1a. What do the two breccias described at the beginning of the article look like? Why are they significant?
2a. What signs of an asteroid did Penfield find? Why was it so difficult to prove the theory despite this find?
3a. What was the "smoking gun" that helped prove the theory?
1b. Why do you think the writer begins by describing these rocks?
2b. Why was it important to find the "smoking gun"?
3b. Why was this information so important?
4a. List evidence that contributes to the asteroid theory of the dinosaurs' disappearance.
4b. Explain in your own words how the theory is supported.
5a. What do you think about the process used to prove the theory? Is the proof conclusive?
5b. What are some other topics for which scientists are seeking or believe they have recently found a "smoking gun"?
Article. What is the topic of this article? Who is the intended audience?
Thesis. Identify the thesis of this article. What evidence in the article supports this thesis? Evaluate whether this evidence is solid enough to prove the thesis.
1. Write a description of something from the natural world based on your observations. Try to be as precise as possible as you describe shape, color, size, and other attributes of the item you choose.
2. Myths are stories that are used to explain natural happenings. Myths do not require the careful proof that scientific theories do. Write a myth that explains the disappearance of the dinosaurs.
3. Write a scene for a screenplay about an asteroid crashing into the earth. Your scene might explore the tension leading up to the crash or the aftermath of the crash.
Matching. Match the Word for Everyday Use on the left with the correct definition on the right.
1. pulverize click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
2. deduce click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
3. eminent click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
4. ensue click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
5. anomalous click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
6. sediment click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
7. cache click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
8. derive click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
9. composition click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
10. indelible click to select answer a. demolish b. reason from known facts c. inconsistent d. permanent e. mixture of several parts f. something stored in a safe place g. come afterward h. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid i. get from a source j. considerable
Correcting Common Usage Problems. Review the Language Arts Survey 3.50, "Correcting Common Usage Problems." Then identify the correct word from those listed in the box.
1. I saw click to select answer their they're there new baby yesterday.
2. Macy and Eli had one hundred dollars click to select answer among between them.
3. There were click to select answer fewer less mosquitoes this year.
4. I woke up early, just click to select answer like as I had planned.
5. Did you click to select answer lay lie down when you got home yesterday?
6. Please take the fruit salad click to select answer in into the house; it's getting awfully hot outside.
7. I put everything click to select answer accept except mustard on my hotdog.
8. I think click to select answer its it's time to go.
9. Are you going click to select answer to too two the library today?
10. We sat click to select answer altogether all together at the game.
Reading and Researching a Chart. Review the chart on page 802 of your textbook and then answer the following questions.
Which geologic period happened first?
Which era refers to the present geological era?
How long ago did that era begin?
How many geological eras have there been?
What are their names?
Which era spanned the greatest period of time?
How many periods did that era contain?
Using the library, natural history magazines, newspaper articles, and/or the Internet, do some research on a specific era, period, or epoch.
List three facts about the era, period, or epoch that you find especially interesting.
Note what type of life existed at that time.
Note information about scientific discoveries related to that era, period, or epoch, especially any recent findings that you think are interesting or relevant.
Discriminating Fact from Opinion. A fact is a piece of information that has been proven to be true. An opinion is a view or belief that one may hold to be true but that has not been objectively proven true. Which of the following statements are fact and which are opinion?
1. Dinosaurs once lived on the earth but no longer exist.
2. Dinosaurs were majestic creatures.
3. Tyrannosaurus Rex was one of the most powerful dinosaurs.
4. Birds are closely related to dinosaurs.
5. The extinction of dinosaurs was one of the most devastating losses of animal life.
