國外英語考試-G-M-A-T-第1章分析性寫作

國外英語考試-G-M-A-T-第1章分析性寫作[問答題]1.◆Argument1OpeningastoreThefollowingappearedinamemorandumwritten（江南博哥）bythevicepresidentofNature’sWay,achainofstoressellinghealthfoodandotherhealth-relatedproducts.“Previousexperiencehasshownthatourstoresaremostprofidivinareaswhereresidentsarehighyconcernedwithleadinghealthylives.WeshouldthereforebuildournextnewstoreinPlalnsville,whichhasmanysuchresidents.Plainsivillemerchantsreportthatsalesofrunningshoesandexercisedothiogareatall-timehighs.Thelocalhealthclub,whichnearlyclosedfiveyearsagoduetolackofbusiness,hasmoremembersthanever,andtheweightdivainingandaerobicsclassesarealwaysfull.Wecanevenanticipateanewgenerationofcustomers:Plainsiville’sschoolchildrenarerequiredtoparticipateina‘fitnessforlife’program,whichemphasizesthebenefitsofregularexerciseatanearlyage.”Discusshowwell-reasonedyoufindthisargument.Inyourdiscussion,besuretoanalyzethelineofreasoningandtheuseofevidenceintheargument.Forexample,youmayneedtoconsiderwhatquestionableassumptionsunderliethethinkingandwhatalternativeexamplesorcounterexamplesmightweakentheconclusion.Youcanalsodiscusswhatsortofevidencewouldsdivengthenorrefutetheargument,whatchangesintheargumentwouldmakeitmorelogicallysound,andwhat,ifanything,wouldhelpyoubetterevaluateitsconclusion.正確答案：【參考范文】InthismemothevicepresidentofNature’sWay(NW),achainofstoressellinghealthfoodandhealth-relatedproducts,recommendsopeningastoreinPlainesville.TosupportthisrecommendationthevicepresidentcitesthefollowingfactsaboutPlainesville:(1)salesofexerciseshoesandclothingareatall-timehighs;(2)thelocalhealthclubismorepopularthanever;and(3)thecity’sschoolchildrenarerequiredtoparticipateinafitnessprogram.Closescrutinyofeachofthesefacts,however,revealsthatnoneofthemlendcrediblesupporttotherecommehdation.First,strongsalesofexerciseappareldonotnecessarilyindicatethatPlainesvilleresidentswouldbeinterestedinNW’sproducts,orthattheseresidentsareinterestedinexercising.Perhapsexerciseapparelhappenstobefashionableatthemoment,orinexpensivecomparedtoothertypesofclothing.Forthatmatter,perhapsthestronger-than-usualsalesareduetoincreasingsalestotourists.Inshort,withoutrulingoutotherpossiblereasonsforthestrongsalesthevicepresidentcannotconvincemeonthebasisofthemthatPlainesvilleresidentsareexercisingregularly,letalonethattheywouldbeinterestedinbuyingthesortsoffoodandotherproductsthatNWsells.Secondly,evenifexerciseismorepopularamongPlainesvilleresidentsthaneverbefore,thevicepresidentassumesfurtherthatpeoplewhoexerciseregularlyarealsointerestedinbuyinghealthfoodandhealth-relatedproducts.Yetthememocontainsnoevidencetosupportthisassumption.LackingsuchevidenceitisequallypossiblethatasidefronexercisingPlainesvilleresidentshavelittleinterestinleadingahealthylifestyle.Infact,perhapsasaresultofregularexercisetheybelievetheyaresufficientlyfitandhealthyanddonotneedaheathydiet.Thirdly,thepopularityofthelocalhealthclubislittleindicationthatNWwillearnaprofitfromastoreinPlalnesville.PerhapsclubmembemliveinanareaofPlainesvillenowherenearfeasiblesitesforaNWstore.Orperhapstheclub’sprimaryappealisasasinglesmeetingplace,andthatmembersactuallyhavelittleinterestinahealthylifestyle.Besides,eveniftheclub’smemberswouldpatronizeaNWstorethesemembersmightbeinsufficientinnumbertoensureaprofitforthestore,especiallyconsideringthatthishealthclubistheonlyoneinPlainesville.Fourth,thefactthatacertainfitnessprogramismandatoryforPlainesville’sschoolchildrenaccomplishesnothingtowardbolsteringtherecommendation.Manyyearsmustpassbeforethesechildrenwillbeoldenoughtomakebuyingdecisionswhenitcomestofoodandhealth-relatedproducts.Theirhabitsandinterestsmightchangeradicallyovertime.Besides,mandatoryparticipationisnoindicationofgenuineinterestinhealthorfitness.Moreover,whenthesechildrengrowolderitisentirelypossiblethattheywillfavoranunhealthylifestyle—asareactiontothehealthfulhabitsimposeduponthemnow.Finally,evenassumingthatPlainesvilleresidentsarestronglyinterestedineatinghealthfoodsandhealth-relatedproducts,therecommendationrestsontwoadditionalassumptions:(1)thatthisinterestwillcontinueintheforeseeablefuture,and(2)thatPlainesvilleresidentswillpreferNWoverothermerchantsthatsellsimilarproducts.UntilthevicepresidentsubstantiatesbothassumptionsIremainunconvincedthataNWstoreinPlainesvillewouldbeprofitable.Insum,therecommendmionreliesoncertiaindoubtfulassumptionsthatrenderitunconvincingasitstands.Tobolstertherecommendationthevicepresidentmustprovideclearevidence—perhapsbywayofalocalsurveyorstudy—thatPlainesvilleresidentswhobuyandwearexerciseapparel,andespeciallythehealthclub’smembers,doinfactexerciseregularly,andthattheseexercisersarelikelytobuyhealthfoodsandhealth-relatedproductsataNWstore.Tobetterassesstherecommendation,IwouldneedtoknowwhyPlainesville’shealthclubispopular,andwhyPlainesvilledoesnotcontainmorehealthclubs.IwouldalsoneedtoknowwhatcompetitionNWmightfaceinPlainesville.[問答題]2.◆Argument2MesaFoods：aprofidivinvestmentornot?ThefollowingappearedinamemorandumissuedbytheswategicplanningdepartmentatOmifiInc.“MesaFoods,amanufacturerofsnackfoodsthatcurrentlymarketsitsproductswithinarelativelysmallregionofthecoundivy,hassdivonggrowthpotential.Mesaeaioyeda20percentincreaseinprofitslastyear,anditsbest-sellingproduct,DiaboliqueSalsa,hashadincreasedsalesovereachofthepastthreeyears.SinceOmniInc.isinterestedinreaching14-to-25-yearolds,theagegroupthatconsumesthemostsnackfood,weshouldbuyMesaFoods,andconcendivateinparticularonmarketingDiaboliqueSalsathroughoutthecounlry.”Discusshowwell-reasonedyoufindthisargument.Inyourdiscussion,besuretoanalyzethelineofreasoningandtheuseofevidenceintheargument.Forexample,youmayneedtoconsiderwhatquestionableassumptionsunderliethethinkingandwhatalternativeexamplesorcounterexamplesmightweakentheconclusion.Youcanalsodiscusswhatsortofevidencewouldsdivengthenorrefutetheargument,whatchangesintheargumentwouldmakeitmorelogicallysound,andwhat,ifanything,wouldhelpyoubetterevaluateitsconclusion.正確答案：【參考范文】ThisOmni.Inc.memorandumrecommendsthatOmnibuysnack-foodmanufacturerMesaFoodsandaggressivelypromoteitsbrandofsalsanationwide.TosupportthisrecommendationthememoreliesontheexceptionalprofitabilityofMesa’ssalsaduringthelastthreeyears,alongwiththefactthatMesa’soverallprofitswereuplastyear.However,therecommendationreliesonaseriesofunsubstanliatedassumptions,whichrenderitunconvincingasitstands.Firstofall,thememoindicatesthatOmniisinterestedinsellingto14-to-25-year-olds.Accordingly,theargumentrestsontheassumptionthatMesa’ssnackfoodsappealtothisagegroup.Yet,wearenotinformedwhattypesofsnackfoodsMesamanufactures,asidefromitssalsa.ItisentirelypossiblethatMesa’sfoods,includingitssalsa,appealprimarilytootheragegroups.Ifthisisthecase,therecommendedacquisitionwouldnotserveOmni’sgoal.Secondly,theargumentrestsontheassumptionthatintheregionwhereMesa’sproductsaresoldthepreferencesofconsumersbetweentheagesof14and25typifynationwidepreferencesamongthisagegroup.Ifthisisnotthecase,thenitisentirelypossiblethatOmniwouldnotsellenoughMesasnackfoods,includingitssalsa,toearnaprofitfromitsMesaoperation.Thus,withoutmoremarketinginformationaboutthesnack-foodtastesof14-to-25-year-oldsnationwideitisdifficulttoasssessthemeritofthememo’srecommendation.Evenifthememo’sauthorcansubstantiatetheforegoingassumptions,theauthoroverlooksthepossibilitythatlastyear’s20%increaseinMesa’sprofitswasanaberration,andthatinmostotheryearsMesahasnotbeenprofitable.Also,the20%increasemighthavebeendueentirelytosalesofMesa’ssalsa,andasidefromtheprofitfromsalsasalesMesa’sprofitabilityisactuallydeclining.Ifeitheristhecase,andifMesa’ssalsadoesnotturnouttobepopularamong14-to-25-year-oldsacrossthenation,thenOmniisunlikelytoprofitfromtherecommendedcourseofaction.Inconclusion,therecommendationisnotwellsupported.ToconvincemethattheMesaFoodsacquisitionwouldbeprofitableOmniwouldneedtoprovideclearstatisticalevidencethatMesa’ssnackfoods,anditssalsainparticular,wouldappealto14-to-25-year-oldsnationwide.Tobetterevaluatetherecommendation,IwouldneedmoreinformationaboutMesa’sprofitabilityoveralongertimeperiod,andabouttheextenttowhichMesa’ssalsaaccountsforanysuchprofitability.[問答題]3.◆Argument3Computerizedon-boardwarningsystemThefollowingappearedaspartofanarticleinadailynewspaper:“Thecomputerizedon-boardwarningsystemthatwillbeinstalledincommercialairlinerswillvirtuallysolvetheproblemofmidairplanecollisions.Oneplane’swarningsystemcanreceivesignalsfromanother’sdivansponder—aradiosetthatsignalsaplane’scourse—inordertodeterminethelikelihoodofacollisionandrecommendevasiveaction.”Discusshowwellreasonedyoufindthisargument.Inyourdiscussion,besuretoanalyzethelineofreasoningandtheuseofevidenceintheargument.Forexample,youmayneedtoconsiderwhatquestionableassumptionsunderliethethinkingandwhatalternativeexplanationsorcounterexamplesmightweakentheconclusion.Youcanalsodiscusswhatsortofevidencewouldsdivengthenorrefutetheargument,whatchangesintheargumentwouldmakeit,morelogicallysound,andwhat,ifanything,wouldhelpyoubetterevaluateitsconclusion.正確答案：【參考范文】Theargumentthatthiswarningsystemwillvirtuallysolvetheproblemofmidairplanecollisionsomitssomeimportantconcernsthatmustbeaddressedtosubstantiatetheargument.Thestatementthatfollowsthedescriptionofwhatthiswarningsystemwilldosimplydescribesthesystemandhowitoperates.Thisalonedoesnotconstitutealogicalargumentinfavorofthewarningsystem,anditcertainlydoesnotprovidesupportorproofofthemainargument.Mostconspicuously,theargumentdoesnotaddressthecauseoftheproblemofmidairplanecollisions,theuseofthesystembypilotsandflightspecialists,orwhoisinvolvedinthemidairplanecollisions.First,theargumentassumesthatthecauseoftheproblemisthattheplanes’courses,thelikelihoodofcollisions,andactionstoavoidcollisionsareunknownorinaccurate.Inaweakattempttosupportitsclaim,theargumentdescribesasystemthatmakesallofthesethingsaccuratelyknown.Butifthecauseoftheproblemofmidairplanecollisionsisthatpilotsarenotpayingattentiontotheircomputersystemsorflightoperations,thewarningsystemwillnotsolvethecollisionproblem.Second,theargumentneveraddressestheinterfacebetweenindividualsandthesystemandhowthiswillaffectthewarningsystem’sobjectiveofobliteratingtheproblemofcollisions.Ifthepilotorflightspecialistdoesnotconformtowhatthewarningsystemsuggests,midaircollisionswillnotbeavoided.Finally,ifplanesotherthancommercialairlinersareinvolvedinthecollisions,theproblemofthesecollisionscannotbesolvedbyawarningsystemthatwillnotbeinstalledonnon-commercialairliners.Theargumentalsodoesnotaddresswhatwouldhappenintheeventthatthewarningsystemcollapses,fails,ordoesnotworkproperly.Becausetheargumentleavesoutseveralkeyissues,itisnotsoundorpersuasive.Ifitincludedtheitemsdiscussedaboveinsteadofsolelyexplainingwhatthesystemsupposedlydoes,theargumentwouldhavebeenmorethoroughandconvincing.[問答題]4.◆Argument4PiracyofdigitalmusicThefollowingisadivanscriptofastatementmadebyarecordingindusdivyexecutiveatanindusdivyconference:“Themusicrecordingindusdivyissufferinggraveeconomiclossesduetothewidespreadpiracyofdigitalmusic.Thisfatewasaninevidivresultoftheindusdivy’smisguideddecisiontoswitchfromtheanalogueformatofvinylrecordstothedigitalformatsusedtodayoncompactdisksandcomputerfiles.Copyingavinylrecordrequiresexpensiveandbulkymachinery,whereasanyonewithacomputerandanInternetconnectioncanstartupamusicpiracybusiness.Toboostmusicrevenues,therecordingindusdivyshouldswitchentirelybacktotheanalogueformatofvinylrecords.Also,Icanstatewithcompleteauthoritythatmusicjustsoundsbetteronavinylrecord.”Discusshowwell-reasonedyoufindthisargument.Inyourdiscussion,besuretoanalyzethelineofreasoningandtheuseofevidenceintheargument.Forexample,youmayneedtoconsiderwhatquestionableassumptionsunderliethethinkingandwhatalternativeexamplesorcounterexamplesmightweakentheconclusion.Youcanalsodiscusswhatsortofevidencewouldsdivengthenorrefutetheargument,whatchangesintheargumentwouldmakeitmorelogicallysound,andwhat,ifanything,wouldhelpyoubetterevaluateitsconclusion.正確答案：【參考范文】Therecordingindustryexecutivearguesthatinordertostemthetideofeconomiclossesduetodigitalmusicpiracy,themusicrecordingindustryshouldabandonthedigitalformatentirelyinfavoroftheoldanalogueformatofvinylrecords.Whiletheexecutivedoesaddressasignificantcurrentproblemforthemusicindustry,thelogicofhisargumentandtheconclusionhereachesarebothfundamentallyflawed.Notonlydothepremisesofhisargumentfailtosupportadequatelyhisconclusion,buthisconclusionwould,ifimplemented,domoreharmtothemusicindustrythaniscurrentlyinflictedbypiracy.Tobeginwith,hispremisesareflawed.Itisinaccuratetocharacterizetheeffectsofdigitalformatsonthemusicindustryas“graveeconomiclosses”wheninfactthemusicindustryhasreapedfarhigherrevenuesbysellingmusicindigitalformat—primarilycompactdisks—thaniteverearnedintheoldanaloguedaysofvinyl.Also,hissomewhatirrelevantstatementthat“musicjustsoundsbetteronvinyl”issupportedonlybyhispersonalauthority,whichinthiscontextcannotreasonablybecharacterizedas“complete.”Finally,hisassumptionthatswitchingtovinylrecordswillhaltmusicpiracyduetotechnicalcomplicationsisinherentlyflawed,becausethosevinylrecordscouldveryeasilyberecordedontodigitalformatsandthendistributedovertheInternet.Hischosensolutiondoesnotactuallysolvehisspecifiedproblem.Theexe