▶ Your Answer :
The reading passage contends that humans
have long been fascinated by elephants, the largest land animal in the modern
world. On the other hand, the lecturer brings up several points that contradict
to this point.
First of all, the lecturer argues that
elephants are not aware of approaching death. The article believes that when
elephants become old and weak, they know that they are nearing the end of their
lives so they go off alone to certain location. It is true that the elephants
die nearby water. However, since they are becoming old, it is hard for them to
chew due to their vulnerable teeth. Consequently, they wonder around herds
which is nearby water in order to find soft vegetable, not to die alone.
Therefore, the first point made by the passage is contradicted because old
elephants did not seem aware that when they will die soon.
Moreover, the lecturer points out that
elephants do not seem to have artistic ability. It is true that the elephants
can be taught to hold a paintbrush in their trunk and use it to paint on canvas.
However, elephants can do this because they are trained with some tricks. In
fact, when the trainers teach elephants how to draw, they touch elephants’ ears
which are sensitive to them. It will be helpful to elephants to painting a line
with certain patterns. Although the article said some elephants have been known
to paint drawings like flowers, the lecturer refutes this point that they are
holding a brush, rather than painting. Consequently, the passage is
contradicted that elephants have a talent to produce art representing the world
around them.
Last but not least, the lecturer disagrees
with the point made in the reading passage that the elephants have a fear of
mice. It is true that the elephants which have no experience of seeing mice
will have a fear. However, this is because the elephants are unfamiliar with
mice, not because mice are scary animal. In fact, it is natural instinct that
animals have fear to what they have never encountered. Once the elephants know
that the mice will not pose the threat, the elephants will never mind with the
mice.
With both reading passage and the lecturer
deal with the perspective of the elephants, the lecturer effectively opposes
all of the specific points presented in the reading.
|