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发表于 2006-7-16 13:06:45
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TOPIC: ARGUMENT71 - Copper occurs in nature mixed with other minerals and valuable metals in ore, and the proportion of copper in the ore can vary considerably. Until fairly recently, the only way to extract pure copper from ore was by using a process that requires large amounts of electric energy, especially if the proportion of copper in the ore is low. New copper-extracting technologies can use up to 40 percent less electricity than the older method to process the same amount of raw ore, especially when the proportion of copper in the ore is high. Therefore, we can expect the amount of electricity used by the copper-extraction industry to decline significantly.
WORDS: 469 TIME: 上午 12:22:08 DATE: 2006-7-16
In this argument, the arguer claims that the total amount of electricity used by the copper-extraction industry would decline significantly. To support this claim the arguer points out that the new copper-extracting technologies are more energy-efficient, compared the traditional method. Careful examination of this supporting evidence, however, reveals that it lends little credible support to the arguer's claim.
First of all, the evidence cited in the argument is statistically unreliable as it stands. The comparison between the new technology and old one is under potential different conditions, thus leads to the result which cannot convince me. The arguer provides no evidence that the detailed proportion of copper in the ore under the two technologies resepectively. In view of this aspect, we need statistics that whether the proportions are equal. Also, given the same content of copper in the ores studied, what about the amount of copper extracted? It is entirely possible that the amount of copper being extracted using the new techonologies is much less than that using the old. If so, who can accept the so-called energy-efficient of the new technologies?
Moreover, the assumption upon which that the new methos would be broadly adopted isunsounded. After all, the arguer fails to convince me that the new copper-extracting technologies would be prevailing in the industry. Perhaps few factories would adopt the technologies because of its vague prosperity. Or perhaps the total amount of electricy in this industry would increase, since extracting the pure copper is just one stage of the holistic process of copper-extraction. Or perhaps replacing the old machines would require considerable cost which would deter most factories. Lacking such evidence it is entirely possible the new method exist temporarily and is doomed to fade out in the industry.
Given the extensive usage of the new methos in the industry, we cannot expect the amount of electricity used by copper-extraction industry to decline significantly. First, the output in the industry may experience a significant increase, thus leads to a larger consumption of eletric power inevitably. Besides, it is entirely possible that other phases during the whole course would require more electric power. If so, the expectation that the amount of declined electricity consumed in the industry is open to doubt. Also, other respects regarding a factory’s electricity consumption should also be taken into consideration. Such as the relative safety measures, improving the worker’s working environment, as well as their domitory. All these aspects of a factory’s functioning require electricity.
In conclusion, the arguer's claim is not persuasive as it stands. To bolser it he must provide more information regarding the comparison between the old and the new technologies under the equal conditions. To better assess the argument, I would also need clearer evidence that whether the new technologies would be accepted commonly by most factories in the industry. |
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