Argument33 【0906G 文以载道三月四月小组】第一周第一次作业 thanks 忍者无敌

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【题目】Arguement33

The following report appeared in an archaeology journal.
'The discovery of distinctively shaped ceramic pots at various prehistoric sites scattered over a wide area has led archaeologists to ask how the pots were spread. Some believe the pot makers migrated to the various sites and carried the pots along with them; others believe the pots were spread by trade and their makers remained in one place. Now, analysis of the bones of prehistoric human skeletons can settle the debate: high levels of a certain metallic element contained in various foods are strongly associated with people who migrated to a new place after childhood. Many of the bones found near the pots at a few sites showed high levels of the metallic element. Therefore, it must be that the pots were spread by migration, not trade.'

在广泛区域分散分布的很多史前遗迹发现的形状独特的陶壶导致考古学家提出疑问：这些壶是如何流传的？有些人相信壶的制造者迁移到别的地方并把壶随之带来；另一些人相信壶是通过贸易流传的，而他们的制造者留在一个地方。现在，对于史前人类骨骼的分析可以解决这个争论: 在多种食物中都含有的某种金属元素的高含量与那些成年后移居到新地方的人有很高的关联性。在一些遗迹的壶附近发现的很多骨头都显示出这种金属元素的高含量。因此，这些壶肯定是通过迁徙而不是贸易来流传的。

【提纲】
1.There is no necessary association between migrants and foods contained high-level metallic element.
2. Few cannot stand for all.
3. Other flaws

【正文】

As to the issue that how the pots were scattered, some people convince it is led by the migration flow while others believe the pots were spread by trade but their makers remained in one place. In this arguement the author argues that the pots were spread by migration because of the high level of metallic elements contained in people's bones. However, a careful scrutiny of the evidence reveals that the argument accomplishes little toward supporting the author's claims, as discussed below.

To support the claims, the author points out that "high levels of a certain metallic element contained in various foods are strongly associated with people who migrated to a new place." Actually, there is no necessary association between migrants and foods contained high-level metallic element. The same food could exist in various place and different foods could contain the same element just like both orange and broccoli contain vitamin.

The author also argues that "many of the bones found near the pots at a few sites showed high levels of the metallic element" but just a few sites can't stand for all the sites and it is unconvincing to make such a conclusion that pots were spread by migration. On the other hand, the high levels of the metallic element in bones might be affected by putting near the pots after death, not stay with the pots during the life time. The author does not provide sufficient evidence to state that high levels of the metallic element are formed before people's death.

There are also other flaws found in the author's assumption. The author does not give sufficient evidence which can prove the bones belong to those who migrated to a new place after childhood. People also could adopt certain kinds of metallic element after they grew up, which means adult also could get the metallic element after they buy the pots. The metallic element remained from childhood might also disappear through metabolism. And, the author also can not prove that the bones near the pots belong to the pots' owners. The bones might belong to the pot buyers rather owners. Furthermore, how to define the childhood? To what level we could say it’s high level of metallic element?

In short, without abundant evidence that could explain the above problems, the author can not safely conclude that the pots were spread by migration, not trade