Chapter 29, Problem 24A

Summary Introduction

Introduction :

Fossil fuel are the remains of plants or animals that once lived and are found buried deep inside the earth. They are mostly millions of years old.

Answer to Problem 24A

Correct answer :

The correct answer is option (C).

Explanation of Solution

Explanation/justification for the correct answer :

Option (c) Dinosaurs were not flying animals. The small, feathered and terrestrial dinosaurs are regarded as the ancestors of birds. The flyingreptiles named pterosaurs are believed to have some common features between the dinosaurs and birds. As they had wings and lived around the same time whendinosaurslived. But dinosaurs were not flying animals.

Explanation for incorrect answer :

Option (a) Dinosaurs were not related to birds. It is a wrong statement as the soft tissue found inside a Tyrannosaurus rex leg bone (68 Million years old) found in Montana has given some evidencethat showsbirdshave evolved fromdinosaurs. Because of the similar features, paleontologistsbelieve that theropods were bird’s ancestors.

Option (b) Dinosaurs were warm-blooded. It is a wrong statement as studying the relations between thebirds,mammals, reptiles and dinosaurs, it was found that dinosaurs were mesotherms. They were neither warm-blooded nor cold-blooded. Birdsarewarm blooded and they maintain a constant temperature through many different strategies.

Option (d) Dinosaurs were not feathered. Dinosaurs are believed to have scales not feathers but many scientists have concluded from the fossil studies that some dinosaurs were wet, fluffyand featheredbeasts. A youngT.rexhada coat of downyfeathers used to keep the body warm but an adultT.rexmay not need it.

Conclusion

The fossil fuel evidence in dinosaurs shows that Dinosaurs were not flying animals though they might have feathered body because of which they are believed to be the ancestors of birds.