ARGUMENT37 今天的模考~就剩8天了。。。。。。

xiemeng2370UID: 2749773

TOPIC: ARGUMENT37 - Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore were believed to have been unique to the Palean people. Recently, however, archaeologists discovered such a "Palean" basket in Lithos, an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is very deep and broad, and so the ancient Paleans could only have crossed it by boat, but there is no evidence that the Paleans had boats. And boats capable of carrying groups of people and cargo were not developed until thousands of years after the Palean people disappeared. Moreover, Paleans would have had no need to cross the river-the woods around Palea are full of nuts, berries, and small game. It follows that the so-called Palean baskets were not unique to Palea.
WORDS: 467
TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2010-2-1 9:55:08
提纲：
主一：史前河不一定又深又宽，更可能就没有
主二：即使又深又宽，可能冬天结冰，夏天干枯。而且没船可能有木筏
主三：食物充足不表示不会去别的村子，文化交流等
This argument concludes that the so-called Palean baskets were not unique to Palea, but Lithos also has. To support this conclusion, the author cites that the Brim River which bridge Palea and Lithos is very deep and broad, and ancient Paleans could only have crossed it by boat, but there is no evidence that they had boats. Also, to strengthen this argument, the author cites Paleans would have had no need to cross the river because they had affluent food such as nuts, berries and small game. However, this argument suffers a series of logical problems and critical flaws, and is therefore wholly unpersuasive.

To begin with, the author simply assumes that the Brim River is also very deep and broad in prehistory but cites no further support. It is possible, for instance, that the river is low and narrow in prehistory, so that ancient people could cross the river just by foot. It is also possible that there is even no river between the two ancient villages, the river formed just recently. Thus, they could easily cross between the two villages with no difficult. Thus, how can the author hastily conclude that the baskets which archaeologists discovered in Lithos are not brought from Palean?

Moreover, even though the Brim River is really deep and broad in prehistory and they have no boats to cross the river, it does not mean that the clever ancient people cannot discover other avenues to cross the river. For example, they may build a raft to cross the river. Or perhaps, in the winter, when the water is freeze, they could cross the river easily. It is also perhaps that the water in the river is drought when in the summer. Thus, no matter under which condition, people in Palea and Lithos could cross the river to each village.

Finally, the author's claim that Paleans would have had no need to cross the river for the reason that they had enough food is also problematic and somewhat ridiculous. The arguer arbitrarily assumes that the object of crossing the river and going to the other village is only obtained food, but it is wholly unreasonable. That is similar to our contemporary that we travel all over the world not only for the reason that extend our vision, but also desire to learn others culture and knowledge. Thus, how can the arguer simply assume our ancient people won't go to the other village for that reason? Thus, we cannot simply conclude that the Palean baskets were not unique to Palea because the basket appeared in Lithos may exactly be brought from Paleans.

In conclusion, the argument cannot be taken seriously as it stands. To better evaluate the argument, the author would need to reaffirm the river is really deep and broad in prehistory and the ancient people actually cannot cross the river no matter by which measures. Moreover, they virtually have no desire to cross the river and indeed not cross the river.