A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew
Listen to the B1 Daily News report “A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew” and answer 5 comprehension questions.
About this practice test
Listen to the B1 Daily News report “A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew” and answer 5 comprehension questions.
What you’ll practice
Understanding detail
Follow specific information and examples.
Interpreting ideas
Identify main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
5 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the questions, then listen before opening the transcript. Notice names, numbers and any corrections the speaker makes.
News lesson for this practice
Read the complete article and use its text or audio alongside these exercises: A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew.
A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew
Read a transcript excerpt
Chewing may be much older than scientists once understood. New evidence from a fossil found in Inner Mongolia, China, suggests that mammals had this ability at least by the middle Jurassic period, when dinosaurs still ruled much of Earth. The fossil belonged to a small ancient mammal that lived roughly 165 million years ago. It was about the size of a Chihuahua and was preserved in a thick slab of…
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What happened before scientists used CT scans?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The animal’s teeth were compared with modern teeth.
- The fossil was found in a modern museum.
- X-rays made the bones easier to study.
- Researchers discovered that dinosaurs had fur.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- X-rays made the bones easier to study.
Researchers first used X-rays to make the bones easier to study.
A colleague of University of Chicago paleontologist Zhe-Xi Luo used X-rays to make the bones easier to study.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What feature of the animal seemed suited to hunting?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Its head
- Its back legs
- Its fur
- Its hyoid bones
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Its head
The recording directly connects the head’s structure with hunting.
Its head appeared to be built for hunting.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What is the hyoid bone’s function in people?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It protects the teeth.
- It supports the back of the tongue.
- It helps the body float.
- It connects the fur to the skin.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It supports the back of the tongue.
The hyoid helps support the back of the tongue.
In people, the hyoid bone is in the throat and helps support the back of the tongue.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What did researchers find under the animal’s skull?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- A large modern tooth
- A complete set of feathers
- A delicate roof of the mouth and small structures
- A second animal inside the skull
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- A delicate roof of the mouth and small structures
CT scans showed a delicate mouth roof and other small structures.
They found a delicate roof of the mouth and other small bones and ridges.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What conclusion did the combined features support?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The mammal could fly over dinosaurs.
- The mammal had an early chewing and swallowing system.
- The mammal lived only on land.
- The mammal was larger than a Chihuahua.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The mammal had an early chewing and swallowing system.
The features suggested an early system for chewing and swallowing.
The results point to an early form of the machinery needed for chewing and swallowing.
What to review next
Listen again to difficult sections, then open the transcript to check what you heard. Repeat a useful phrase aloud and try the recording once more without the text.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Listen for the final information, especially when a speaker corrects or changes an earlier statement.
Example transcript: “Let’s meet at five — actually, half past five would be better.” What is the final suggested time?
The final suggested time is 5:30. Actually signals a correction; the first time is replaced by the later suggestion.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.