News by Levels · Level 2 · Student worksheet

Jodi Dinosaur Fossil Fetches $47.3 Million at Auction

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read 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.

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.

Source: Associated Press via Spectrum News NY1, 2026-10-27. https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/ap-top-news/2026/10/27/this-fossil-may-look-like-a-mini-t-rex-but-a-nanotyrannus-just-sold-for-a-giant-47-million0

Read and practise

1. How did the sale price compare with Sotheby’s estimate?

   1. It was higher than the $6 million to $9 million estimate
   2. It was inside the $6 million to $9 million estimate
   3. It was lower than $6 million

2. What concern do some scientists have about private sales?

   1. Researchers and the public may lose access
   2. Researchers may disagree about pre-sale estimates
   3. Museums may buy every fossil at auction

Your turn

Compare the estimated and actual sale prices, then explain one concern mentioned in the article.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/jodi-dinosaur-skeleton-auction-october-2026/level-2/