Polar Dinosaurs

Once there was an idea that dinosaurs were cold-blooded and only thrived in the swamps
and wetlands of tropical climates. But the more we look, the more we realize dinosaurs
were found in as many different kinds of habitats as birds and mammals are today. Polar
dinosaurs, probably warm-blooded and feathery, were thriving roughly 70-100 million
years ago in great polar forests, of which there is no modem equivalent. Fossils of such
dinosaurs have been discovered in Siberia, specifically at the Kakanaut River on the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The dinosaur remains found here over the years are mostly teeth,
but also include some bones, and they reveal the presence of a variety of species. All of
these remains are from the very end of the Cretaceous, 66- 68 million years ago, just
before the mass extinction event that saw the extinction of the non-bird dinosaurs. "The
material was fragmentary but showed that the Arctic dinosaurs were very diverse," says
Pascal Godefroit, an expert on early birds and birdlike dinosaurs who has been involved in
the work at the Kakanaut River.

The Kakanaut finds have been important in understanding the end-Cretaceous extinction
event. This is in part because Kakanaut was within the Arctic Circle and just 1,600
kilometers from the North Pole at that time. Conditions then were warmer than today, but
mean annual temperatures were still around 10 degrees Celsius, and there would have
been frequent spells below freezing and many months of darkness. Dinosaur fossils found
farther east across the Bering Sea in Alaska were left by creatures that endured similar
climatic conditions, but some experts have argued that they migrated south in the winter
to avoid the coldest months. At Kakanaut, researchers found fragments of eggshell from
hadrosaur and theropod dinosaurs, which suggested that these animals were breeding in
polar regions and living there year-round.

Many scientists argue that the dinosaurs went extinct as a result of Earth's collision with a
massive asteroid or comet about 66 million years ago that created the Chicxulub Crater on
Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Other scientists have claimed that falling global temperatures
had led to a decline in dinosaurs around the world in the period before the impact
(collision). However, the rich fauna (animal life) found by Godefroit and his colleagues
suggests that not only had a diverse ecosystem of dinosaurs persisted in the Arctic in the
late Cretaceous, but also that they were thriving in very cold conditions. The herbivores
here must have fed on plants, such as conifers, that remained green year-round and also
taken advantage during summer months of a profusion of nutritious fresh growth by
plants bathing in light 24 hours a day.

"For the first time, we have firm evidence that these polar dinosaurs were able to
reproduce and live in these relatively cold regions. There is no way of knowing for sure, but
dinosaurs were probably warm-blooded just like modem birds, which are the direct
descendants of dinosaurs," Godefroit told reporters when his findings were published in
the German journal Naturwissenschaften in 2009. "The dinosaurs were incredibly diverse
in polar regions- as diverse as they were in tropical regions. It was a big surprise for us.”

Rather than dinosaurs slowly dying out due to climate change in the period before the
impact, Godefroit believes that the discovery backs up the idea that dinosaurs were killed
off in a rapid and brutal fashion by cataclysmic conditions that swept the world following
the Chicxulub impact. Debris in the atmosphere may have blackened the skies for several
years, killing off plants and destroying the food supply- -particularly as large herbivores
(plant eaters), such as sauropod dinosaurs, required vast quantities of plant matter to fuel
their massive bulk. Starved for meat, the flesh eaters would eventually have succumbed
too, as herbivores disappeared.

It is likely that a combination of factors led to the demise of the non-bird dinosaurs, but the
precise explanation remains a fascinating and enduring mystery. It had been thought that
Siberia had a paucity of fossils in comparison to its southern neighbors, Mongolia and
China, but recent discoveries suggest this may not be true.

1. Paragraph 1 indicates which of the following about the habitats of dinosaurs?

Once there was an idea that dinosaurs were cold-blooded and only thrived in the swamps
and wetlands of tropical climates. But the more we look, the more we realize dinosaurs
were found in as many different kinds of habitats as birds and mammals are today. Polar
dinosaurs, probably warm-blooded and feathery, were thriving roughly 70-100 million
years ago in great polar forests, of which there is no modem equivalent. Fossils of such
dinosaurs have been discovered in Siberia, specifically at the Kakanaut River on the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The dinosaur remains found here over the years are mostly teeth,
but also include some bones, and they reveal the presence of a variety of species. All of
these remains are from the very end of the Cretaceous, 66- 68 million years ago, just
before the mass extinction event that saw the extinction of the non-bird dinosaurs. "The
material was fragmentary but showed that the Arctic dinosaurs were very diverse," says
Pascal Godefroit, an expert on early birds and birdlike dinosaurs who has been involved in
the work at the Kakanaut River.

