The following appeared as part of an annual report sent to stockholders by Olympic Foods, a processor of frozen foods.
Over time, the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. In color film processing, for example, the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970 to 20 cents for one-day service in 1984. The same principle applies to the processing of food. And since Olympic Foods will soon celebrate its twenty-fifth birthday, we can expect that our long experience will enable us to minimize costs and thus maximize profits.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
Citing facts drawn from the color-film processing industry that indicate a downward trend in the costs of film processing over a 24-year period, the author argues that Olympic Foods will likewise be able to minimize costs and thus maximize profits in the future. In support of this conclusion the author cites the general principle that as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. This principle, coupled with the fact that Olympic Foods has had 25 years of experience in the food processing industry leads to the authors rosy prediction. This argument is unconvincing because it suffers from two critical flaws.
First, the authors forecast of minimal costs and maximum profits rests on the gratuitous assumption that Olympic Foods long experience has taught it how to do things better. There is, however, no guarantee that this is the case. Nor does the author cite any evidence to support this assumption. Just as likely, Olympic Foods has learned nothing from its 25 years in the food-processing business. Lacking this assumption, the expectation of increased efficiency is entirely unfounded.
Second, it is highly doubtful that the facts drawn from the color-film processing industry are applicable to the food processing industry. Differences between the two industries clearly outweigh the similarities, thus making the analogy highly less than valid. For example, problems of spoilage, contamination, and timely transportation all affect the food industry but are virtually absent in the film-processing industry. Problems such as these might present insurmountable obstacles that prevent lowering food-processing costs in the future.
As it stands the authors argument is not compelling. To strengthen the conclusion that Olympic Foods will enjoy minimal costs and maximum profits in the future, the author would have to provide evidence that the company has learned how to do things better as a result of its 25 years of experience. Supporting examples drawn from industries more similar to the food-processing industry would further substantiate the authors view.
小编提醒:考生们可在日常生活中多读范文,多练笔,培养出好的语感和逻辑,这样才能在考试中写出优秀的作文。
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson29-30
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson33-34
你逃避现实了吗?
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson1-2
跑步者:并不是只有热爱跑步的人
如何用英语谈生意②
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson9-10
如何用英语谈生意④
用认真的态度对待自己,才会得到别人的尊重
趣味英语口语解释③
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson5-6
趣味英语口语解释④
日常口语对话
暖心小故事⑤
趣味英语口语解释②
暖心小故事⑥
谈判时如何表达自己的观点
国外的重要节日
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson13-14
暖心小故事④
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson35-36
如何用英语谈生意①
学会说“不”
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson25-26
商业书信:外贸函电③
商业书信:外贸函电⑤
暖心小故事②
新概念英语教材详解:第一册 Lesson21-22
银行业务常用语
趣味英语口语解释①
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