Argument37【09GRE作文冲刺组】rato3月8作文

ratoUID: 2563435

37.Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore were believed to have been unique to the Palean people. Recently, however, archaeologists discovered such a "Palean" basket in Lithos, an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is very deep and broad, and so the ancient Paleans could only have crossed it by boat, but there is no evidence that the Paleans had boats. And boats capable of carrying groups of people and cargo were not developed until thousands of years after the Palean people disappeared. Moreover, Paleans would have had no need to cross the river-the woods around Palea are full of nuts, berries, and small game. It follows that the so-called Palean baskets were not unique to Palea.



In this argument, the author claims that a kind of woven basket which is characterized by a special distinctive pattern is not unique to Palea village, where the baskets were found earliest. To support this standpoint the author points out that the same basket has been discovered recently in another ancient village--Lithos, which is on the other side of the Brim River, and denies some possibilities that the basket may be from Palea village. This argument may be reliable when first glance, but after a careful examination I find it problematic for several reasons.

First and foremost, the author fails to consider other factors that can show the possibility of crossing the Brim River. It is highly possible that the Palea people were good at swimming so that they could carry the baskets to Lithos or even weave some at there. Perhaps the Brim River may be much more narrow and shallow than it is now so that both villagers could visit each other easily. It is another possibility that actually they had boats but the evidences of which have not been found by us.

Besides, the basket is sure to be light enough to float on the river; therefore, it is entirely possible that a basket floated across the Brim River at one time. What's more, the author fails to take into consideration that the Lithos people might have the capability to cross the Brim River even though any evidence comes out to prove the Palea people can not. If once the Lithos people came to the Palea village and appreciated the beautiful and useful baskets, they may bring some of them back to Lithos slinkingly.

Before I draw a conclusion I must point out that there could be not so much nuts, berries, and small game in the wood around Palea, no matter they are abundant now. If so, the Palea villagers should make their efforts to cross the Brim River to seek more comestible.

In summary, the argument is unpersuasive as it stands. To convince me that the woven basket characterized by a particular distinctive pattern is not unique to Palea village, the author should offer more evidences which can substantiate the fact that the same basket found in Lithos was made by the Lithos villagers themselves and is nothing to do with the Palea village.