[a习作temp] Argument 185 (机经) 刚刚完成的，限时还算成功吧，回改！ [复制链接]

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电梯直达

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发表于 2005-2-25 20:47:13 |只看该作者 |倒序浏览

185The following appeared in a letter from the owner of the Sunnyside Towers apartment building to its manager.

"One month ago, all the showerheads on the first five floors of Sunnyside Towers were modified to restrict the water flow to approximately 1/3 of its original force. Although actual readings of water usage before and after the adjustment are not yet available, the change will obviously result in a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation, since the corporation must pay for water each month. Except for a few complaints about low water pressure, no problems with showers have been reported since the adjustment. Clearly, restricting water flow throughout all the 20 floors of Sunnyside Towers will increase our profits further."

The argument draws the conclusion that restricting water flow throughout all the 20 floors of Sunnyside Towers will increase profits. Based on the evidence that all the showerheads on the first five floors of Towers were modified to restrict the water flow. Further points out that a considerable savings generate. However I find the relationship between restricting water flow and increasing profits is unpersuasive on several grounds.

First of all, the owner fails to assure me that restricting water flow is the reason of generating considerable saving. Probably on the first five floors of Sunnyside residents take other actions to save water not from showerheads. And it is possible that residents on the first five floors were out one month ago, which make the usage of water decline. On the other hand, just depended on the data one month, it is not enough. It is possible that situation will change in next month even in several months. Therefore, it needs some power evidences that make me believe whether restricting water flow works in saving water usage.

Additionally, the argument provide no evidence whether a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation generate or not. Because actual readings of water usage before and after the adjustment are not yet available, it is hasty to say that a considerable savings generate. It is entirely possible that the corporation pay much more than before. Consequently, some exact figures that indicate profits increasing are needed.

Finally, even assuming that restricting water flow can increase profits on the first five floors, it is too hasty to draw the conclusion that it will increase corporation's profits throughout all the 20 floors. Maybe the policy works well on the first five floors, however it is possible that residents on other floors cannot get water because of restricting water flow. So the problem that a few complaints about low water pressure will get serious, even all of residents will reject the policy. Then the policy of increasing profits will fail. On the other hand, profit is a function of cost and revenue. It is completely possible that the cost in restricting water flow throughout all the 20 floors of Sunnyside Towers will increase rapidly, then it will be difficult to get profits from the plan.

In sum, to support the argument it would need to know much detailed information as following: whether restricting water flow can work on increasing the profits; whether a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation generate or not; whether it will increase corporation's profits throughout all the 20 floors.