Chinese scientists have discovered a missing link the evolutionary path between dinosaurs and birds.

Fossil specimens of the species, called gigantoraptor erlianensis, were discovered two years ago in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, but the link between the species and birds was only released late last week, in Nature magazine.

Gigantoraptor erlianensis was covered in feathers, had a small beak, with slim hind legs and a massive body the size of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Scientists estimate the creature, which could not fly, lived 85 million years ago; it was 8 meters long, 5 meters tall, and weighed about 1.4 tons.

Xu Xing, a paleontologist from the Institute of Vertebrae Paleontology and Paleonanthroplogy affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the unique thing about Gigantoraptor erlianensis was its massive size - it dwarves other bird-like species.

Though no direct evidence was found that the dinosaur had feathers, scientists inferred it from the species' close relationship to other feathered dinosaurs, such as the Caudipteryx species. The first Gigantoraptors likely appeared 150 million years ago and the species reached its population peak about 70 million years ago, scientists said.

Inner Mongolia's Erenhot, the city where the dinosaur fossils were discovered, is planning to build a dinosaur museum to attract more tourists to the region.

(China Daily 06/14/2007)

Questions:

1. What do scientists say is unique about Gigantoraptor erlianensis?

2. What is a "population peak"?

3. What does it mean that scientists "inferred" the dinosaur had feathers, based on its relationship to other feathered dinosaurs?

Answers:

1. It is unique because of its large size.

2. A population peak is the point at which a species' population reaches its highest point

3. Scientists were able to examine another species of bird-like dinosaur, the Caudipteryx species, which had feathers, and hypothesize that the Gigantoraptor was also feathered, because the species were closely related.

（英语点津 Linda 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Matt Doran is an award-winning American newspaper journalist and an undergraduate student at Albion College. He is currently a polisher for China Daily Website and is on summer break from Beijing Foreign Studies University, where he will resume his study of Chinese in the fall.