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Once upon a time

There is a region in the world where dinosaurs are a part of the present
Can you imagine going for a picnic and coming
across a dinosaur? Impossible!
Dinosaurs disappeared sixty-five million years ago, at
the end of Mesozoic period. Man appeared on Earth
only two million years ago.
At the time, the Earth was a big continent called
Pangaea. It was a kind of paradise for dinosaurs. In
Patagonia Neuquen offers a good example. During the
Jurassic era, dinosaurs lived under huge trees in this
region. What was this area like a hundred million years
ago? It was land full of rivers going through forests and
across plains. There were also some low mountains
and active volcanoes. The Pacific Ocean reached
Patagonia and the Andes didn't exist!
There were coniferous plants, like araucarias, and a
lot of ferns grew under these high trees.
The argentinosaurus huinculensis, a plant-eater and
the largest dinosaur in the world, lived in this region. It
was 40 metres long. The palaeontologists who found its bones in Plaza Huincul were
surprised by its size.
Also, there were species similar to animals we can see nowadays, like water
tortoises and primitive little mammals. In the shy, you could see flying reptiles and
flying insects, which appeared because of the warm weather.
How did dinosaurs disappear? Scientists have different theories. Many think that
meteorites crashed into the Earth; this caused great changes that affected
vegetation. Most of dinosaurs were plant-eaters and their food was reduced
dramatically. Other scientists think that a kind of virus caused this disaster, but
nobody is really sure.
Today scientists can find these prehistoric animals in Nequen. So, dinos are still
present in these lands, aren't they?

A) Comprehension:
1. Read the text. What was Patagonia like? Complete the diagrams:

Flora

Fauna

Dinosaurs

2. Answer the following questions:

a)
b)
c)
d)

What was Pangea?

Why was it like a paradise?
When did dinosaurs disappear?
How did dinosaurs become extinct?

B) Writing
Imagine yourself with a dinosaur for a pet. Explain how you would take
care of it: feeding habits, hygiene, visits to vet, etc.
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C) Grammar Past Simple

a) Read the text again and find the verbs in the past simple form:
Regular verbs
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Irregular verbs
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b) Write the past form of the following verbs:
Appear _________________
Call ____________________
Appear _________________
Cause __________________
Eat ____________________
Live ___________________
c) Write negative sentences.
There were coniferous plants. ___________________________________________
Dinosaurs disappeared sixty-five million years ago.
__________________________
A kind of virus caused the disaster. _______________________________________
d) Ask questions for these answers:
I. __________________________________? There were species similar to
animals we can see nowadays.

II. __________________________________? It was a land full of rivers.

III. __________________________________? Dinosaurs lived under huge
trees.
IV. __________________________________? Dinosaurs disappeared sixtyfive million years ago.