But it is primarily known for the internationally famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, commonly referred to as simply the Iditarod. The Iditarod was founded in the 1970s by a few Alaskans determined to commemorate the state's rich history of dogsledding and to honor a famous event: the halt of a serious diphtheria epidemic in 1925, when a crucial medical serum was delivered by dogsled to the Alaskan citizens in need.

The Iditarod is an epic challenge for man and man's best friend: it's a grueling 1150-mile trek from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Although held in early spring, the conditions are extremely harsh. Each team consists of a human captain (also called a musher) leading a team of more than a dozen sled dogs—mostly Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, or Eskimo Dogs. Together, they brave frigid conditions, including frozen tundra and icy forests. “The Last Great Race on Earth,” as it is also called, starts during the first week in March with teams generally reaching Nome in 10- 15 days.

4. Select two credible sources that would most likely give the student more information for these two paragraphs.

Question 4 options:

A)

“Snow Huskies”

Commercial Film

This 1998 PG-13 film is a heartwarming tale about a team of ragtag Alaskan Malamutes who save their owner's ranch by winning the nation's premier dogsled race.

B)

www. northernparks. com This website has information about all of Alaska's state parks for tourists planning a visit to the country's largest state.

C)

www. racetheiditarod. com

Our business will provide you with all the information you will need to race in the Iditarod. Let our team of experts help you register your dogs, find local veterinarians, and secure housing and supplies.

D)

Balto: Our Hero by C. R. Benson

This book, first published in 1957 by children's literature author C. R. Benson, tells the true dramatic tale of Balto, the lead sled dog in a race against time to deliver serum during the 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska.

E)

“The Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race”

United States Geographical Society

www. usgeog. com/iditarod

In celebration of its 100-year history of documenting our planet's uniqueness, our staff ventured to the 49th state to cover the Iditarod. This article chronicles the history of one of the most grueling competitions in the world, nicknamed ”The Last Great Race.”

F)

“MUSH! Alaska's Most Challenging Race”

Documentary Film

This 2007 six-hour miniseries documentary by award-winning filmmaker, Bernard Kerns, details the history and route of the famous Iditarod.