What Is a Glacier? | A2 ESL Science Reading Passage

Use this A2-B1 ESL science reading passage to learn what a glacier is. It includes key vocabulary, reading comprehension questions, and answers for English learners.

A glacier is a huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land.

Reading Level

A2-B1

Word Count

236 words

Reading Passage

A glacier is a very large body of ice. It forms in places where more snow falls in winter than melts in summer.

Over many years, snow piles up. The top layers press down on the older snow below. This pressure squeezes the snow and changes it into hard ice.

When the ice becomes very thick and heavy, it begins to move. A glacier moves very slowly, often only a little each day. It may look still, but it is flowing like a very slow river of ice.

Glaciers can move down mountains and through a valley. As they move, they can scrape rocks and soil. They can make valleys wider and leave marks on the land.

Some glaciers are on mountains. Others are part of huge ice sheets near Earth's poles. Glaciers store a lot of Earth's fresh water.

Glaciers are important to scientists. Changes in glaciers can show changes in climate. When the air becomes warmer, some glaciers can melt faster.

A glacier is not just frozen water sitting still. It is a huge, slow-moving mass of ice that can shape land and help us understand Earth.

Glaciers form from snow that becomes thick ice over time.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
glacier	a huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land	A glacier can move through a valley.
snow	soft white frozen water that falls from clouds	Snow can pile up on mountains.
ice	frozen water	Snow can turn into hard ice.
pressure	force or weight pushing on something	Pressure changes snow into ice.
valley	low land between hills or mountains	A glacier can move through a valley.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What is a glacier?
2. Where can glaciers form?
3. What changes snow into hard ice?
4. How fast does a glacier move?
5. Why are glaciers important to scientists?

Answers

1. A glacier is a huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land.
2. They can form where more snow falls than melts.
3. Pressure from upper layers changes snow into ice.
4. It moves very slowly, often only a little each day.
5. Changes in glaciers can show changes in climate.

Short Summary

A glacier forms when snow builds up and turns into thick ice. Glaciers move slowly, shape land, and store fresh water.

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