Argument10 第一篇，限时

compUID: 196797

Argument10
The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a Batavia newspaper.
'The department of agriculture in Batavia reports that the number of dairy farms throughout the country is now 25 percent greater than it was 10 years ago. During this same time period, however, the price of milk at the local Excello Food Market has increased from $1.50 to over $3.00 per gallon. To prevent farmers from continuing to receive excessive profits on an apparently increased supply of milk, the Batavia government should begin to regulate retail milk prices. Such regulation is necessary to ensure both lower prices and an adequate supply of milk for consumers.'


The arguer suggests that the Batavia government should begin to regulate retail milk prices in order to ensure both lower prices and an adequate supply of milk for consumers. To support the suggestion, the arguer gives the facts that throughout the country, the number of dairy farms have increased 25 percent in the past 10 years. Additionally, the arguer cites that the price of milk at the local market has increased. Close scrutiny of each these fact reveal that none of them lend strong support to the recommendation.

Firstly, the fact that the number of dairy farms is 25% greater than it was 10 years ago fails to convince us that the farmers are receiving excessive profits. It is possible that the total number of the farms has increased, while the area of farms owned by each farmer has decreased. Therefore, the dairy products of each farmer have not increased and consequently the profit of each farmer has not increased.

Secondly, the increaced price at the local market says little about the farmers' profit. Perhaps the price at other market has decreased from $1.50 to $1.0. Or perhaps it is just in this time period, the price of milk increased, while at the past 10 years, the price was always less than $1.50. Or perhaps other dairy products' price is not very good only the milk has  a reasonable price. In a word, the arguer fails to convinced us that the farmer's profit has increased too much.

Finally, the assumption that regulating retail milk prices will ensure both lower prices and an adequate supply of milk for consumers is groudless. It's possible that the farmer would directly sell the milk to consumers at a higher price. It's also possible that after the regulation, the supply of milk for consumers is still very large because other dairy products are still less profitable than milk. So the arguer's assumption is groundless.

In sum, the argument relies on several doubtful assumptions. To bolster the suggestion, the arguer at least have to provide further evidence that shows the area of each farmer has increaced, and all of the dairy products' prices has increased. Still, the arguer have to prove the causal relationship between the regulation of retail milk prices and the lower prices of milk and the supplyment of milk for consumers.

compUID: 196797

第一篇，大家帮忙看看，谢先:)

compUID: 196797

大家帮忙看看吧，55