Why are the sea otter populations declining?
(I wrote this text based on two differents points of view about the sea otter populations decline. The first one is a text that defends the idea that this decline has been caused by environmental pollution. The other one is a lecture in which the professor refutes the text arguments.)
The professor disagree with the hypothesis that the environmental pollution is the cause of the sea otter populations decline.
First, she talked about the idea that the increased levels of industrial chemicals is decreasing the otters resistance to life-threatening infections and thus could be indirectly causing the deaths. The professor pointed that as the deaths can be explained by this idea it can also be explained by predatory activity.
After that, she clarified why the orcas can be hunting small animals. Orcas usually hunt big animals, but because of the human activity, the population of its prey have declined. Then, orcas have to start hunting smaller animals.
In the end of the lecture, she pointed why the uneven pattern of this decline can be also explained by the predatory activity. Orcas are large animals. Because of it, they are not able to fit in some places. By the way, the places where the otter populations are not declining are the same where orcas can not have space for being.
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Corrections · 1
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Why are the sea otter populations declining?
The professor disagreed [1] with the hypothesis that the environmental pollution is the cause of the sea otter populations decline.
First, she talked about the idea that the increased levels of industrial chemicals is are [9]decreasing the otters resistance to life-threatening infections and thus could be indirectly causing the deaths. The professor pointed out [2] that as the deaths can be explained by this idea, [3] it they [10]can also be explained by predatory activity.
After that, she clarified why the orcas can be hunting small animals [11]. Orcas usually hunt big animals, but because of the [4] human activity, the population of its prey have declined. Then, orcas have to start hunting smaller animals.
In the end of the lecture, she pointed out [2] why the uneven pattern of this decline can be also explained by the [5] predatory activity. Orcas are large animals. Because of it this, [6] they are not able to fit in some places. By the way, the places where the otter populations are not declining are the same where orcas can do [7] not have space for being in. [8]
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Notes for why the correction is placed are below:
[1] Past tense of the verb is required because the paragraph after this sentence is in the past tense.
[2] "To point out" is the verb needed here. English speakers don't say, "She pointed that this is the case [that this is what's happening]." However, in "She pointed that this is the case," this sentence could be used to say that a woman is pointing to a container. "To point" means in this scenario: "[INTRANSITIVE] to show a particular direction or place, usually using a sign or symbol" -- https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/point_2
[3] Comma added so that it's clear the start of the sentence is introducing the reader to another possible cause of the decline.
[4] It's only "human activity" and not "the human activity" because "the human activity" isn't used. I don't hear English speakers say "the human activity."
[5] Similar reason to [4]. Without "the", "predatory activity" is understood to mean the activity of predators in some unspecified area. However, unlike [4], "the predatory activity of [some animal] is..." is a sentence that could be used.
[6] "Because of it" doesn't sound right. It should be "Because of this/that" because English speakers don't usually say "because of it." I don't have a good reason why this is the case.
[7] More natural to say "do" there instead of "can." However, you may also like to replace the sentence's end with, "... are the same where orcas are unable to live in."
[8] The added word, "in" is to make the sentence sound right. Still, "being" by itself would work. It's an uncommon word choice, I think.
[9] Use "are" because the verb is associated with the plural noun "levels of..."
[10] "They" is used because we are referring to "deaths", a plural.
[11] Consider replacing this deleted part with "she stated her case that orcas may be hunting otters."
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