News by Levels · Level 2 · For teachers
Teacher guide & answers
Jodi Dinosaur Fossil Fetches $47.3 Million at Auction
How to use these two pages
Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.
Student worksheetA simple 15–20-minute lesson
- Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
- Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 2 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
- Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.
Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.
Answers to the 2 questions
The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.
How did the sale price compare with Sotheby’s estimate?
Correct answer: A — It was higher than the $6 million to $9 million estimate
Why: The sale price was $47.3 million, above the estimated range.
Clue in the story: A dinosaur skeleton named Jodi sold for $47.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on October 27. The auction house had estimated a price of $6 million to $9 million, according to the Associated Press. The buyer has not been identified publicly.
What concern do some scientists have about private sales?
Correct answer: A — Researchers and the public may lose access
Why: The report says some scientists worry that private ownership can restrict access.
Clue in the story: The fossil was found on private land in Montana in 2019. Some scientists oppose private sales of significant fossils because researchers and the public may lose access to them.
The open question: accept different answers
Ask learners: Compare the estimated and actual sale prices, then explain one concern mentioned in the article.
One possible answer: Sotheby’s estimated $6 million to $9 million, but Jodi sold for $47.3 million. Some scientists worry private sales may limit access for researchers and the public.
This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.