They were especially suitable for cold-blooded animals.

They were as varied as the habitats of today's animals.
They consisted primarily of polar forests, which cannot be found today.
They lacked the wetlands and swamps of today's tropical climes.

2. According to paragraph 1, the discoveries at the Kakanaut River site indicate

that

Once there was an idea that dinosaurs were cold-blooded and only thrived in the swamps
and wetlands of tropical climates. But the more we look, the more we realize dinosaurs
were found in as many different kinds of habitats as birds and mammals are today. Polar
dinosaurs, probably warm-blooded and feathery, were thriving roughly 70-100 million
years ago in great polar forests, of which there is no modem equivalent. Fossils of such
dinosaurs have been discovered in Siberia, specifically at the Kakanaut River on the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The dinosaur remains found here over the years are mostly teeth,
but also include some bones, and they reveal the presence of a variety of species. All of
these remains are from the very end of the Cretaceous, 66- 68 million years ago, just
before the mass extinction event that saw the extinction of the non-bird dinosaurs. "The
material was fragmentary but showed that the Arctic dinosaurs were very diverse," says
Pascal Godefroit, an expert on early birds and birdlike dinosaurs who has been involved in
the work at the Kakanaut River.

birdlike dinosaurs evolved around 66-68 million years ago

dinosaurs had more teeth and stronger bones than was once thought
before becoming extinct, dinosaurs existed in great diversity in Arctic regions
a mass extinction event occurred later than was once thought

3. Which of the following can be inferred about the dinosaur fossils

mentioned in paragraph 1?
Once there was an idea that dinosaurs were cold-blooded and only thrived in the swamps
and wetlands of tropical climates. But the more we look, the more we realize dinosaurs
were found in as many different kinds of habitats as birds and mammals are today. Polar
dinosaurs, probably warm-blooded and feathery, were thriving roughly 70-100 million
years ago in great polar forests, of which there is no modem equivalent. Fossils of such
dinosaurs have been discovered in Siberia, specifically at the Kakanaut River on the
Kamchatka Peninsula. The dinosaur remains found here over the years are mostly teeth,
but also include some bones, and they reveal the presence of a variety of species. All of
these remains are from the very end of the Cretaceous, 66- 68 million years ago, just
before the mass extinction event that saw the extinction of the non-bird dinosaurs. "The
material was fragmentary but showed that the Arctic dinosaurs were very diverse," says
Pascal Godefroit, an expert on early birds and birdlike dinosaurs who has been involved in
the work at the Kakanaut River.

They belonged to a number of different periods within the Cretaceous.

They were transported along the Kakanaut River from faraway polar forests.
They consisted mostly of disconnected and relatively small parts of animals.
They included more remains of birdlike dinosaurs than they did of non-bird
dinosaurs.

4. Why does the author provide the information that researchers at Kakanaut
found "fragments of eggshell from hadrosaur and theropod dinosaurs"?

The Kakanaut finds have been important in understanding the end-Cretaceous extinction
event. This is in part because Kakanaut was within the Arctic Circle and just 1,600
kilometers from the North Pole at that time. Conditions then were warmer than today, but
mean annual temperatures were still around 10 degrees Celsius, and there would have
been frequent spells below freezing and many months of darkness. Dinosaur fossils found
farther east across the Bering Sea in Alaska were left by creatures that endured similar
climatic conditions, but some experts have argued that they migrated south in the winter
to avoid the coldest months. At Kakanaut, researchers found fragments of eggshell from
hadrosaur and theropod dinosaurs, which suggested that these animals were breeding in
polar regions and living there year-round.

