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  3. The functions of zoos range from tourist attraction to groundbreaking researc

The functions of zoos range from tourist attraction to groundbreaking researc

游客2024-01-04  44
问题    The functions of zoos range from tourist attraction to groundbreaking research facility. Although there are some members of society who feel zoos violate an ethical precept regarding the treatment of animal life, it must be argued that zoos are positive institutions. After all, the benefits they provide for both humans and animals are numerous.
   One of the most vital purposes of zoos is the protection and continuation of endangered species. Some of Earth’s rarest animals face the very real possibility of going extinct in the wild, and in such cases zoos offer a safe haven for the species. Under the protective care of zoo personnel, these animals have a better chance of not only surviving but also of procreating and thus rebuilding their populations. There are several examples of endangered species that, once nearly extinct in the wild, have made a resurgence thanks to captive breeding programs, including the bison, American condor, and many species of wolves.
   Furthermore, zoos benefit animals by allowing them to be easily studied by scientists. Depending on the species, it can be very difficult to conduct research on certain animals in the wild, as they may live in remote regions or be difficult to track. Yet, when these species are contained within the zoo environment, researchers have ample opportunity to learn about their behaviors and habits of survival. This knowledge, in turn, helps us better protect the animals in their natural habitats.
   Another point worth noting is that zoos enrich the lives of humans as well as animals. Zoo visitors are afforded the opportunity to observe firsthand species that they would never encounter outside of a captive setting. This experience serves to increase interest in the world’s diverse animals and promote their preservation. Although it is possible to become familiar with wildlife through textbooks and other traditional educational materials, nothing quite compares to the direct contact with animals that people enjoy at zoos.
   [L]ECTURE

   [R]ESPONSE
   Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubts on the points made in the reading passage.
   225 WORDS
选项
答案  [L]ECTURE
   SCRIRT Professor (female)
   There’s a school of thought out there-and, really, it’s the dominant school of thought-that says zoos are beneficial...both to humans and the animals in captivity. As you’ve seen, various reasons are given in support of this. But, you should be aware of a different school of thought, one at the opposite end of the spectrum, really. It basically calls into question the value of zoos, and I think it makes some very valid points.
   Let’s look at the idea that zoos can save animals from extinction. I want you to think about the typical Zoo exhibit and how many animals it contains. Not very many, right? And if the animal in question is endangered or very rare, there are probably even fewer. So, my point is that captive breeding programs don’t have access to an adequate number of individuals of a species to help them make a comeback. If you try to create a brand new population from a limited number of individuals, you’re going to encounter some terrible genetic problems...and for every successful case of a captive breeding program, there are many others that have failed for this reason. Next, some people claim that zoos give scientists the chance to conduct invaluable research on animal behavior. But this claim is overlooking one very important point-- the animals being observed aren’t in their natural habitats. They’re in captivity. And it’s been shown time and time again that animals in captivity behave very differently than they do in the wild. Obviously, then, any information scientists collect about zoo animals is very likely inaccurate.
   But don’t zoos serve an educational function as well, stimulating interest and concern in visitors? The answer here is yes...maybe. It all depends on the motivation of the visitor, doesn’t it? If they go with the intention to learn, then yes, they’ll learn a lot. But I think the majority of visitors to zoos go looking for nothing more than a good time, to be entertained. This turns the animals into mere a spectacle rather than a learning opportunity. When it comes down to it, there are plenty of other, more responsible ways to learn about animals than zoo exhibits.
   [R]ESPONSE
   The reading passage lists three benefits of zoos; however, the professor claims that those benefits are made insignificant by more serious drawbacks.
   To begin with, the professor highlights the failures of captive breeding programs. This refutes the reading passage’s assertion that zoos can help protect animals on the brink of extinction. The professor says that zoos seldom, if ever, have enough individuals to launch a viable recovery program for the endangered species.
   Next, the professor explains that animal research carried out in a zoo is misleading because the animals are not in their natural habitat. This is in opposition to the claim in the reading passage about how zoos provide scientists with ample opportunity to learn about certain animals in order to better protect them in the wild. Instead, the professor explains that animals act differently in captivity, so the findings would be invalid.
   Lastly, the professor proposes that zoos are not inherently educational and that they in fact present animals as more of a spectacle than a real educational opportunity. This completely counters the reading passage’s point that zoos are educational tools that raise awareness about the world’s animals. The professor maintains that there are more ethical ways to study animals.
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