TPO 4: Task 1

The professor discusses the passage's claim that the dinosaurs are endotherms and refutes each of the author's points by providing examples and explanations. The information she presents contradicts the facts outlined in the reading passage.

First, the professor states that the polar regions in the past were much warmer than today. Moreover, during cold climates, the dinosaurs might either migrate to warmer places or hibernate as many animals do. Hence, the article's point that only endotherms could live in polar environments is not persuasive as it stands.

Second, the professor is against the reason based on leg position and movement. According to the professor, the legs are positioned underneath the dinosaurs’ body in order to support their large weight. Actually, the huge size of the dinosaurs is their advantage and it does not have any logical relationship with their running abilities. Therefore, the reading passage fails to consider this important factor in its line of reasoning. It is acceptable to assert that dinosaurs are endothemrs due to leg positions only.

Third, the professor indicates that Haversian canals can not prove that dinosaurs are endothemrs by itself. Other factors could contribute in. As the professor said, dinosaurs also have Growth Rings in their bone structures, which is an evidence that dinosaurs weren't growing rapidly. Taking this evidence into consideration, scientists conclude that there were both rapid and slow growth rates in the growing process of dinosaurs; and this clearly indicates that dinosaurs might not be endotherms. However, the reading passage says the otherwise and makes a misleading conclusion based on the superficial observation of Haversian canals.