Vocabulary List

1. Paleontologist (n) /ˌpeɪ.li.ɒnˈtɒl.ə.dʒɪst/: A scientist who studies fossils to learn about ancient life.
   Vietnamese: Nhà cổ sinh vật học
   Example: The paleontologist discovered a rare dinosaur fossil in the desert.
2. Dinosaur track (n) /ˈdaɪ.nə.sɔːr træk/: A footprint left by a dinosaur that has been preserved in rock.
   Vietnamese: Dấu chân khủng long
   Example: The team found a well-preserved dinosaur track near the river.
3. Highway (n) /ˈhaɪ.weɪ/: A major road used for traveling long distances.
   Vietnamese: Đường cao tốc
   Example: The discovery was made near a highway construction site.
4. Date back (phr v) /deɪt bæk/: To have existed since a particular time in the past.
   Vietnamese: Có từ (thời gian)
   Example: The fossils date back millions of years.
5. Dig up (phr v) /dɪɡ ʌp/: To remove something from the ground by digging.
   Vietnamese: Đào lên
   Example: The researchers dug up several dinosaur bones.
6. Clay (n) /kleɪ/: A type of soft, sticky soil used for making pottery and bricks.
   Vietnamese: Đất sét
   Example: The footprint was preserved in layers of clay.
7. Quarry (n) /ˈkwɒr.i/: A place where stone, sand, or minerals are extracted from the earth.
   Vietnamese: Mỏ đá
   Example: Workers found the tracks in an old quarry.
8. Bump (n) /bʌmp/: A small raised area on a surface.
   Vietnamese: Chỗ gồ / lồi lên
   Example: The strange bump in the rock turned out to be a fossil.
9. Investigate (v) /ɪnˈves.tɪ.ɡeɪt/: To examine something carefully to discover facts.
   Vietnamese: Điều tra
   Example: Scientists investigated the footprints to determine their origin.
10. Turn out to be (phr v) /tɜːn aʊt tuː bi/: To be discovered or proven as something.
    Vietnamese: Hóa ra là
    Example: The marks on the stone turned out to be dinosaur tracks.
11. Digital picture (n) /ˈdɪdʒ.ɪ.təl ˈpɪk.tʃər/: An image stored electronically.
    Vietnamese: Hình ảnh kỹ thuật số
    Example: The team took digital pictures of the footprints for further study.
12. Print (in footprint) (n) /prɪnt/: A mark left by a foot or shoe.
    Vietnamese: Dấu chân
    Example: The deep print in the rock showed claw marks.
13. 3-D model (n) /ˌθriː.diː ˈmɒd.əl/: A digital or physical representation of an object in three dimensions.
    Vietnamese: Mô hình 3D
    Example: Scientists created a 3-D model of the dinosaur footprint.
14. Announce (v) /əˈnaʊns/: To officially tell people about something.
    Vietnamese: Công bố
    Example: The discovery was announced in a press conference.
15. The press (n) /ðə pres/: News media, including newspapers and journalists.
    Vietnamese: Báo chí
    Example: The press reported the discovery of the ancient tracks.
16. Belong to (phr v) /bɪˈlɒŋ tuː/: To be owned by someone or something.
    Vietnamese: Thuộc về
    Example: The footprint belonged to a long-necked dinosaur.
17. Long-necked (adj) /lɒŋ nɛkt/: Having a long neck.
    Vietnamese: Cổ dài
    Example: The long-necked dinosaur was a herbivore.
18. Giant herbivore (n) /ˈdʒaɪ.ənt ˈhɜː.bɪ.vɔːr/: A large plant-eating animal.
    Vietnamese: Động vật ăn cỏ khổng lồ
    Example: The tracks were left by a giant herbivore millions of years ago.
19. Ferocious predator (n) /fəˈrəʊ.ʃəs ˈpred.ə.tər/: A dangerous and aggressive animal that hunts others for food.
    Vietnamese: Kẻ săn mồi hung dữ
    Example: The ferocious predator had sharp teeth and claws.
20. Mud (n) /mʌd/: Wet soil that is soft and sticky.
    Vietnamese: Bùn
    Example: The footprints were preserved in mud before turning into rock.
21. Deform (v) /dɪˈfɔːm/: To change shape in a way that is not natural.
    Vietnamese: Biến dạng
    Example: Some footprints were deformed by erosion.
22. Squelch (v) /skwɛltʃ/: To make a wet, sucking sound when walking through mud.
    Vietnamese: Lún vào (bùn hoặc vật mềm)
    Example: The paleontologist's boots squelched as he walked through the muddy site.

Vocabulary Review Tasks

1. Completion Task

Fill in the blanks using the words from the word bank.

Word Bank: paleontologist, dinosaur track, highway, date back, dig up, clay, quarry, bump, investigate, turn out to be, digital picture, print, 3-D model, announce, the press, belong to, long-necked, giant herbivore, ferocious predator, mud, deform, squelch

1. The ______________ studied fossils to learn about ancient creatures.
2. A ______________ was discovered near a construction site.
3. The workers found strange marks on the ______________ while building a new road.
4. These footprints ______________ millions of years.
5. The team had to ______________ the fossils carefully from the rock.
6. The footprints were preserved in layers of ______________.
7. The rocks in the ______________ contained many prehistoric fossils.
8. The scientists noticed a small ______________ on the surface of the rock, which turned out to be a footprint.
9. Researchers decided to ______________ the newly discovered marks.
10. The footprints ______________ fossilized remains of a dinosaur.
11. They took a ______________ of the footprint for analysis.
12. The large ______________ in the rock showed deep claw marks.
13. A ______________ was created to study the shape of the footprints.
14. Scientists will ______________ their discovery at a conference.
15. ______________ from various media outlets gathered to report on the discovery.
16. The tracks ______________ a species of dinosaur that lived millions of years ago.
17. The footprints likely belonged to a ______________ dinosaur that ate plants.
18. Unlike plant-eating dinosaurs, a ______________ hunted other animals for food.
19. The tracks were found in soft ______________, which later hardened into rock.
20. Some of the footprints were ______________ due to erosion.
21. As they walked through the wet ground, they could hear the ______________ of the mud under their boots.

