Researchers are excited about the discovery of what they think is a new species of flying dinosaur that

was about the size of a cat.The partial remains of the small dinosaur were discovered in 2009 in British
Columbia, Canada.

The creature was a kind of pterosaur. Pterosaurs were vertebrates, meaning they had backbones, and
likely covered with fur or hair. The remains included evidence of wings, so this pterosaur could fly.
Researchers believe it lived about 77 million years ago.

Elizabeth Martin-Silverstone is the lead writer of a research paper about the flying dinosaur. She attends
the University of Southampton in Britain.

Martin-Silverstone said the discovery is an exciting moment in the study of dinosaurs. The hollow bones
of pterosaurs are poorly preserved, she said. This suggests that a small pterosaur could very rarely be
preserved, but not necessarily that they didnt exist.

The flying dinosaur described in the paper had a wingspan of over one meter. Pterosaurs of that time
were much larger with wingspans from four to 11 meters, researchers said.

The largest known pterosaur was as big as a modern giraffe. It had a wingspan the size of a small
airplane.

The remains of this dinosaur were found in small pieces. Researchers are not yet able to decide if they
represent an unknown species. Yet the researchers were able to say the small pterosaur belonged to a
group of short-winged, toothless pterosaurs called azhdarchoids.

The specimen is far from the prettiest or most complete pterosaur fossil youll ever see, but its still an
exciting and significant find, said Mark Witton of the University of Portsmouth.

Witton is a pterosaur expert. He noted, Its rare to find pterosaur fossils at all because their skeletons
were lightweight and easily damaged once they died. The small ones are the rarest of all. But luck was on
our side and several bones of this animal survived the preservation process.

He added that the creature discovered was full grown.

The paper was published in the Royal Society journal Open Science.

Im Anne Ball.

This story was first reported on VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted the report for Learning English.
George Grow was the editor.

What do you think about this discovery? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments
Section or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

species n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
dinosaur n. one of many animals that lived on Earth millions of years ago
wingspan n. the distance from the tip of one wing of a bird to the tip of the other wing
giraffe n. a very tall African animal that has an extremely long neck and legs
specimen n. something (such as an animal or plant) collected as an example of a particular kind of
thing
fossil n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in
ancient times and that you can see in some rocks
DINOSAURUS ALREADY DECREASING BEFORE ASTEROID HIT

Dinosaursthose big prehistoric creatures may have already been decreasing in population long before
an asteroid crashed into the Earth, and killed them.

Until now, it was thought that an asteroid, or meteorite, that hit the Earth 66 million years ago was the
main reason the reptiles became extinct.

But a new study finds that they may have already been decreasing in numbers millions of years before
that.

Dr. Manabu Sakamoto is a dinosaur expert a paleontologist at the University of Reading in the
United Kingdom. He led the research in the new study.

We were not expecting this result, Sakamoto said.

The effect of the asteroid hitting the Earth is still considered the main reason for the dinosaurs final
disappearance, Sakamoto said. But, he added, it is clear that they were already past their prime in
an evolutionary sense.

In other words, Sakamoto means that dinosaurs were already starting to disappear from the land before
the asteroid struck the Earth.

The researchers studied the fossil record. Fossils are remains of plants or animals that lived in ancient
times that one can now see in some rocks.

The new study says that 50 million years before the asteroid struck Earth, there was a decline of all types
of dinosaurs. The long-necked sauropods were decreasing more quickly than other kinds of dinosaurs.
The population of dinosaurs like the fierceTyrannosaurus rex was decreasing at a slower rate than other
dinosaurs.

Sakamoto called the results of the study groundbreaking.

Once again, it will change our understanding of the fate of these mighty creatures, Sakamoto said.

He also said that while the asteroid may have been what finally led to their extinction, something else
had already been preventing dinosaurs from evolving new species as fast as old species were dying out.

Sakamoto said this suggests that for tens of millions of years before they finally died out from the asteroid
effects, dinosaurs were beginning to lose their position as the leading animals on Earth. Dinosaurs ruled
the Earth for about 150 million years.

Mike Benton was the co-author of the new study. He is a paleontology professor at the University of
Bristol. He said that dinosaurs had lost their ability to evolve or change quickly enough to deal with
environmental changes on the planet. Some of these changes came from volcanic activity and the breaking
up of continental landmasses.

When the asteroid hit the Earth, its force was so strong it blew rocks and dust and particles into the
atmosphere, covering the Earth. That stopped the sunlight from reaching the ground, so plants could not
grow. With their food supply gone, the dinosaurs died off too.

Some scientists believe the asteroid hit the Earth in an area that is now part of Mexico.

The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Im Anne Ball.

Anne Ball wrote this story from VOA News sources for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the
editor.

