GMAT考试写作指导：Argument范文十四

　　74. In this argument the author predicts a nationwide labor shortage in the near future.

　　The basis for this prediction is an increasing demand for highly skilled workers,

　　especially in technical and professional fields, coupled with a slow-growing labor force

　　and a government proposal to cut funds for aid to education. At first glance, the authors

　　argument appears to be somewhat convincing: but further reflection reveals that it is

　　based on some dubious assumptions.

　　In the first place the author assumes that the present labor force is immobile and

　　that the demand for highly skilled workers will have to be met by workers who are

　　entering the labor market for the first time. Recent American history, however, shows

　　that this assumption is entirely unfounded. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution

　　most Americans were farm workers, but by the end of that revolution most had become

　　factory workers. Thus, even though the labor pool remained relatively constant during

　　this period, the number of farm workers decreased and the number of factory workers

　　increased. This example clearly demonstrates the mobility of the labor force.

　　In the second place, the author assumes that the government proposal to cut funds

　　for aid to education will have a significant negative impact on the ability to train

　　workers in technical and professional fields. The fact is, however, that the percentage of

　　students who rely on government aid for their education is relatively small, so the effect

　　of such cuts would be negligible.

　　In conclusion, this argument is unconvincing. To strengthen the argument the

　　author would have to show that the present work force was relatively static and that the

　　proposed ours i educational aid would have a deleterious effect on the numbers of high

　　skilled workers available to enter the work force in the future.