To argue against the idea that dinosaurs migrated south to avoid the cold
To emphasize that Alaska was warmer than it is today
 To provide evidence that a mass extinction event took place at the end of the
Cretaceous
To suggest that climatic conditions could have contributed to the extinction of
dinosaurs within the Arctic Circle

5. According to paragraph 2, all of the following were true of Kakanaut at the end
of the Cretaceous EXCEPT:

The Kakanaut finds have been important in understanding the end-Cretaceous extinction
event. This is in part because Kakanaut was within the Arctic Circle and just 1,600
kilometers from the North Pole at that time. Conditions then were warmer than today, but
mean annual temperatures were still around 10 degrees Celsius, and there would have
been frequent spells below freezing and many months of darkness. Dinosaur fossils found
farther east across the Bering Sea in Alaska were left by creatures that endured similar
climatic conditions, but some experts have argued that they migrated south in the winter
to avoid the coldest months. At Kakanaut, researchers found fragments of eggshell from
hadrosaur and theropod dinosaurs, which suggested that these animals were breeding in
polar regions and living there year-round.

It was located quite close to the North Pole.

As compared to the present, conditions there were warmer by about 10 degrees
Celsius.
Periods of below-freezing temperatures often occurred there.
The climate there was similar to Alaska's climate during the same period.

6. According to paragraph 3, which of the following was one reason dinosaurs

could thrive in the Arctic during the late Cretaceous?

Many scientists argue that the dinosaurs went extinct as a result of Earth's collision with a
massive asteroid or comet about 66 million years ago that created the Chicxulub Crater on
Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Other scientists have claimed that falling global temperatures
had led to a decline in dinosaurs around the world in the period before the impact
(collision). However, the rich fauna (animal life) found by Godefroit and his colleagues
suggests that not only had a diverse ecosystem of dinosaurs persisted in the Arctic in the
late Cretaceous, but also that they were thriving in very cold conditions. The herbivores
here must have fed on plants, such as conifers, that remained green year-round and also
taken advantage during summer months of a profusion of nutritious fresh growth by
plants bathing in light 24 hours a day.

Changes in global temperatures following the impact of a massive asteroid or

comet in Mexico
A diversity of animal life to feed on
The availability of year-round plants and seasonal fresh green growth
The possibility for dinosaurs to bathe in light 24 hours a day at certain times of
the year

7. According to paragraphs 4 and 5, Godefroit's statements about his research

findings indicate all of the following EXCEPT:

"For the first time, we have firm evidence that these polar dinosaurs were able to
reproduce and live in these relatively cold regions. There is no way of knowing for sure, but
dinosaurs were probably warm-blooded just like modem birds, which are the direct
descendants of dinosaurs," Godefroit told reporters when his findings were published in
the German journal Naturwissenschaften in 2009. "The dinosaurs were incredibly diverse
in polar regions- as diverse as they were in tropical regions. It was a big surprise for us.”

Rather than dinosaurs slowly dying out due to climate change in the period before the
impact, Godefroit believes that the discovery backs up the idea that dinosaurs were killed
off in a rapid and brutal fashion by cataclysmic conditions that swept the world following
the Chicxulub impact. Debris in the atmosphere may have blackened the skies for several
years, killing off plants and destroying the food supply- -particularly as large herbivores
(plant eaters), such as sauropod dinosaurs, required vast quantities of plant matter to fuel
their massive bulk. Starved for meat, the flesh eaters would eventually have succumbed
too, as herbivores disappeared.

Warm-blooded and cold-blooded dinosaurs existed in similar numbers across

regions.
An important similarity probably exists between dinosaurs and modern birds.
The findings were unexpected to the researchers themselves.
Dinosaurs likely died off quickly after cataclysmic events.
8. The word "enduring" in the passage is closest in meaning to

It is likely that a combination of factors led to the demise of the non-bird dinosaurs, but the
precise explanation remains a fascinating and enduring mystery. It had been thought that
Siberia had a paucity of fossils in comparison to its southern neighbors, Mongolia and
China, but recent discoveries suggest this may not be true.

Continuing
Complicated
Challenging
Confusing

9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be
added to the passage.

In any case, the research by Godefroit and his team has challenged some long-held
assumptions.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Click on a square [■] to insert the sentence in passage.

