The reading and the lecture both talk about
reasons for whales strandings. In the reading passage there is ample support
for the author’s claim that there are three reasons why whales stranding happens.
However, the professor in the lecture gives several reasons as a rebuttal to
the author’s point.
Firstly, the reading passage says that wind
patterns cause whales strandings.
On the contrary, the professor from
listening disagrees with this statement. She argues thrat whale strandings result
from wind patterns is inaccurate. The wind theory does not account for the fact
that whale strandings take place around the world in places with a variety of
wind patterns. For example, whales came ashore on the east coast of the U.S where
wind blew to the opposite direction.
Secondly, in the reading, the author
insists that whales are coming because of illness. In contrast, the lecturer from
listening makes an opposing point to this claim. The point is that strandings
due to illness is unreliable. It does not explain why healthy whales often
become stranded as well. Moreover, it is common for people to push stranded whales
back into the water. Most stranded whales are able to swim back out to sea instead
of washing back onto the beach.
Finally, the reading passage goes on to say
that the geological feature of certain coastlines such as gentle slope may make
whales become disoriented. However, the professor from listening contradicts
this statement, arguing that gently sloping shorelines interfering with a whale’s
sonar system cannot be true. This is because only some whales end up stranded
on beaches, but all whales use similar sonar system. Furthermore, whales that
inhabit shallow water rarely become stranded.