TPO 18 - Integrated TOEFL essay

In this set of materials, the reading passage declares that the population of an evergreen species of trees, Torreya taxifoha, is decreased and this tree is in danger of extinction. The reading brings up three different methods to avoid the extinction. However, the lecturer states that none of them provide a satisfactory solution and presents some evidence to refute them all.

First, the author of the passage states that reestablishing Torreya in it habitat can help the plant survive. In contrast, the lecturer rejects the idea and believes that it is unlikely to succeed since a large area of Florida, where this plant grows, is affected by global warming and a large area of this region has drained. Therefore, anywhere in Florida has not a suitable climate for Torreya which needs wet places.

Furthermore, it is mentioned in the reading passage that Torreya can be moved and planted in a different area than Florida where the climate suits this tree. On the contrary, the professor provides a similar example that another species of plants, namely black locust, was moved to another environment in which it killed other plants in the new place so that they are in danger of becoming extinct. Therefore, changing a species environment ca have unpredictable impacts on the new place.

Finally, the reading passage claims that the seeds of Torreya can be planted in protected and monitored areas by scientists to conserve the species and do research on it. Conversely, the lecturer disagrees with the idea because the protected areas are small and do not have enough capacity to protect Torreyas from disease. Torreya trees need large areas and genetically diverse types to resist diseases which cannot be prepared in limited space of protected areas.