▶ Your Answer :
Both the
reading and the lecture have contradictory opinions about causes of marsupials'
extinction in some areas. Although the writer proposes three possible reasons
that marsupials had hard time adapting to their environments, the professor in
the lecture indicates that these reasons have problems.
To begin
with, the professor mentions that marsupials carry their babies more carefully.
For example, kangaroos used their pouches to grow their babies and these habits
are very useful to protect their babies. Also babies drink mothers' milk, and
mothers' milk can improve babies’ immune systems. This rebuts the writer's
assertion that baby marsupials are easy to die due to their undeveloped birth.
Moreover,
the professor goes on to say that they can survive in harsh weathers by eating
slowly. It is very useful because they can live long period without foods.
Moreover, they can regulate their body temperature easily by preventing their
body from overheating in hot dry places. This contradicts the writer's viewpoint
that marsupials died out in harsh weather due to their low metabolic rate.
Lastly, the
professor mentions that marsupials more lived in some places well such as
Australia rather than other species. In the past, lots of species lived in
Australia, however many species died out, but marsupials did not. This means
that marsupials more adapt in some areas well. This counters writer's claim
that marsupials died out due to being outcompeted by mammals. |