GMAT考试写作指导：Argument范文二三

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83.        This editorial asserts that West Cambria should not change its highway speed
limits because such changes adversely affect driver alertness and are therefore
dangerous. To support this claim, the editorial cites statistics indicating that whenever
; S' Z3 {& X& C) nEast Cambria changed its speed limits, an average of 3 percent more automobile
# b# u* N6 V: R$ p: B5 maccidents occurred during the week after the change than during the week preceding it,
even when the speed limit was lowered. As it stands, this argument suffers from three
critical flaws.
      First, it is unlikely that the brief one-week periods under comparison are
- G' [. L2 Y' r* H9 @representative of longer time periods. A difference of only 3 percent during one
9 d+ q5 `3 t: T7 h2 cparticular week can easily be accounted for by other factors, such as heavy holiday
! ?( |. S8 V, T7 [2 D  @, Htraffic or bad weather, or by problems with reporting or sampling. Had the editorial
6 N- ^* I& x2 [indicated that several speed-limit changes in East Cambria contributed to the statistic,
* e8 }0 w1 e) ~% s4 j2 ?) S3 N1 Z) P  \the argument would be more convincing; but for all we know, the statistic is based on
only one such change. In any event, a one-week period is too brief to be representative
because it is likely that accidents will occur more frequently immediately following the
change, while people adjust to the new limit, than over the longer term when drivers
have become accustomed to the change.
      Secondly, the editorial fails to acknowledge possible differences in the types of
! S- A: |1 o& H7 Waccidents occurring before and after the change. It is possible that the accidents during
the week before the change all involved fatalities, while those during the week after the
: r! i" Z7 K; g5 e! U  Nchange were minor fender-benders. If so, even though 3 percent more accidents
+ |9 i* O, @, X+ C6 _occurred after the change, the author's argument that changing the speed limit increases
4 O" _1 y( e% k2 V! Ndanger for drivers would be seriously weakened.
7 ]7 q8 I+ m1 V2 Z/ b      Thirdly, the editorial fails to take into account possible differences between East
3 z8 U& h+ l* @3 e) f4 pand West Cambria that are relevant to how drivers react to speed-limit changes. Factors
& E+ C9 T* {4 S" l: h; Ksuch as the condition of roads, average age and typical driving habits of residents, and
weather patterns, would probably affect how well or how quickly drivers adapt to
! k8 ]; l4 ~  L! A! `8 _speed-limit changes. Thus, changing speed limits in East Cambria might be more
+ i& F& H7 m+ {dangerous than changing them in West Cambria.
      In conclusion, the statistical evidence cited to support the argument is
5 o+ y+ k. B5 o+ o) h& m5 v: P: d% finsignificant and probably unrepresentative. To better evaluate the argument, we need to
8 o7 m4 _2 x3 U/ k$ E1 C8 Sknow how many speed-limit changes contributed to the statistic and when the speed-
limit changes were made. Finally, to strengthen the argument the author should show
that East and West Cambria would be similarly affected by speed-limit changes.