The extinction of the dodo bird, a flightless bird native to Mauritius, is often attributed solely to human overhunting by Dutch sailors in the 17th century. However, a closer examination reveals that human activity alone cannot account for its rapid disappearance. Three additional factors likely played a critical role. First, the introduction of invasive species, such as rats, pigs, and monkeys, by European ships devastated dodo nests. These animals preyed on dodo eggs and chicks, which had evolved without natural predators, leaving the birds unable to cope with such threats. Second, habitat destruction due to deforestation for agriculture and settlement reduced the dodo’s food sources and nesting areas. The dodo relied on specific fruits and seeds from native trees, and as forests were cleared, the bird’s survival became untenable. Third, a series of severe cyclones in the 1630s, possibly exacerbated by climate shifts, may have decimated the dodo population directly. These storms would have destroyed nests and killed adult birds, weakening the species before human contact intensified. Thus, while hunting contributed, the dodo’s extinction was a complex interplay of ecological invasions, habitat loss, and natural disasters, not simply human overexploitation.
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The reading’s claim that factors other than human hunting caused the dodo’s extinction is misleading. While invasive species, habitat destruction, and cyclones may have had some impact, they were secondary to the direct and overwhelming effects of human hunting. First, invasive predators like rats and pigs were introduced by humans, but their impact was limited because the dodo population was already in steep decline due to hunting. Historical records from Dutch sailors indicate that they hunted dodos in massive numbers for food, and they also destroyed nests to collect eggs, which was a more immediate threat than predation by introduced species. Second, deforestation was not extensive during the 17th century on Mauritius; only a small portion of the island was cleared for temporary settlements. The dodo’s habitat remained largely intact until after the bird was already rare. Third, cyclones are a natural occurrence in the region and had struck Mauritius for millennia without causing extinction. The dodo had survived such storms before humans arrived. The decisive factor was the arrival of humans, who killed dodos faster than they could reproduce. Therefore, the reading’s emphasis on other causes distracts from the primary responsibility of human hunting.
📝 Writing Prompt Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on the specific points made in the reading passage.
📊 TOEFL Integrated Writing Rubric
Content Accuracy: Accurately capture the relationship between lecture and reading
Information Completeness: Cover all key counter-arguments from the lecture
Structure & Coherence: Logical organization and progression
Language Use: Grammar, vocabulary, expression accuracy
Scored 0-30 based on holistic scoring (original 0-5, scaled to 30).