Rather than dinosaurs slowly dying out due to climate change in the period before the
impact, Godefroit believes that the discovery backs up the idea that dinosaurs were killed
off in a rapid and brutal fashion by cataclysmic conditions that swept the world following
the Chicxulub impact. ■ Debris in the atmosphere may have blackened the skies for several
years, killing off plants and destroying the food supply- -particularly as large herbivores
(plant eaters), such as sauropod dinosaurs, required vast quantities of plant matter to fuel
their massive bulk. ■ Starved for meat, the flesh eaters would eventually have succumbed
too, as herbivores disappeared.

■ It is likely that a combination of factors led to the demise of the non-bird dinosaurs, but
the precise explanation remains a fascinating and enduring mystery. ■ It had been thought
that Siberia had a paucity of fossils in comparison to its southern neighbors, Mongolia and
China, but recent discoveries suggest this may not be true.

10. Direction: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided
below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the
most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary
because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the
passage. This question is worth 2 points.

Dinosaurs used to be present in Siberia and Alaska.

A. Contrary to what was once thought, polar dinosaurs were probably warm-blooded and
thrived in polar forests, where they were as diverse as in tropical regions.

B. Earth was hit by a large object about 66 million years ago, and the debris from the
impact may have made the sky black, killing off plants and animals.

C. A German journal, Naturwissenschaften, first published findings that established and

confirmed for scientists that modern birds are the direct descendants of polar dinosaurs.

D. The Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia near the Kakanaut River was the site of research
that established the structure of the bones and teeth of non-bird dinosaurs that lived in the
region.

E. Evidence that dinosaurs were able to live in cold climates supports the idea that their
extinction was caused by the effects of a massive collision rather than by falling global
temperatures.

F. Discoveries from Mongolia and China, where even more dinosaur fossils were found,
confirmed the findings from Siberia and provided a basis for comparing fossils from each
region.
 Dating the Arrival of Humans in North America
Developed in the mid-twentieth century by Willard Libby and Jim Arnold, radiocarbon
dating (used for dating organic materials) brought the chronology of North American
prehistory into sharp focus. The method provided accurate ages for the deposits of organic
material left behind by the last great ice sheets that covered the continent during the
Pleistocene Ice Age, that began approximately 1.6 million years ago. One such deposit was
determined to be 11,400 years old. Radiocarbon was also used to date the traces
(indications of their presence) left by America's earliest human inhabitants, enabling
scientists to map out the movements of people and glaciers and to investigate the
interrelationships between the two. Libby's first attempts to analyze an ancient North
American site included what archaeologists call the Folsom culture.

Folsom is a small town in northeastern New Mexico. In 1926-27, arrowhead-like stone

points were found there, mixed together with bones from a now-extinct type of bison, a
discovery that caused great excitement because it placed humans in New Mexico during
the last glacial period, when bison were abundant. Beyond that general observation,
however, there was no way to date the site. Eventually, additional "Folsom" sites were
discovered in other regions, all characterized by the same distinctive stone points. A few of
these were in places that could be correlated with specific glacial deposits, which, through
a fairly weak line of reasoning, were thought to be between 10,000 and 25,000 years old.
Most workers favored the older end of the range.

Arnold and Libby included a charcoal sample linked to the Folsom culture in their first
published list of radiocarbon dates. The result was a surprise: 4,283 +/- 250 years B.P.
(before the present). This was clearly much younger than any of the earlier estimates
suggested, and if the date held up, it would mean that what appeared to be one of the
oldest Native American cultures was actually quite recent. Although they were confident
about their analysis procedures, Libby and Arnold were suspicious of the result and
wondered if the sample had been contaminated with young carbon, or if there was some
other difficulty they were unaware of. In the end, it turned out to be a classic case of
improper sampling, and an example of the importance of careful field documentation.
When the charcoal was collected in 1933 (it had been stored away from then until the
analysis), it appeared to be lying within a soil layer that contained both animal bones and
the distinctive Folsom stone points. But the unexpectedly young age prompted a
reexamination of the site, and it was determined that the charcoal came from a channel
that cut into and through the older layers. Although it appeared to be at the same level as
the bones and stone points, it was actually much younger. Once this problem was
recognized and new samples from this and other sites were analyzed, it became clear that
the most reliable Folsom ages fell in the range of 10,000 to 11,000 B.P.