________________________________________________________________________
__________________

Words in This Story

extinct adj. no longer exist, or alive

paleontologist n. a person who studies the fossils of animals and plants that lived a long time ago,
including dinosaurs

prime adj. time when they are at their best

evolutionary - adj. changes and development over time

groundbreaking adj. introducing new ideas or methods

fate n. a power that is believed to control what happens in the future

Your opinion

This forum has been closed.

VOA Learning English talked with two students in the Culinary Arts program
at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School. Maksym Olah is from
the Ukraine, and Isidro Dubon comes from Central America. They are
studying to become chefs and work hard to make their American dreams come
true.

From the Ukraine to the U.S.

Maksym Olah

Maksym Olah was an actor and dancer in the theater in his home country,
Ukraine. He fell in love with an American woman who was in the Peace Corps.
Olah immigrated to the U.S. when she finished her service in the Ukraine.
That summer, he showed his dancing skill in the Smithsonian Folklife
Festival.

"I came to the U.S. because I married an American girl and she finished her
Peace Corps service and then, we have (a) small project in the Smithsonian
festival, and we represent Ukranian country on the Smithsonian festival four
years ago."

Olah found a different culture in the U.S. and learned to treat others
differently than he had at home.

"My wife told me it's (a) different language, different culture, different
mentality and you need she told me you need to respect everybody.
Here, people (are) more gentle to each other. "

Olah started to study English soon after he arrived.

"When I came here, I don't speak, , I don't speak any kind of words, just (a)
few words, like "hello, my name is Max, and goodbye".

I'm in (the) international program cuisine. We study about each country's

food, gastronomy, history, techniques, and this is, for me, it's very helpful
help. Because every people start to cook in the French. This is history. And, for
me, new techniques. Kind of techniques, like, boiling, or micro-cook, or
something like that. This is new and interesting for me.

Olah dreams of owning his own restaurant or a food truck one day.

"My goal: I want to open a small business, a food truck, Eastern European
truck, maybe American, if I studied a lot of recipe, maybe I mix it for
example, each country, and American I forgot (the) name of that word,
but, it's like "fusion"! Oh, yeah.

Although he has a busy schedule of study, Olah finds time to keep up his
Ukrainian dancing.

"Yes. On a Saturday, I work in a Ukrainian school. I teach folk dance (to)

children. I have 150 people. Yeah, I teach Ukrainian folk dancing. This is my
hobby!"

From Honduras to the U.S

Isidro Dubon is like many students at Carlos Rosario, a public charter school
in Washington D.C. He comes from Central America. Born in Honduras,
Dubon came to the U.S. when he was 16-years-old.

Dubon's brother had lived in the U.S. for some time. He encouraged Isidro to
join him. Dubon's reason for coming to the U.S. was simple enough. He came
to America, as many immigrants do, searching for two things: a better job and
a better life. Before coming to the U.S., he expected to work hard. He hoped to
one day buy his own house.
He didnt speak English, but he did not think it would be a problem.

Finding work is not easy

When Dubon arrived, he was surprised to discover that it was very difficult to
find work. He had not thought that his lack of English skills would stop him
from getting a job.

Dubon began studying in the English program at Carlos Rosario. After some
time, he found work as a dishwasher in a restaurant. He worked hard, and
receivedpromotions. Dubon's dream had been to buy his own house. Every
time he paid rent for an apartment, he would say to himself "Wow, that's too
much money."

Dubon decided to quit school and find a second job, so that he could save
money. His English classes at Carlos Rosario helped him understand how to
build his credit rating the most important factor for a home buyer in the
U.S.

So, after I found two job(s), I start(ed) to build my credit. And then after
three years, I start to look at house(s), for sale. After five years (of) that
process, I found a beautiful house, and I bought it. And then, when I had all
this, I quit one job, and I return to the school."

When he returned, Dubon enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at Carlos

Rosario. He is taking a course called "Culinary Arts: Fundamentals," which
exposes students to theoretical and hands-on training in culinary arts.

Achieving the dream luncheon

The school put on a lunch at the end of the fall semester. It is called
"Achieving the Dream."
During the lunch, students, families, local politicians, and community
organizers came to the school. The goal was to give students practical
experience preparing, cooking, and serving food.

The lunch also served as an opportunity to ask for donations to support the
school. Carlos Rosario is a public, non-profit school that has
had funding problems before. In the mid-1990s, the school had to close for a
year because public funding was cut to adult education programs in
Washington, D.C.

Isidro Dubon Serving at Carlos Rosario Achieving the Dream Luncheon

Olah and Dubon assisted in preparing the lunch, and worked as servers during
the event. But problems came up during the lunch. Dubon's partner had to go
help in the kitchen, so Dubon had to serve alone. He had trouble at first, but
he says that he remembered his experience working in restaurants.
Isidro Dubon at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

The lunch, said a smiling Dubon, was a success. The chefs who teach him were
happy with his performance.

Dubon and Olah are both grateful for the education they have received at
Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School. They are working hard to
reach their dreams.

Im Jill Robbins.

