▶ Your Answer :
The reading passage argues that the growth of human
population and associated increase in agriculture and pesticide will bring
about the decline of bird population. However, the lecturer disagrees with the
idea regarding the decline and makes points against the author's claims.
First, the lecturer argues that urban development makes bird
habitats better and larger, so this provides good habitats for some bird
species. To be specific, unbar dwellers claim that some bird species'
populations have been increased. She takes increased population of hawks and
pigeons in urban areas as an example. This directly casts doubt on the first
point of the reading passage that the bird habitats continue to disappear
because of the growth of human populations and settlements, which is the reason
for the decline of the population of birds.
Second, the lecturer contends that less areas than the size
of areas the author claims for the increased agricultural activities can be used
thanks to the new crops which produce large yields in the same area. Therefore,
there is no need to destroy the wildness areas. This contradicts the author's
contention that increased human population results in a growth of agriculture,
bringing about less wild areas for bird habitats and thus the decline of the
bird population.
Finally, the speaker asserts that newly developed pesticides
are much less toxic than the old pesticides. Also, the pest-resistant crops are
developed, so they likely need less pesticides for their growth. Furthermore, she
mentions that the pest-resistant crops don't harm bird at all. This effectively
challenges the author's assertion that there will be a continuous need to use
harmful chemical pesticides that negatively affects food chain and reproduction
associated bird population and accordingly results in the decline of bird
population. |