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Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Aug 13, 2024, 10:16

Introduction:

The topic Terminated Dinosaur Era is one of the important in IELTS reading section. This passage explores the mysterious extinction and potential survival of the Terminated Dinosaur Era, or thylacine. It discusses historical evidence of thylacine's existence and extinction, including sightings and studies by researchers like Hans Naarding and wildlife biologist Nick Mooney. 

 

Despite no confirmed sightings for decades, numerous reported sightings continue, fueling debate about the animal's survival and conservation efforts. The passage highlights the blend of scientific inquiry and public fascination surrounding thylacine.

 

The passage requires synthesising historical data, expert opinions, and conflicting viewpoints, which is crucial for IELTS Reading tasks. The ability to condense detailed information into a clear summary is valuable for answering summary completion and multiple-choice questions. The passage tests your ability to interpret evidence and understand various perspectives on a topic, which aligns with the critical reading skills needed for the test.

 

IELTS Reading is a section in which three passages centred on various topics are given. You are required to answer different types of questions, such as multiple-choice, matching headings, and True/False/Not Given. The section lasts 60 minutes and challenges you to comprehend complex topics, discern main ideas, and infer implications effectively.

 

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1. Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 12 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

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2. Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Questions and Answers

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1.

Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

 

 

Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Passage

 

Paragraph A: 


A huge meteor impact 65 million years ago may have been the end of the age of dinosaurs. But it may also have been the beginning. Researchers recently found what they think is the first direct geological evidence of a meteor impact 200 million years ago. This event happened at the same time as a mass extinction that killed off half of the major groups of life and opened the way for dinosaurs to evolve.

 

Paragraph B: 


Many people have different ideas about why and when dinosaurs became more common. We don't know much about the time between when dinosaurs first appeared and when they became the most common animals on Earth, so we can't say for sure what happened. Dr. Paul E. Olsen, a researcher of earth and environmental sciences at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, N.Y., said, "There is a geochemical characteristic of something important happening, probably a strange impact from asteroids, quite earlier the time when familiar dinosaur-centric groups appear."

 

Paragraph C: 


Olsen and his colleagues looked at fossils of vertebrates from 80 sites in four different ancient rift basins. These basins are part of a chain of rifts that formed as North America began to break away from the supercontinent that existed between 230 and 190 million years ago. Scientists discovered many rare elements of iridium in the outer layer of rock. However, it was found around at the time of the extinction. Iridium is a precious metal that is in the same group as platinum. It is more common in meteorites than in rocks.

 

Paragraph D: 


At home, in the 1970s, a similar rise in iridium levels in rocks that were 65 million years old led to the idea that a meteor killed the dinosaurs. For years, people disagreed about that theory, even after it was backed up by other evidence and the impact site was found off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Scientists will have to do the same thing with the new iridium anomaly. The levels are only about 10% as high as they were during the next extinction. That could mean that the meteor was smaller or had less iridium in it, or that it wasn't a meteor at all. Iridium can also come from inside the Earth, when volcanoes erupt. Dr. Michael J. Benton, a senior lecturer of vertebrate paleontology at the Bristol University in England, said that the data are "the first reasonably compelling proof of an iridium spike."

 

Paragraph E: 


In a database of 10,000 fossilized footprints found in old lake basins from Virginia to Nova Scotia, the scientists found more proof of a rapid extinction. The tracks of a house cat, for example, look like those of a baby tiger. However, footprints are much more common than fossil bones and can give a more complete picture of the types of animals walking around. Dr. Olsen said, "It makes it very easy for us to see the very clear signs of big changes in wildlife." Since sediment builds up quickly in lake basins, scientists were able to date each footprint by looking at the rock layer where it was found. They found that about 200 million years ago, the animals that walked along what is now the East Coast of North America changed all at once.

 

Paragraph F: 


Several large groups of reptiles left tracks that go almost all the way up to the layer of rock that marks the end of the Triassic geologic period, which ended 202 million years ago. After that, the tracks of these reptiles disappear in younger layers from the Jurassic period. Geology professor at the University of Washington, Dr. Peter D. Ward, said, "I think the footprint method is very new and very exciting." He said that the information was "very interesting," but that it needed more research. Scientists led by Dr. Ward reported last year that the types of carbon in rocks changed quickly at this time, which suggests that plants died all at once in less than 50,000 years. The footprint research backs up the idea that the extinction happened all at once.

 

Paragraph G: 


Several groups of dinosaurs lived on after the extinction, and their footprints show that new groups appeared soon after. Before the extinction, dinosaurs left about one-fifth of the footprints. After the extinction, they left more than half of the footprints. Researchers said that the changes happened in less than 30,000 years, which is a very short time in geological terms. Scientists think that the asteroid or comet impact and the deaths of Triassic competitors made it possible for a few groups of meat-eating dinosaurs to grow very quickly and take over the top of the food chain on land around the world.

