When Did Dinosaurs Live on Earth — Reading Comprehension

Dinosaurs were a group of reptiles that lived on Earth millions of years ago. They first appeared during the Mesozoic Era, which lasted from about 250 to 65 million years ago. Dinosaurs came in many shapes and sizes. Some were as small as chickens, while others, like the Brachiosaurus, were taller than a house!

Dinosaurs are divided into two main groups based on their diets. Herbivores were plant-eaters. They had flat teeth for chewing leaves and stems. Examples include Triceratops and Stegosaurus. Carnivores were meat-eaters. They had sharp teeth and claws to hunt other animals. Tyrannosaurus rex is a famous carnivore.

We know about dinosaurs because of fossils. Fossils are the remains or imprints of ancient living things. These can be bones, teeth, or even footprints, which have turned into rock over millions of years. Scientists called paleontologists study fossils to learn how dinosaurs lived, what they ate, and how they moved. Fossils are usually found in layers of rock. Finding and studying fossils helps us learn about Earth’s past.

Dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago. Extinction means that all members of a group have died out. Scientists think a giant asteroid hit Earth, causing huge changes to the climate. Plants and animals could not survive, and the dinosaurs disappeared. Today, birds are considered by scientists to be the closest living relatives of dinosaurs.

Interesting Fact: Some dinosaur fossils have been found with evidence of feathers, showing that not all dinosaurs had scales!

What is a fossil?

Which era did dinosaurs live in?

What did carnivores eat?

Why did dinosaurs become extinct?

How do paleontologists learn about dinosaurs?

What does extinction mean?

Dinosaurs lived 1,000 years ago. True or False?

What is a herbivore?