Dinosaurs were reptiles that lived
during a period of earth’s history called the Mesozoic Era, which is known as
the Age of Reptiles. The first dinosaurs appeared more than 200 million years
ago. For many millions of years, they dominated the land with their huge size
and strength. Then about 65 million years ago, they died out rather suddenly, never
to reemerge.
The word dinosaur comes from
two Greek words meaning “terrible lizard”. Dinosaurs were not lizards, but
their appearance could be truly terrifying. The biggest ones weighed
more than ten times as much as a mature elephant and nearly equaled the size of
most modern—day whales. The famous kinds of dinosaurs, including the brontosaur
and tyrannosaurus, reached 80 to 90 feet in length. Not all dinosaurs were
giants, however, some were actually no larger than a chicken.
Scientists still do not know
what caused dinosaur to disappear. One theory involves a change in the earth’s
climate. It is believed that temperature dropped significantly towards the end
of the Cretaceous Period. Too large to hibernate and not having fur or feathers
for protection, it is possible that the climate became too chilly for
dinosaurs. In contrast, other species having protection, such as the mammals
and birds, were able to survive
According to the passage, what is true about the size of dinosaurs?
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