John Russell and Dr. Jill Robbins reported and wrote this story for Learning
English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

_____________________________________________________
___________

Words in This Story

culinary - adj. used in or relating to cooking

recipe - n. set of instructions for making food

fusion - n. food prepared by combining methods and ingredients from
different areas of the world

promotion n. to move someone to a higher position, job or status

fundamental - n. one of the basic and important parts of something

usually plural

achieve - v. to get or reach (something) by working hard

fund - v. to provide money for (something)

Are you learning a job skill? Do you want to improve your English to get a
better job? Write to us about your goals in the Comments Section.

English learners face a common problem: their writing often lacks clarity
andcohesion.

That is according to Babi Kruchin and Alan Kennedy who teach at the
American Language Program at Columbia University.

They recommend that English learners use concept maps images that show
how ideas are connected.

What is important is how you put it together

Lets consider a comparison. In some ways, the writing process is like cooking.

Gathering the ingredients for a meal requires effort. But, understanding how
to put all the ingredients together is far more difficult.

Similarly, learning nouns, adjectives, and verbs can be hard to do. But, putting
them together into a meaningful story, email, or essay is what is difficult.
Doing these things becomes even more difficult when you are writing in a
second language.

So, writing clear, cohesive paragraphs or essays, can be hard for English
learners.

To overcome this problem, Kruchin and Kennedy recommend that students

make concept maps before writing.

Kennedy says concept maps show a writer when his or her writing lacks
clarity.

Kruchin adds that concept maps help visual learners people who learn better
by seeing ideas.

What are concept maps?

Concept maps are tools for organizing ideas. They usually have three parts:
concepts, arrows, and linking phrases.

The concepts, which are the main ideas, are in circles or boxes. They are often
nouns or noun phrases.

Arrows show how concepts are connected.

Linking words or phrases go above the arrows and explain how the concepts
relate to one another.

Linking phrases are especially important. They are the groups of words that
show relationships between concepts.

Joseph Novak, the creator of concept mapping, says such linking phrases give
meaning to statements:
"If you say dog and food, those two concepts by themselves don't mean
anything. They don't make a statement about the world. But if you say "dogs
need food", then you begin to express an idea that's significant."

Novak adds that the linking words or phrases should be short. "You do not
want a story between two concepts," he says, "just the expression that is
needed to say, 'this concept is significantly related to another concept.'"

Example of a Simple Concept Map

Generally, the generic ideas are at the top of the concept map and the specific
ideas are at the bottom.

Kennedy explains what this looks like:

"So, for example, if you wanted to explain that trees provide wood, and wood
is used to make furniture, you could have a circle around the word trees
and then you could have an arrow between the word wood and the word
furniture, which would also be in a circle, and on top of that arrow it would
say "is used to make""

A Simple Concept Map

From this starting point, writers can expand concept maps to include many
concepts, arrows, and linking phrases.
Sample Semantic Map

Regardless of how simple or complex the map is, the most important point is
that every concept has at least one arrow attached to it, and that every arrow
has a linking word or linking phrase.

Building a concept map before writing an essay or email will make you think
about how your ideas relate to one another.

You will realize when you are not explaining the relationships between ideas if
you make a concept map that does not have arrows or linking phrases.

What can you do?

So, what can you do to start practicing concept maps?

You can start by reading and learning common linking words.

#1 Start by building a concept map of a paragraph

Kruchin recommends that English learners begin to use concept maps by
studying the writing of others.

Learning how good writers have connected and developed ideas is an

important starting point for learners who want to improve their own writing.

Kruchin adds that English learners should begin with a small amount of
writing, such as a paragraph.

Kruchin suggests that English learners study the paragraph, or essay, by

looking for the following information:

"The author's main idea is this, because of A, B, and C and here is one
example to support A, one example to support B, one example to support C."

Doing this exercise, Kruchin adds, will give English learners information
about how they can show relationships between ideas in their own writing.

#2 Learn common words and phrases that connect ideas

Kennedy recommends that English learners master words and phrases that
show relationships between ideas. These linking phrases often show cause and
effect or tell about the order of events.

English learners, Kennedy explains, should practice using a few of these

phrases before moving to phrases that are more complex.

In particular, he recommends that English learners first use phrases such as

"leads to", "causes", "is a type of" and "requires", before moving on to other
phrases.

Read the article that goes with this story

Whether your goal is to write novels, poetry, or a message to a co-worker or
friend, being able to show a relationship between ideas is an important skill.

Concept mapping might seem complicated, but Kennedy and Kruchin wrote
an article that can help clarify their ideas. You can find the article on this page
in PDF format. Download the article, read it, then try practicing with concept
maps.

Let us know how concept maps work for you!

I'm John Russell.

John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the
editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

_____________________________________________________
___________

Words in This Story

cohesion n. a condition in which people or things are closely united

concept n. an idea of what something is or how it works

ingredient n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.

overcome v. to successfully deal with or gain control of (something

difficult)

phrase n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do
not usually form a complete sentence