▶ Your Answer :
The reading passage contends that the function of antlers can be fully explained by three theories. On the other hand, the lecturer brings up several points to contradict this argument.
First, the speaker argues that male deers use a variety of methods to establish dominance in competition for mates. This refutes the reading passage's claim that antlers play a key role in attracting mates. For example, males can use vocalization or body postures to attract females. Also, the speaker mentions that female deers often select males that have small antlers even when males having large antlers are available. This casts doubt on the writer's claim that female deers prefer to mate with males with large antlers.
Second, according to the lecturer, it is wrong to say that male deers use their antlers to mark their territories on trees. The reason is that deers detect each others' territories by scent, not by the visual marks. Also, deers can rub their antlers against trees or bushes in order to remove the outer skin of antlers, not to make warning signals. This counters the reading passage's argument that deers use antlers to create visual marks on trees to indicate their territories.
The final point made by the lecturer is that there is no reason to assume that antlers function as a defensive mechanism. If antlers had been used to defend, they could have existed all year around, but they shed in winter. Also, female deers raise their offsprings without males' protections, and most of them do not have antlers, which means antlers are not needed to defend themselves or their offsprings. This refutes the reading passage's assertion that deers use antlers to protect themselves from predators. |