argument101-[spring小组]第12次作业

julia_tian.m007UID: 2450531

ARGUMENT101 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5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。
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    The author of this argument concludes that the new version of Wheat-O should increase company profits and improve the health of our customers. To support this assertion,  the author cites a study that subjects who ate soybeans at least five times per week had significantly lower cholesterol levels than subjects who ate no soy products. However, the argument relies on a series of unsubstantiated assumptions, which render it unconvincing as it stands.
    In the first place, the author assumes that those subjects who had lower cholesterol level was because of they ate soy products at least five times per week in the study. Nevertheless, the author provides no evidence that this is the case. There may have some other reasons to cause the lower cholesterol levels. The author didn’t provide any evidences to support that the lower level of cholesterol is in matter of soy products. It is possible that those subjects who had lower level of cholesterol are endowed as they were born. Or perhaps because of they ate some medicine helped to reduce the cholesterol level while they ate the soy. Thus, we couldn’t distinguish what is the main cause of their lower level of cholesterol just based on that study.
    In the second place, even if the soy products is the reason to lower the cholesterol level, in claiming that the sales will increase, the author assumes that they could appeal additional consumers by fortifying their Wheat-O cereal with soy protein. Nonetheless, this is not necessarily the case. The author didn’t offer any evidences that fortifying the soy protein in their products will originate the additional consumers. Perhaps the disagreeable to the taste account for few people want to buy their products. Even if the new product is good enough, there is no evidence to show that the consumers who concern about their health will buy them. The people who concerns about health are not merely because of their cholesterol level, it is possible that they want to lose weight, or they prefer to attend the body-building movement.
    In the third place, the author assumes that the company profits will increase based on additional consumers to buy the Wheat-O cereal. This is not necessarily the case though. The author didn’t provide any statistics that the increased sales will certainly enhance the profits. Even if they fortifying the Wheat-O cereal will lead to the additional consumers, we still can’t conclude that the profits will necessarily increase. As we know, there are great many reasons could affect the profits. It is entirely possible that their cost of material is increased remarkable because of they add soy protein in the new products. Therefore, the profits will not change or even reduce if they don’t raise their price.
    In sum, the conclusion of the new version of Wheat-O cereal will increase company profits and improve the health of our consumers is not well supported. To convince me, the author must provide clear statistics evidence about how does soy products affect the cholesterol level. And the author needs to make an investigation among consumers about their requests on the Wheat-O cereal.