11977. THE EXTINCTION OF THE DINOSAURS. This investigation examines two contemporary theories which are widely held to be the most plausible explanations of the disappearance of the dinosaurs: 1) the "impact theory" which holds that a cataclysmic extraterrestrial event (collision of an asteroid or meteor with the earth) caused changes leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs; and 2) the "volcanism" theory which holds that volcanic activity (both the eruption of volcanoes and the sudden quiescence of eruptions) holds the key to mass extinctions. The concluding section offers an opinion about which theory best explains the extinction of the dinosaurs. 13p. 39f. 20b.