TPO-28 - Integrated Writing Task Robert E. Peary was a well-known adventurer and arctic explorer who in 1909 set out to reach the North Pole. When he returned from the expedition, he claimed to have reached the pole on April 7, 1909. This report made him

In this set of materials, the article introduces three reasons to support the Pearys's claim about reaching North Pole in 1909. However, the lecturer raises questions on the ideas and presents some evidence to refute them all. First of all, the author of the reading passage asserts that a committee of National Geographic Society investigated about Peary's adventure and this committee approved his claim. In the contrary, the professor mentions that this committee was Peary's close friends; therefore, they were biased towards their friend. According to the speaker, they just spent 2 days to study Peary's travel to North Pole and they couldn't examine exactly about the details of Peary's adventure, so this committee's verdict is not trustworthy. Furthermore, the article posits that Tom Avery could reach the North Pole in less than 37 days, so Peary's travel in 37 days is not impossible at that time. Conversely, the professor believes that these two travels by Tom Avery and Peary were different in several aspects. She indicates that Peary's dogsled had more weight because he had to bring the food that he needed during his travel. While, Tom Avery received his food by a supporting airplane. Also, Peary experienced harder climate during his journey, subsequently Avery traveled faster than Peary. Finally, the professor was not convinced that photographs taken by Peary is a secure reason to supports his claim, which is the last mentioned evidence in the reading passage. The speaker says that this picture belongs to 100 years ago, consequently, the shadows are faded over time meanwhile examining Peary's travel need more accurate picture. Moreover, researchers studied this picture very precisely and they concluded different results.