0910G【Try Best】第二小组 argument101 by Stephy_t

Stephy_tUID: 2642952

101.The following appeared in a memo from the president of a company that
makes breakfast cereals.

"In a recent study, subjects who ate soybeans at least five times per week
had significantly lower cholesterol levels than subjects who ate no soy
products. By fortifying our Wheat-O cereal with soy protein, we can
increase sales by appealing to additional consumers who are concerned
about their health. This new version of Wheat-O should increase company
profits and, at the same time, improve the health of our customers."

在最近的一次调查中，那些每周至少吃五次大豆的调查对象的胆固醇值比不吃大豆制品的人低很多。通过在我们的Wheat-O麦片中添加大豆蛋白，我们可以通过吸引更多的关注自身健康的消费者来增加销量。这种新的Wheat-O应该能够增加公司的利润，并且同时促进我们消费者的健康。

In this memo, the author suggests that they should fortify their WO with soy protein in order to get more profits and improve their customers’ health. This conclusion depends on a recent study in which shows that subjects could get a significantly lower cholesterol levels by eating soybeans at least five times per week. The author’s argument relies on a number of dubious assumptions and is therefore unconvincing.

First of all, the author simply assumes that it is the soybeans actually bring the lower cholesterol levels. However, in this study, there is no scientific evidence or investigation has shown the exact connection between soybeans and lower cholesterol levels. Many other factors could possibly contribute to the lower cholesterol levels especially when the number of subjects is not big enough, such as the body reaction to a sudden weather change, accidentally mental pressure, and the absorbing of other nutrition etc. At this point, without more confirmed scientific research which show the solid decrease by eating soybeans, the result of a simple study by a company is doubtful.

Secondly, if assuming the absolute connection between soybeans and lower cholesterol levels, however, still no evidence shows that it is the soybeans protein—one element in soybeans, mainly affect the function of decreasing the cholesterol level. There are many other nutritious in soybeans, such as Ca, Fe, and vitamin etc. which could also cause the lower level by itself or together with several elements. Perhaps the soybean protein has little or even no effect on the result. The decision—made by the author who misunderstood the relationship between soybeans and soybean protein, to add soybean protein in the WO is unreasonable.

Thirdly, the author maintains that their new product could improve consumers’ health. However, Is the WO mixed with soybean protein really healthy to all consumers? In fact, the function of decreasing the cholesterol level could only benefits people whose cholesterol levels are higher than average. Cholesterol is an indispensable element in everyday metabolism. If a healthy person gets a lower cholesterol lever than average by constantly eating the new product, the result is unpredictable. Without considering the result of a lower cholesterol level for healthy group, the author simply assumes that there would be more people prefer their new version thus brings an increasing sales. But how could the new product attract consumers who have ordinary cholestercal level to buy their product? Even consuming there new product cord with the preference of consumers, it doesn't mean the profits can get improved. Without considering the expenses on new production’s market research, improving production technique, and advertisement, whether it can increase profits need further investigation. On the other hand, the changed favors of the new product would make the company lose a certain group of old consumers who prefer their original WO. Lacking of a deeper market research, the argument fail to conclude that the new product could increase profit.

In sum, the argument is unconvincing as it stands. To strengthen the argument, the author must provide scientific and detailed information about how the soybean WO takes effect on people's health. To better assess the author's recommendation that the new WO could increase profits, we need to know the report of the local consumer market for the new product.