When Dinosaurs Ruled

Paleontology is the scientific study of ancient fossil animals and plant life. Perhaps the most famous and universally popular of all fossilized life forms being studied today are the dinosaurs.

Examining the past often helps warn us about the future | foto: Corbis, Profimedia.cz

Angličtina na iDNES.cz
VŠECHNY LEKCE ZDE

---

---

Dinosaurs first appeared during the Mesozoic Era of time, which lasted from 245 million to 63 million years ago. In common everyday English, this is also called prehistoric times.

When the dinosaurs once walked and ruled the Earth, millions of years before human beings existed, they ranged in size from being as large as a house, to as small as a typical modern day house cat. They were reptiles, and then they were suddenly gone -- extinct!

Based on the scientific evidence which is available today, it appears that the dinosaurs were suddenly wiped out by a large meteor that hit the Earth.

This meteor was big enough and the force from the impact of its crash was powerful enough to forever change the climate and atmosphere of this Earth.

In areas where it was once warm and hot, it began to rapidly cool down.

Many of these animals, including especially the dinosaurs, simply could not adapt. Because they did not evolve in response to this sudden change, they died out.

Ironically, it was the extinction of the dinosaurs which made it easier for smaller creatures such as humans, which are mammals, to evolve and eventually become more dominant on the planet.

Mammals are all creatures that drink milk, have hair or fur on their skin, and give birth to live offspring, compared to reptiles and birds, which must lay eggs instead.

Many people who are not paleontologists do not appreciate the importance of this field of science. It’s about much more than studying old bones.

Instead, it’s about learning and understanding our past.

                     Joke of the Day

Three Czech mice were sitting in a Czech pub drinking some beer and bragging about how "macho" they all are.

The first mouse says to the others, "When I see a mousetrap, I set it off with my foot, catch it with my teeth, and then steal the cheese."

The second mouse says, "Oh, that’s nothing. I put rat poison in my coffee every day and drink it. It gives me energy, helps me concentrate."

Suddenly, the third mouse says, "That’s it, I’m leaving! I’m tired of hearing all of these lies. See you guys later, I’m going to go have sex with my cat."

Angličtina vychází od pondělí do pátku.

Najdete ji také v bezplatném deníku Metropolitní expres.

Kalovi pište na adresu: [e-mail]