A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew
Practice B1 English reading with 5 questions based on the Daily News article “A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew”.
About this practice test
Practice B1 English reading with 5 questions based on the Daily News article “A Jurassic fossil offers clues about when mammals learned to chew”.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect 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 passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
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
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 is the main idea of the article?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- A modern platypus was discovered in Inner Mongolia.
- A fossil gives clues about when mammals developed chewing.
- Scientists found the largest mammal from the Jurassic period.
- Researchers explained why dinosaurs disappeared.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- A fossil gives clues about when mammals developed chewing.
The fossil provides evidence about the early development of chewing.
The results point to an early form of the machinery needed for chewing and swallowing.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why was the fossil difficult to study at first?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It was buried under water.
- It had no bones or fur.
- Its parts blended with the rock.
- It was too large to move.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Its parts blended with the rock.
The bones were hard to see clearly against the surrounding rock.
The specimen included bones and fur, but it was difficult to see clearly against the rock.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does “this ability” refer to in the second sentence?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Living in water
- Hunting dinosaurs
- Chewing
- Using X-rays
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Chewing
The phrase refers to the ability mentioned immediately before it.
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.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What contrast does the fossil show?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Its fur was modern, but its bones were ancient.
- Its back end resembled a platypus, but its mouth did not.
- Its head was built for swimming, but its body was not.
- Its throat was large, but its skull was missing.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Its back end resembled a platypus, but its mouth did not.
The animal had a platypus-like back end but different teeth and jaws.
However, its teeth and jaw looked very different from a platypus.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why did scientists study the throat bones?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- To measure its speed
- To identify its fur color
- To understand eating and swallowing
- To compare its size with dinosaurs
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- To understand eating and swallowing
The bones helped researchers understand the animal’s mouth and throat.
Together, these features gave the researchers a way to reconstruct parts of the animal’s mouth and throat.
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
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
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
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.