However, it was also discovered that Folsom sites are not the oldest evidence of humans in
North America. At some localities, slightly different varieties of stone hunting points occur;
initially, it was thought that these were simply regional variations, or perhaps weapons
used for hunting different types of animals. But, in some places- notably at Clovis, New
Mexico-they appear in layers that lie beneath the typical Folsom points. This indicated that
they were older, and soon, archaeologists began to distinguish between Clovis and Folsom
cultures. Obviously, Clovis sites became another target for radiocarbon dating, and the
results confirmed their antiquity. Clovis sites consistently gave dates that were a few
hundred years older than those characterized by the Folsom artifacts, and there seemed to
be little or no overlap between the two cultures.

With these results, the radiocarbon dates of both glacial deposits and archaeological sites
in North America seemed to be painting a consistent picture. As the last severe glaciation
of the Pleistocene Ice Age lost strength, early people spread into the United States. Clovis
people were the first widespread hunters, making distinctive stone points for their
weapons and hunting large game such as mammoths. Within a few hundred years,
however, a new culture appeared, making smaller and finer stone points and apparently
taking over from its Clovis predecessors as the dominant hunters in North America.

1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following statements is true?

Developed in the mid-twentieth century by Willard Libby and Jim Arnold, radiocarbon
dating (used for dating organic materials) brought the chronology of North American
prehistory into sharp focus. The method provided accurate ages for the deposits of organic
material left behind by the last great ice sheets that covered the continent during the
Pleistocene Ice Age, that began approximately 1.6 million years ago. One such deposit was
determined to be 11,400 years old. Radiocarbon was also used to date the traces
(indications of their presence) left by America's earliest human inhabitants, enabling
scientists to map out the movements of people and glaciers and to investigate the
interrelationships between the two. Libby's first attempts to analyze an ancient North
American site included what archaeologists call the Folsom culture.
 The last Pleistocene ice sheet in America was 11,400 years old when it deposited
its organic materials.
The developers of radiocarbon dating analyzed materials from America's early
inhabitants.
The movements of America s earliest inhabitants began after the movements of
the glaciers ended.
Ice sheet deposits that covered the continent during the Pleistocene Ice Age
destroyed valuable information about the Folsom culture.

2. Paragraph 2 suggests that which of the following facts was known before the
1926-27 discovery in Folsom, New Mexico?

Folsom is a small town in northeastern New Mexico. In 1926-27, arrowhead-like stone

points were found there, mixed together with bones from a now-extinct type of bison, a
discovery that caused great excitement because it placed humans in New Mexico during
the last glacial period, when bison were abundant. Beyond that general observation,
however, there was no way to date the site. Eventually, additional "Folsom" sites were
discovered in other regions, all characterized by the same distinctive stone points. A few of
these were in places that could be correlated with specific glacial deposits, which, through
a fairly weak line of reasoning, were thought to be between 10,000 and 25,000 years old.
Most workers favored the older end of the range.

Early humans in North America hunted with arrowhead-like stones.

Certain bison species disappeared because they were hunted to extinction.
Humans lived in New Mexico during the last glacial period.
Bison were common in North America during the last glacial period.

3. According to paragraph 2, why were sites discovered in other regions also

called “Folsom" sites?

Folsom is a small town in northeastern New Mexico. In 1926-27, arrowhead-like stone

points were found there, mixed together with bones from a now-extinct type of bison, a
discovery that caused great excitement because it placed humans in New Mexico during
the last glacial period, when bison were abundant. Beyond that general observation,
however, there was no way to date the site. Eventually, additional "Folsom" sites were
discovered in other regions, all characterized by the same distinctive stone points. A few of
these were in places that could be correlated with specific glacial deposits, which, through
a fairly weak line of reasoning, were thought to be between 10,000 and 25,000 years old.
Most workers favored the older end of the range.

Because these sites were all settled by people from Folsom, New Mexico
Because these sites could be correlated with specific glacial deposits
Because the stone points found at these sites resembled those from Folsom
Because inhabitants of these sites also hunted bison

4. Why does the author make the statement, “In the end, it turned out to be a
classic case of improper sampling, and an example of the importance of careful field
documentation"?

