[a习作temp] 新G Argument 64 求指点 [复制链接]

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发表于 2011-10-1 11:25:13 |只看该作者 |倒序浏览

Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such realistic precision. Since archaeologists have recently discovered molds of human heads and hands on Kali, we can now conclude that the ancient Kalinese artists used molds of actual bodies, not sculpting tools and techniques, to create these statues. This discovery explains why Kalinese miniature statues were abstract and entirely different in style: molds could be used only for life-size sculptures. It also explains why few ancient Kalinese sculpting tools have been found. In light of this discovery, collectors predict that the life-size sculptures will decrease in value while the miniatures increase in value.
　　Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.

In this argument, the author argues thatlife-size clay statues that long have been highly valued will decrease in valuewhile the miniature's value will increase. To support this, the author citesthe recent archaeological finds on Kali, which are the molds of actual bodiesbut few sculpting tools. According to this, the author infers that Kali peopleuse this molds to create these life-size statues. Also, the few sculpting toolsexplain the abstract style of miniature statue. Based on this, the author predictsthe trends of their values in the future. However, this argument isunconvincing as it stands, for it fails to answer some crucial questionsserving for a strong argument.

To begin with, the mere fact that molds ofhuman heads and hands are found on Kali island and few sculpting tools havebeen found lend scant support that ancient Kali people only used molds tocreate these life-size statues. It is quite possible that Kali people only usedthese molds to make statues' heads and hands, while for other body parts, theysculpted with tools, most of which are yet to be found. Even if all theselife-size statues were created through molds, one cannot hastily conclude thatKali people are not skilled at sculpting with realistic precision. Perhapsmaking these molds also requires higher sculpting skills than archaeologistshave expected. In order to make this argument stronger, the author shouldanswer why only molds of heads and hands are found, whether these molds aremade by Kali people and what are their values.

Additionally, even assuming Kali people usedthese molds to make life-size statues and could only master a few sculptskills, it is unjustifiable for the author to make inferences on their valuedecrease in the future. Perhaps these statues are not only precious in amazingsculpting skills but also in its historic value, which help historian form anidea of how ancient Kali people lived and what their society was like. Also,the latter far outweighs the former. Since these statues cannot be fully reproduced,they may actually enjoy higher values among collectors than the author haspredicted. Without giving the exact reason for why these life-size statues arehighly valued and what the collectors' preferences are, the author cannotconvince me their possible decrease in value in the future.

As for the miniature statues, questionsabout why these miniature statues have long been undervalued remain unanswered,and why the possibility that they were made by sculpting will increase theirvalue in the future. They may be low in historic value and demonstrated poor insculpting skills. These determine their low values for collection.

In sum, many questions in this argument arenot answered or not fully answered, thus compromising the prediction'svalidity. The author is supposed to take a deeper investigation into thosequestions relating to these archaeological finds and conduct surveys oncollectors preferences in general for those statues.

Argument, 新G