▶ Your Answer :
In the reading passage, there is ample
support for the author’s claim that larvae of the emerald ash borer can be
removed by several ways such as removing trees, using chemical treatment and
biological pest control. However, the professor in the lecture gives several
reasons as a rebuttal to the author’s point.
First, the professor contends that it is not
effective at all to remove affected tress. The reason is that, since symptoms
start to be shown in one to two years, there is a high chance that larvae are
already spread to other healthy trees. And this method can be performed only in
urban areas. In addition, it takes too much time to investigate every single
tree one by one. This casts doubt on the reading passage’s claim that
destroying affected tress easily can solve the problem.
Second, the professor insists that applying a
chemical treatment can be highly dangerous. This is because round water flowing
under the area where a chemical treatment is used is likely to be contaminated.
And the number of larvae can change the effect as well. This method could
rather cause the circulation system of trees to be messed up when there are not
a lot of larvae. This counters the reading passage’s assertion that stopping
the borers from laying eggs and killing off larvae by using a chemical
treatment such as insecticides would be a proper solution to the problem.
Finally,
the professor argues that biological pest control couldn’t be a great way to
destroy larvae. Basically, the survival rate of wasps depends a lot on the
region and it’s known that they barely survive cold winter. Thus, it’s always possible
that this method could completely turn useless. Furthermore, these wasps can spread
out and kill random animals that unexpected consequences could be caused. This
refutes the reading passage’s suggestion that releasing wasps in the area were
the larvae are settled can alleviate the problem. |