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6 Oct 2026
Credit: Getty
Why Did The Tyrannosaurus Rex Have Such Tiny Arms?
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) T. rex used its arms to fly across rivers.
b) T. rex had small arms to protect them during meals.
c) T. rex lost its arms completely in ancient forests.
Ask:
(1) Have you ever seen a picture or model of a T. rex dinosaur?
(2) Why do you think such a huge animal had such tiny arms?
VOCABULARY
dinosaur (/ˈdaɪ.nə.sɔːr/, noun)
Meaning: A large reptile that lived on Earth millions of years ago.
Example: The T. rex is a very famous dinosaur.
giant (/ˈdʒaɪ.ənt/, adjective)
Meaning: Very big or huge.
Example: The giant creature walked through the green forest.
sharp (/ʃɑːp/, adjective)
Meaning: Having a thin edge that can cut things easily.
Example: The hungry animal had big, sharp teeth.
tiny (/ˈtaɪ.ni/, adjective)
Meaning: Extremely small in size.
Example: The giant dinosaur had tiny front arms.
hungry (/ˈhʌŋ.ɡri/, adjective)
Meaning: Wanting or needing food to eat.
Example: The hungry dinosaurs ate meat together.
protect (/prəˈtekt/, verb)
Meaning: To keep someone or something safe from harm.
Example: Short arms help protect the dinosaur from bites.
safety (/ˈseɪf.ti/, noun)
Meaning: Being safe from danger or hurt.
Example: Keeping arms close to the body is good for safety.
The Tyrannosaurus rex is a famous dinosaur. It is a giant animal with huge, sharp teeth. It eats meat and hunts in groups. However, it has very tiny arms! Scientists ask a big question: why are its arms so small?
Now, scientists have a new idea about these arms. When T. rex dinosaurs eat together, they get very hungry and excited. They use their big jaws to bite meat. If a T. rex has long arms, another dinosaur can accidentally bite them!
Tiny arms are safer for the T. rex. Smaller arms stay close to the body. This helps protect the dinosaur from dangerous bites during dinner. Over time, their arms become smaller for safety.
Also, T. rex uses its massive head to hunt. It does not need big arms to catch food. Its powerful jaws do all the hard work. Scientists think tiny arms are a smart feature for this giant meat-eater!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why do you think the T. rex is so famous?
2. Would you like to see a real dinosaur if it were alive today?
3. What other animals have small arms or legs?
4. Do you think hunting in groups is good for animals?
5. What is your favourite facts about dinosaurs?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: hungry, protect, giant, tiny
The Tyrannosaurus rex is a famous dinosaur. It is a _______(1) animal with huge, sharp teeth. It eats meat and hunts in groups. However, it has very tiny arms! Scientists ask a big question: why are its arms so small?
Now, scientists have a new idea about these arms. When T. rex dinosaurs eat together, they get very _______(2) and excited. They use their big jaws to bite meat. If a T. rex has long arms, another dinosaur can accidentally bite them!
Tiny arms are safer for the T. rex. Smaller arms stay close to the body. This helps _______(3) the dinosaur from dangerous bites during dinner. Over time, their arms become smaller for safety.
Also, T. rex uses its massive head to hunt. It does not need big arms to catch food. Its powerful jaws do all the hard work. Scientists think _______(4) arms are a smart feature for this giant meat-eater!
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this article?
a) T. rex used its small arms to climb tall trees.
b) T. rex had tiny arms to keep them safe while eating in groups.
c) T. rex had big arms that shrank because it swam too much.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. The T. rex is a small animal with tiny teeth. T/F
2. Long arms could easily get bitten during group meals. T/F
3. Scientists think tiny arms helped keep the dinosaur safe. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Order these statements from 1 to 3:
( ) Dinosaurs with smaller arms were safer during dinner.
( ) T. rex dinosaurs ate large meals together in groups.
( ) Over time, T. rex arms became very short.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. dinosaur
2. giant
3. sharp
4. protect
5. safety
a) To keep safe from harm
b) Being safe from danger
c) Able to cut things easily
d) An ancient large reptile
e) Extremely big or huge
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. The T. rex has _______ teeth that can bite meat.
a) sharp
b) tiny
c) soft
2. Small arms help _______ the animal from danger.
a) eat
b) protect
c) hunt
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. Unscramble: [A: rex] [B: giant] [C: The] [D: a] [E: T.] [F: is] [G: dinosaur.]
2. Unscramble: [A: arms] [B: Tiny] [C: safer] [D: are] [E: them.] [F: for]
ANSWER KEY
Answer Key - A1 Level
Warm Up Think Ahead Answer: b) T. rex had small arms to protect them during meals.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) giant
(2) hungry
(3) protect
(4) tiny
Section 2: Main Idea
b) T. rex had tiny arms to keep them safe while eating in groups.
Section 3: True or False
1. False
2. True
3. True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
2, 1, 3
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 - d, 2 - e, 3 - c, 4 - a, 5 - b
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. a) sharp
2. b) protect
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. C, E, A, F, D, B, G (The T. rex is a giant dinosaur.)
2. B, A, D, C, F, E (Tiny arms are safer for them.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Answers will vary depending on student opinion.
Thank you for your feedback!