【☆09GRE作文冲刺组】圣斗士3月7日作文Argument 162

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题目：ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
字数：495
用时：00:30:00
日期：2009-3-6 23:38:59

In this memo, the arguer attempts to convince us that by eating soy regularly the North Americans can effectively reduce the fatigue and depression. To support this argument, the arguer points out the fact that Asians, who on average eat 20 grams of soy per day, are less likely suffer chronic fatigue and depression than North Americans, who nearly eat none of soy. While this argument has some merits, several critical flaws undermine the line of reasoning.

To begin with, the study itself is problematic in several aspects. First of all, the arguer overlooks the differences between the two areas, including the living habits and working situations. Common sense informs us that the more working or living pressure one have, the more fatigue and depression one likely feels. Thus, if the people who living in the North Americans have more pressure from family, workforce, society, than people who living in the Asia, then it is reasonable that Americans suffer more chronic fatigue and depression. Therefore, it is entirely possible that the eating of soy has nothing to do with the phenomenon cited in the study.

Even if all of the backgrounds and conditions in the two areas are the same, the arguer fails to rule out the possibility that there are other factors other than the soy that are responsible for the lower rate of fatigue and depression among Asians. For example, perhaps the Asians do much more body exercise than North Americans and hence are more health; or perhaps Asians also eat some other foods, which actually results in the preventing fatigue or depression; or perhaps the climate in Asia is more comfortable and the air there is more fresh than North Americans. In short, without considering each of these possible explanations, the arguer cannot justify the assumption that it is the soy that prevents Asians from suffering fatigue and depression.

Last but not least, granted that eating soy has great contribution for Asians dealing with fatigue and depression, the arguer fails to convince us that eating the soy is the only way for North Americans preventing chronic fatigue and depression. According to the argument, it is the isoflavones in the soy that possess disease-preventing properties. However, it does not means that this element only exists in the soy rather than other kind of food. Perhaps a wide variety of foods contain the so-called isoflavones, and even possible that these foods are eaten by North Americans everyday. Or perhaps the vitamins pills most Americans eat everyday also contain the isoflavones. If this is the case, then there is no necessary to suggest and compel North Americans to eat soy on a regular basis, especially in the case that Americans dislike eating the soy.

In summary, without affirmative evidence proving that it is the soy that contributes to the lower rate of fatigue and depression among Asians, without specific information of the differences between the two areas, I can hardly agree with the arguer's conclusion after all.