2. Word Form Task

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in parentheses.

1. The ______________ of the discovery will take place tomorrow. (announce)
2. ______________ is the study of ancient life. (paleontologist)
3. The marks in the rock were badly ______________ by natural erosion. (deform)
4. The journalist wrote an article for ______________ about the discovery. (press)
5. Scientists created a ______________ of the footprints for further study. (digit)
6. The dinosaur tracks ______________ from millions of years ago. (date)

3. Synonym Matching

Match the words in Column A with their synonyms in Column B.

4. Gap-Filling Task

Fill in the blanks using the words from the word bank. Use each word only once.

Word Bank: paleontologist, dinosaur track, investigate, dig up, announce, the press, print, mud, date back, long-necked

A team of scientists recently made an incredible discovery—a well-preserved (1) ______________ found near a riverbank. The (2) ______________ believe the tracks (3) ______________ millions of years and belonged to a (4) ______________ dinosaur. After carefully examining the footprints, the researchers decided to (5) ______________ the site further to uncover more evidence. They had to (6) ______________ the tracks from layers of (7) ______________, which had hardened over time. The deep (8) ______________ in the rock showed clear signs of claw marks. The scientists plan to (9) ______________ their findings at a conference, and (10) ______________ have already started covering the story.

5. Multiple-Choice Task

Choose the correct answer for each question.

1. What does a paleontologist study?
   a) Ancient civilizations
   b) Rocks and minerals
   c) Fossils and prehistoric life
   d) Planets and stars

2. A dinosaur track is...
   a) A type of fossilized bone
   b) A footprint left by a dinosaur
   c) A path where dinosaurs walked
   d) A deep hole in the ground

3. What does it mean if something dates back millions of years?
   a) It happened recently
   b) It was created in the present
   c) It existed a long time ago
   d) It is still being formed

4. What is a ferocious predator?
   a) A friendly animal
   b) A dangerous hunter
   c) A plant-eating dinosaur
   d) A small insect

5. If scientists announce a discovery, what do they do?
   a) Keep it secret
   b) Bury the fossils
   c) Destroy the evidence
   d) Publish and share the news

Answer keys

1. Completion Task - Answer Key

1. Paleontologist studied fossils to learn about ancient creatures.
2. A dinosaur track was discovered near a construction site.
3. The workers found strange marks on the highway while building a new road.
4. These footprints date back millions of years.
5. The team had to dig up the fossils carefully from the rock.
6. The footprints were preserved in layers of clay.
7. The rocks in the quarry contained many prehistoric fossils.
8. The scientists noticed a small bump on the surface of the rock, which turned out to be a footprint.
9. Researchers decided to investigate the newly discovered marks.
10. The footprints turned out to be fossilized remains of a dinosaur.
11. They took a digital picture of the footprint for analysis.
12. The large print in the rock showed deep claw marks.
13. A 3-D model was created to study the shape of the footprints.
14. Scientists will announce their discovery at a conference.
15. The press from various media outlets gathered to report on the discovery.
16. The tracks belong to a species of dinosaur that lived millions of years ago.
17. The footprints likely belonged to a long-necked dinosaur that ate plants.
18. Unlike plant-eating dinosaurs, a ferocious predator hunted other animals for food.
19. The tracks were found in soft mud, which later hardened into rock.
20. Some of the footprints were deformed due to erosion.
21. As they walked through the wet ground, they could hear the squelch of the mud under their boots.

2. Word Form Task - Answer Key

1. The announcement of the discovery will take place tomorrow.
2. Paleontology is the study of ancient life.
3. The marks in the rock were badly deformed by natural erosion.
4. The journalist wrote an article for the press about the discovery.
5. Scientists created a digital model of the footprints for further study.
6. The dinosaur tracks date back from millions of years ago.

3. Synonym Matching - Answer Key

4. Gap-Filling Task - Answer Key

1. A team of scientists recently made an incredible discovery—a well-preserved dinosaur track found near a riverbank.
2. The paleontologist believe the tracks date back millions of years and belonged to a long-necked dinosaur.
3. After carefully examining the footprints, the researchers decided to investigate the site further to uncover more evidence.
4. They had to dig up the tracks from layers of mud, which had hardened over time.
5. The deep print in the rock showed clear signs of claw marks.
6. The scientists plan to announce their findings at a conference, and the press have already started covering the story.

5. Multiple-Choice Task - Answer Key

1. What does a paleontologist study?
   a) Fossils and prehistoric life ✅

2. A dinosaur track is...
   b) A footprint left by a dinosaur ✅

3. What does it mean if something dates back millions of years?
   c) It existed a long time ago ✅

4. What is a ferocious predator?
   b) A dangerous hunter ✅

5. If scientists announce a discovery, what do they do?
   d) Publish and share the news ✅