The reading passage argues that the extinction of the dodo bird was primarily caused by direct human hunting. However, the professor in the lecture disputes this claim and provides alternative explanations, including habitat destruction and the introduction of non-native species. First, while the reading states that sailors and settlers hunted dodos excessively for food, leading to their decline, the professor challenges this idea by explaining that dodos were not a primary food source. He notes that early records indicate that the meat of the dodo was not particularly tasty, so it is unlikely that hunting alone caused their extinction. Additionally, because dodos lived in remote forests, they were not easy to find and hunt in large numbers. Second, the reading argues that human activities caused a rapid decline in the dodo population. The professor refutes this by pointing out that a greater threat came from non-native animals introduced by humans. He explains that settlers brought rats, monkeys, and pigs to Mauritius, and these animals fed on dodo eggs, which were laid on the ground. Since dodos had no natural defenses against these new predators, their populations declined drastically. Finally, the reading suggests that the dodo’s extinction was a direct result of overhunting. In contrast, the professor argues that habitat destruction played a much larger role. As humans cleared forests for settlement and agriculture, the dodo’s natural habitat shrank, leaving the birds with fewer places to find food and nest safely. This environmental change, combined with egg predation, contributed more significantly to their extinction than hunting did. In conclusion, while the reading claims that human hunting was the primary cause of the dodo’s extinction, the professor disputes this claim by arguing that introduced species and habitat destruction were more responsible for their disappearance. These factors, rather than direct hunting, led to the dodo’s eventual extinction.