Ask Mr Brain...all will be explained

How do Eskimos survive on land where no plants can grow? Eskimos', or the Innuits', way of life is well suited to the icy conditions found in the Arctic and northern Canada. Their nomadic culture has been based on hunting and trapping animals for their survival.

In Arctic and sub-Arctic regions the soil is permanently frozen and no plants can grow apart from lichen. The lichen is the staple diet of Caribou deer which the Innuit hunt.

Although the land is devoid of vegetation, Arctic waters abound with plankton and fish which provide plenty of food for animals such as seals, whales and polar bears.

Traditionally, Innuits eat meat and fish raw. Most parts of animals are eaten and the fur is used for clothing. Raw seal liver is a rich source of vitamin C. Even though their traditional diet consists entirely of meat, their high intake of oily fish is believed by scientists to keep their cholesterol levels down.

Caribou hide can keep a human alive in temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius. Two coats of caribou hide, one worn with the fur towards the skin, and the other on top, can insulate a person who finds himself lost in a snow storm and without shelter for the night. Waterproof boots can be made from seal skin. Needles and arrow heads can be made from bones. Blocks of ice are used to build igloos for shelter, so Innuits have everything necessary to sustain life in the Arctic.

Where did the saying 'read between the lines' come from? The saying 'read between the lines' - meaning to work out something that is hidden or implied rather than being openly stated - comes from the cloak-and-dagger world of espionage.