Arnold and Libby included a charcoal sample linked to the Folsom culture in their first
published list of radiocarbon dates. The result was a surprise: 4,283 +/- 250 years B.P.
(before the present). This was clearly much younger than any of the earlier estimates
suggested, and if the date held up, it would mean that what appeared to be one of the
oldest Native American cultures was actually quite recent. Although they were confident
about their analysis procedures, Libby and Arnold were suspicious of the result and
wondered if the sample had been contaminated with young carbon, or if there was some
other difficulty they were unaware of. In the end, it turned out to be a classic case of
improper sampling, and an example of the importance of careful field documentation.
When the charcoal was collected in 1933 (it had been stored away from then until the
analysis), it appeared to be lying within a soil layer that contained both animal bones and
the distinctive Folsom stone points. But the unexpectedly young age prompted a
reexamination of the site, and it was determined that the charcoal came from a channel
that cut into and through the older layers. Although it appeared to be at the same level as
the bones and stone points, it was actually much younger. Once this problem was
recognized and new samples from this and other sites were analyzed, it became clear that
the most reliable Folsom ages fell in the range of 10,000 to 11,000 B.P.

To help explain why the charcoal sample's radiocarbon date was different from
what Libby and Arnold expected it to be
To help prove the theory that what was thought to be one of the oldest Native
American cultures was actually quite recent
 To emphasize how long it took to determine the source of the error in dating the
charcoal sample
To indicate why Libby and Arnold were confident about the accuracy of their
analysis procedures

5. According to paragraph 3, what was learned as a result of the

reexamination of the site where the charcoal sample was collected in 1933?

Arnold and Libby included a charcoal sample linked to the Folsom culture in their first
published list of radiocarbon dates. The result was a surprise: 4,283 +/- 250 years B.P.
(before the present). This was clearly much younger than any of the earlier estimates
suggested, and if the date held up, it would mean that what appeared to be one of the
oldest Native American cultures was actually quite recent. Although they were confident
about their analysis procedures, Libby and Arnold were suspicious of the result and
wondered if the sample had been contaminated with young carbon, or if there was some
other difficulty they were unaware of. In the end, it turned out to be a classic case of
improper sampling, and an example of the importance of careful field documentation.
When the charcoal was collected in 1933 (it had been stored away from then until the
analysis), it appeared to be lying within a soil layer that contained both animal bones and
the distinctive Folsom stone points. But the unexpectedly young age prompted a
reexamination of the site, and it was determined that the charcoal came from a channel
that cut into and through the older layers. Although it appeared to be at the same level as
the bones and stone points, it was actually much younger. Once this problem was
recognized and new samples from this and other sites were analyzed, it became clear that
the most reliable Folsom ages fell in the range of 10,000 to 11,000 B.P.

The charcoal came from several layers that each contained bones and Folsom
points of different ages.
The charcoal sample was not from the channel that cut into and through the
older layers.
Both the charcoal and the Folsom points lay inside a channel that cut through
older soil layers.
The charcoal was younger than the bones and Folsom points with which it was
found.
6. According to paragraph 4, which of the following is NOT true about the slightly
different varieties of stone hunting points found in some localities?

However, it was also discovered that Folsom sites are not the oldest evidence of humans in
North America. At some localities, slightly different varieties of stone hunting points occur;
initially, it was thought that these were simply regional variations, or perhaps weapons
used for hunting different types of animals. But, in some places- notably at Clovis, New
Mexico-they appear in layers that lie beneath the typical Folsom points. This indicated that
they were older, and soon, archaeologists began to distinguish between Clovis and Folsom
cultures. Obviously, Clovis sites became another target for radiocarbon dating, and the
results confirmed their antiquity. Clovis sites consistently gave dates that were a few
hundred years older than those characterized by the Folsom artifacts, and there seemed to
be little or no overlap between the two cultures.

Radiocarbon dating revealed that they were several hundred years older than
Folsom points.
They appeared in layers that were beneath the layers containing Folsom points.
They were regional variations of Folsom points.
They were produced by a culture distinct from the one first identified in Folsom,
New Mexico.