 

Paragraph H: 


At the time of the extinction, rauisuchians, which were 15 feet long and had teeth like knives, and phytosaurs, which looked like big crocodiles, were the most dangerous predators. Dinosaurs first appeared about 230 million years ago, but they were small and had to compete in an ecological niche that was already full. Before the end of the dinosaurs 200 million years ago, the biggest ones that ate meat were about the size of large dogs. Not very interesting," Dr. Olsen said. The dinosaurs grew up very quickly. The length of a Jurassic meat eater's foot from toe to heel was on average 20% longer than that of its Triassic ancestor. Scientists think that the dinosaurs got twice as big because their feet got twice as big. This led to the terrifying Velociraptors, Tyrannosaurus rex, and other large meat-eating dinosaurs.

 

Paragraph I: 


The speed up in evolution is like how mammals became more common after the dinosaurs died out. During the time of the dinosaurs, mammals were no bigger than small dogs. After the dinosaurs died out, they changed into tigers, elephants, whales, and even humans. Dinosaurs may not have made it through the second extinction because they were so successful after the Triassic-Jurassic extinction. "When disasters happen, small animals always do better. Dr. Olsen said this is because they can live on less food. He also said that scientists now think that the small dinosaurs did make it. He said, "We call them birds."

2.

Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Terminated Dinosaur Era

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Using the information in the passage, candidates have to match the list of people (below) with the list of opinions or deeds (questions 1-5).
  • Write the appropriate answer (A-C) in boxes 1-5 on the answer sheet.

 

List of people

 

  1. Paul Olsen
  2. Michael Benton
  3. Peter Ward
  4. Large animals have a loss when disasters happen
  5. Changes in the type of carbon are linked to the death of a lot of plants.
  6. Adding footprint investigation makes it easier to see how animal species change over time.
  7. The geochemical data point to an asteroid collision before the emergence of dinosaurs.
  8. The first convincing signs of an iridium surge were found.

 

 

Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Matching Features

 

In the task of "Matching Features," you typically need to pair related items based on certain criteria. This could involve comparing characteristics, identifying connections, or linking items that complement each other. The specific approach will depend on the task's context. 


 

How to best answer the question

 

  • Start by identifying the key aspects of each item and then clearly demonstrate how they align or differ. 
  • Providing specific examples or evidence to support your comparisons can strengthen your answer. 
  • It's also essential to ensure that your response is organised and easy to follow, so consider using a structured format such as a table or a side-by-side comparison.

 

1. A


Reference: 
 

Paragraph I 
 

When disasters happen, small animals always do better. Dr. Olsen said this is because they can live on less food.

Explanation: 
 

This line from Paragraph I indicates that smaller animals have an advantage in survival during disasters because they require less food, supporting the idea that large animals suffer losses in such events.
 

2.C

 

Reference: 


Paragraph F 
 

Scientists led by Dr. Ward reported last year that the types of carbon in rocks changed quickly at this time, which suggests that plants died all at once in less than 50,000 years.

Explanation: 
 

This line from Paragraph F links changes in carbon types in rocks to rapid plant death, indicating a significant extinction event that affected many plant species and, consequently, the dinosaurs that relied on them for food.
 

3. A


Reference: 
 

Paragraph E 
 

Dr. Olsen said, 'It makes it very easy for us to see the very clear signs of big changes in wildlife.'

Explanation: 
 

This line from Paragraph E explains that footprint data helps identify significant changes in wildlife, making it easier to see how animal species evolve over time.
 

4. A


Reference: Paragraph D "In the year 1971, a white educator, Geoffrey Bardon, recommended to a group of Aborigines that they decorate the school walls with symbols of rituals."


Explanation: The passage specifies that in the early 1970s, Geoffrey Bardon encouraged Aborigines to paint traditional patterns on school walls in one community.

 

5. B

 

Reference: 
Paragraph D 


Dr. Michael J. Benton, a senior lecturer of vertebrate palaeontology at Bristol University in England, said that the data are 'the first reasonably compelling proof of an iridium spike.'

Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph D indicates that Dr. Benton considers the iridium data as the first compelling evidence of an iridium surge, supporting the idea that iridium spikes are linked to extinction events.


 

Read more about Dictation Words for IELTS: Practice and Preparation!

 

Questions and Answers 6-10
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet, write

  • TRUE, if the statement is true
  • FALSE, if the statement is false
  • NOT GIVEN, if the information is not given in the passage

 

 

6. Iridium, a rare element, was detected in meteorites and on Earth.
7. Before the impact site as well as other corroborating evidence were found, the meteor impact theory was already widely believed.
8. Compared to fossil bones, which can identify particular species, footprints are of minimal value in conveying information.
9. The body size of Tyrannosaurus rex was bigger than that of other predatory dinosaurs.
10. Small dinosaurs emerged and struggled with mammals and birds after the large dinosaurs died out.

 

 

Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Answers with Explanations (6-10) 

 

 

Question Type:  True/False/Not Given

 

In this task, you are presented with a statement, and your task is to determine if it agrees with the information in the passage (True), contradicts the information in the passage (False), or if there is insufficient information in the passage to decide (not given).

 

How to best answer the question:

 

  • Read the statement carefully to ensure you understand exactly what it is saying. 
  • Pay attention to details such as dates, numbers, and specific information.
  • Scan the passage to find the section where the relevant information is likely to be located. 
  • Focus on finding evidence that either supports or contradicts the statement.
  • True: If the statement agrees with the information in the passage.
  • False: If the statement contradicts the information in the passage.
  • Not Given: If there is no information in the passage that confirms or contradicts the statement.


 

6. TRUE

 

Reference: 
 

Paragraph C 
 

Scientists discovered many rare elements of iridium in the outer layer of rock. However, it was found around at the time of the extinction. Iridium is a precious metal that is in the same group as platinum. It is more common in meteorites than in rocks.

Explanation: 
 

This line from Paragraph C confirms that iridium, a rare element, is found in both meteorites and rocks on Earth, establishing its presence in both sources.

 

7. TRUE


Reference: 
 

Paragraph D 
 

For years, people disagreed about that theory, even after it was backed up by other evidence and the impact site was found off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
 

Explanation: 
 

This line from Paragraph D indicates that the meteor impact theory was debated even after the impact site and supporting evidence were found, suggesting that the theory was already widely considered before definitive proof was available.

 

8. FALSE


Reference: 
 

Paragraph E 
 

However, footprints are much more common than fossil bones and can give a more complete picture of the types of animals walking around.
 

Explanation: 
 

This line from Paragraph E highlights that footprints are valuable for providing a comprehensive picture of animal types, contrasting the statement that they are of minimal value compared to fossil bones.

 

9. NOT GIVEN

 

Reference: 
Not available 

Explanation: 


The passage does not provide any information regarding the body size of Tyrannosaurus rex compared to other predatory dinosaurs, leaving the statement unaddressed.
 

10. NOT GIVEN

 

Reference: 

Not available 

Explanation: 


The passage does not mention the emergence and struggle of small dinosaurs with mammals and birds after the extinction of large dinosaurs, making the information not given.

 

Read more about A Guide on Most Common English Words Used in Daily Life!

Questions and Answers 11-12
  • Choose the correct option A-D.

 

 11. When did the dinosaurs first appear?

 

  1. 1000 years ago
  2. 230 million years ago
  3. 250 million years ago
  4. 500 years ago

 

12. Which animals looked like big crocodiles?

 

  1. Rauisuchians
  2. Dinosaurs
  3. Phytosaurs
  4. Archaeopteryx

 

 

Terminated Dinosaur Era Reading Answers with Explanations (11-12)

 

Question Type: Multiple Choice 

 

Multiple Choice questions in the IELTS reading test present you with a question followed by a set of options from which you must choose the correct answer. Typically, there are three or four options to choose from. You must carefully read the question and each option before selecting the correct answer.

 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • You must comprehend the passage to select the most accurate option.
  • Efficient skimming and scanning help locate relevant information quickly.
  • Some options may be designed to mislead you, so it's crucial to base your choice on evidence from the passage.
  • Multiple-choice questions can be time-consuming if you dwell on each option too long. Manage your time wisely to ensure you can attempt all questions.


 

11. B

 

Reference: 
 

Paragraph H 
 

Dinosaurs first appeared about 230 million years ago. 
 

Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph H specifies that dinosaurs first appeared 230 million years ago, providing the correct timeframe for their emergence.

 

12. C


Reference: 


Paragraph H 


Phytosaurs, which looked like big crocodiles.

Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph H describes phytosaurs as resembling big crocodiles, identifying them as the correct answer.

 

Read More:

 

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FAQs

Q. What types of questions are in the IELTS Reading section?

Ans. The IELTS Reading section features various question types, including multiple-choice, true/false/not given, matching headings, summary completion, sentence completion, and short answer questions. These are designed to test a range of reading skills, such as understanding main ideas, detail, logical argument, and recognising writers' opinions, attitudes, and purposes.

Q. How long is the IELTS Reading test?


Ans. The IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. During this time, candidates must read three passages and answer a total of 40 questions. Time management is crucial to ensure all questions are attempted.


 

Q. Can I write on the question paper?

Ans. Yes, candidates are allowed to write on the question paper, which can help note key points or highlight important information. However, only answers written on the answer sheet will be marked, so it is essential to transfer answers accurately.