[TOEFL/Writing] Question 1 : Private collectors

 The writer and the lecturer disagree with each other about the effects of gathering fossils. While the writer argued that private collectors put scientist and the public in negative circumstances, the lecturer disputed the claims presented in the article.

 First of all, the writer mentioned that the public lose their opportunity to view fossils that private collectors hold unless private collectors donate their fossils to museums or allow the public to see their fossils. On the other ahdn, the lecturer argued that fossils could be exposed to the public because of auctions to sell and buy fossils. Furthermore, not only private collectors but also libraries and museums also participate in puchasing fossils.

 Secondly, the writer stated that private collectors make it difficult for scientists to access important fossils, and this could lead to the loss of consequential evidence related to extinction. In addition, if scientists compete against fossil buyers, the scientists do fail to purchase fossils because fossil buyers are richer than scientists. In contrast, the lecturer mentioned that this arguemnt is not realistic. Only scientists can identify the value and details of fossils. This is why not private collectors but scientists must see fossils first.

 Lastly, the writer said private collectors could demolish priceless scientific evidence when discovering and carrying because they aremostly untrained and uninterested in fossils. However, the lecturer pointed out that a lot of fossils have been undiscovered in the state that the writer mentioned. Even if some damage is done, it is better than having fossils go undiscovered, which was more likely to have been the case when only scientists were doing the collecting.