7. The word “predecessors" in the passage is closest in meaning to

With these results, the radiocarbon dates of both glacial deposits and archaeological sites
in North America seemed to be painting a consistent picture. As the last severe glaciation
of the Pleistocene Ice Age lost strength, early people spread into the United States. Clovis
people were the first widespread hunters, making distinctive stone points for their
weapons and hunting large game such as mammoths. Within a few hundred years,
however, a new culture appeared, making smaller and finer stone points and apparently
taking over from its Clovis predecessors as the dominant hunters in North America.

people who were similar

people who disappeared
people who came before
people who moved away
8. According to paragraph 5, the Clovis people and the people of the new culture
differed with respect to

With these results, the radiocarbon dates of both glacial deposits and archaeological sites
in North America seemed to be painting a consistent picture. As the last severe glaciation
of the Pleistocene Ice Age lost strength, early people spread into the United States. Clovis
people were the first widespread hunters, making distinctive stone points for their
weapons and hunting large game such as mammoths. Within a few hundred years,
however, a new culture appeared, making smaller and finer stone points and apparently
taking over from its Clovis predecessors as the dominant hunters in North America.

the region in which they lived

the size of the weapons they made
the type of game they hunted
the materials out of which they made their points

1. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be
added to the passage.

These results supported the considerable age of the Folsom culture that Libby and
Arnold had originally expected.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Click on a square [■] to insert the sentence in passage.

Arnold and Libby included a charcoal sample linked to the Folsom culture in their first
published list of radiocarbon dates. The result was a surprise: 4,283 +/- 250 years B.P.
(before the present). This was clearly much younger than any of the earlier estimates
suggested, and if the date held up, it would mean that what appeared to be one of the
oldest Native American cultures was actually quite recent. Although they were confident
about their analysis procedures, Libby and Arnold were suspicious of the result and
wondered if the sample had been contaminated with young carbon, or if there was some
other difficulty they were unaware of. In the end, it turned out to be a classic case of
improper sampling, and an example of the importance of careful field documentation.
When the charcoal was collected in 1933 (it had been stored away from then until the
analysis), it appeared to be lying within a soil layer that contained both animal bones and
the distinctive Folsom stone points. But the unexpectedly young age prompted a
reexamination of the site, and it was determined that the charcoal came from a channel
that cut into and through the older layers. ■ Although it appeared to be at the same level as
the bones and stone points, it was actually much younger. ■ Once this problem was
recognized and new samples from this and other sites were analyzed, it became clear that
the most reliable Folsom ages fell in the range of 10,000 to 11,000 B.P. ■

However, it was also discovered that Folsom sites are not the oldest evidence of humans in
North America. ■ At some localities, slightly different varieties of stone hunting points
occur; initially, it was thought that these were simply regional variations, or perhaps
weapons used for hunting different types of animals. But, in some places- notably at Clovis,
New Mexico-they appear in layers that lie beneath the typical Folsom points. This indicated
that they were older, and soon, archaeologists began to distinguish between Clovis and
Folsom cultures. Obviously, Clovis sites became another target for radiocarbon dating, and
the results confirmed their antiquity. Clovis sites consistently gave dates that were a few
hundred years older than those characterized by the Folsom artifacts, and there seemed to
be little or no overlap between the two cultures.

10. Direction: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided
below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the
most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary
because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the
passage. This question is worth 2 points.

The development of radiocarbon techniques allowed for more precise dating of the
movements of glaciers and people in North America.

A. The discovery of stone points in Folsom, New Mexico, showed that humans lived in
North America during the last glacial period, although the precise age of the points was a
mystery for some time.
B. Radiocarbon dating has allowed scientists to trace the migration path of the Clovis
people into North America by dating the ages of different Clovis sites throughout the
continents.

C. Radiocarbon dating revealed that the Clovis people, who hunted large game with stone
points like the Folsom people, lived in North America several hundred years before the
Folsom people did.

D. In contrast to what scientists first believed, hunting cultures such as the Folsom and
Clovis people did not thrive in North America until thousands of years after the glaciers had
retreated.

E. Although improper sampling resulted in an incorrect radiocarbon date for the Folsom
sample, new samples revealed that Folsom culture was dominant from about 11,000 to
10,000 years B.P.

F. It appears likely that the Folsom people became the dominant hunters in North America
by learning how to make stone points from the Clovis people.
Answers:
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. A
8. A
9. D
10. ABE
11. B
12. D
13. C
14. A
15. D
16. C
17. C
18. B
19. C
20. ACE