argument111 终于在时间内搞定它了:)

ouenoUID: 194212

------题目------
The following appeared in a memo from the vice president of marketing at Dura-Sock, Inc.
'A recent study of Dura-Sock wearers suggests that our company is wasting the money it spends on its patented 'Endure' manufacturing process, which ensures that our socks are strong enough to last for two years. Dura-Sock has always advertised its use of the 'Endure' process, but the new study shows that the average Dura-Sock customer actually purchases new Dura-Socks every three months. Furthermore, Dura-Sock customers surveyed in our largest market, northeastern United States cities, say that they most value Dura-Sock's stylish appearance and availability in many colors. These findings suggest that Dura-Sock can increase its profits by discontinuing its use of the 'Endure' manufacturing process.'


In the memo, the vice president suggests that the company should increase its profits by discontinuing its use of the 'Endure' manufacturing process. To justify his suggestion, he cites the study which shows that customers purchase new socks every three months. He also provides the survey which indicates that customers in northeastern United States cities value the  appearance and availability of colors most. At first glance, the argument appears to be somewhat reasonable, a close scrutiny of it reveals that it suffers from several critical fallacies.

To begin with, Based on the mere fact that customers purchases new socks every   three months, the author assumes that socks of the company are not  as enduring as the company has advertised. However, the author supplies no evidence to support the assumption. It is justly as likely that the customers studied prefer changing new socks frequently, therefore they may buy new socks even if the old have not worn out. Without considering such situations, the author cannot conclude that the socks of the company are not enduring enough.

Moreover, the author's recommendation that the company  discontinue its use of 'endure' manufacturing process according to the survey which shows that appearance and colors are  the most valuable characters customers care is highly doubtful. There is no evidence that the above two characters are the only factors to attract customers. Endurance might also be an important quality taken into consideration. It is groundless to deny the importance of endurance in the sale of the socks without providing sufficient evidences.

In addition, the author unfairly assumes that survey in the largest market of the company is representative of the situations all over the country. However, the author fails to consider the fact that northeastern United States cities might be the most developed cities in the country and the average customers there owe high salaries, thus intending to pursue other qualities besides endurance in purchasing socks, while customers in less developed cities might focus highly on endurance over other qualities. If so, then the author's recommendation might amount to poor advice for the company.


Another problem with the argument involves the survey itself. The study cited is described in the vaguest possible term. We are not informed who conducted the study, who responded and how the study was conducted. Moreover, the author fails to tell the randomness and the size of the sample: the less random and smaller the sample, the less creditable the study.

In sum, the author's recommendation that the company give up its 'endure' manufacturing process to increase its profits is unconvincing as it stands. To strengthen it, the author must produce clear evidence how long the socks were worn out on average and whether endurance was an important quality in people’s determination in purchase. Even with these additional evidences, to better evaluate the argument, we need to know that how the study was conducted, what the size of the sample was and that what the percentage of the respondents was.

poohUID: 146994

应该把题目贴出来，我反正背不过:(

ouenoUID: 194212

------题目------
The following appeared in a memo from the vice president of marketing at Dura-Sock, Inc.
'A recent study of Dura-Sock wearers suggests that our company is wasting the money it spends on its patented 'Endure' manufacturing process, which ensures that our socks are strong enough to last for two years. Dura-Sock has always advertised its use of the 'Endure' process, but the new study shows that the average Dura-Sock customer actually purchases new Dura-Socks every three months. Furthermore, Dura-Sock customers surveyed in our largest market, northeastern United States cities, say that they most value Dura-Sock's stylish appearance and availability in many colors. These findings suggest that Dura-Sock can increase its profits by discontinuing its use of the 'Endure' manufacturing process.'

ouenoUID: 194212

pooh jj，
再替我看看吧
:)