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What Is the Prime Meridian? — Reading Comprehension

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FL.SS.2.G.1.1
SS.2.G.1.3

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This passage explains the *Prime Meridian*, the imaginary line that runs from the *North Pole* to the *South Pole* and divides Earth into the *Eastern* and *Western Hemispheres*. It teaches that the Prime Meridian is located at *0° longitude* and goes through *Greenwich*, England. Students learn how it helps measure *longitude*, make maps, and set *time zones*. Aligned with Florida standard FL.SS.2.G.1.1, this passage makes global geography easy to understand for elementary learners.

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What Is the Prime Meridian?

The prime meridian is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. It divides the Earth into two halves: the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. While the equator runs east-west across the middle of the planet, the prime meridian runs north-south down the center, like the spine of a book.

The prime meridian is located at 0° longitude. Longitude is a way to measure how far a place is east or west from this starting line. If you look at a map or globe, you’ll see lines going up and down—these are lines of longitude, and the prime meridian is the first one!

This important line passes through several places, starting in the Arctic Ocean, then going through the United Kingdom (including Greenwich, England), France, Spain, and countries in Africa like Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ghana. It continues through the Atlantic Ocean and finally reaches Antarctica.

The prime meridian is sometimes called the Greenwich Meridian because it goes through Greenwich, England. In 1884, world leaders met and chose Greenwich as the starting point for 0° longitude. England was a powerful country and had accurate maps and clocks, making it a great choice.

The prime meridian is very useful. It helps us measure longitude, which lets us find any place on Earth. It also helps create time zones. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the time at 0° longitude, and other places set their clocks by comparing to GMT. The prime meridian and the equator together make a grid, so we can use latitude and longitude to locate anything on Earth.

Interesting Fact: At Greenwich, you can stand with one foot in the Eastern Hemisphere and one foot in the Western Hemisphere at the same time!

What is the prime meridian?

An imaginary line at 0° longitudeA real wall on EarthThe same as the equatorA mountain range

Which city does the prime meridian pass through?

Greenwich, EnglandParis, FranceNew York, USASydney, Australia

What does the prime meridian help create?

Time zonesMountainsOceansContinents

Why was Greenwich chosen for 0° longitude?

England had good maps and clocksIt was a random choiceIt is the biggest cityIt is on the equator

How does the prime meridian divide Earth?

Into Eastern and Western HemispheresInto North and South HemispheresInto deserts and forestsInto continents

What is 0° longitude?