Final answer:
The statement is true; while non-avian dinosaurs went extinct, birds, which evolved from theropod dinosaurs, are their living descendants, carrying on the dinosaurian lineage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Dinosaurs did not go extinct because they gave rise to birds" is true. It's a well-established fact in paleontology that birds evolved from a group of theropod dinosaurs. This evolutionary lineage means that while the non-avian dinosaurs did become extinct, their descendants, the avian dinosaurs or birds, survived and continue to thrive today.
During the Mesozoic era, particularly the Cretaceous period, an extinction event wiped out most of the large-bodied animals, including non-avian dinosaurs. However, one group of theropod dinosaurs gave rise to modern birds. This is evidenced by similarities in bone structure and the intricate flow-through respiratory system that is shared between birds and theropod dinosaurs. Notable examples of early bird ancestors include Archaeopteryx and Deinonychus, which highlight the transition from dinosaurian features to avian characteristics.
Dinosaurs did not go extinct because they gave rise to birds. The fossil record and scientific research provide overwhelming evidence that birds evolved from a group of dinosaurs called theropods. These dinosaurs were bipedal predators and over time, they evolved into the birds we see today. For example, Archaeopteryx and Xiaotingia, flying dinosaurs from millions of years ago, are believed to be early precursors of birds. The structure of their bones and their respiratory systems show similarities to those of modern birds.