多久 没写日志了。 访问数几乎成了0. 为数还有 的便是 来看我之前的GRE 的。

 

现在 唯一 最大 的期望 就是 期待找到工作。金融危机都说 很严重， 自己 似乎也开始感受到了 它 的压力。

 

发了 很多 简历。 很多都杳无音信了。 至少期待 回信 跟我说 我被 拒 了。

 

父母 离开 了 英国， 又有了 少许的 思念 。 而在一起的时候 ， 多了份压力和烦燥 。

 

今天没有心情出去 过 鬼节， 但是给了 闯入 家门口 的 两个小鬼 40 penny, 还有 两块中国带来的牛肉干。  没过一分钟， 就喊着 跟我要 5 pounds. 我说' Go and ask for someone who got the job.'

 

自己的下一个  地点  在哪里呢？ 我 更多相信 人是 被选择 的。 期待 明天的 幸运。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After about 20 hours journey, I finally got to my destination, York. It is really a long jouney, and interesting thing is that I used all kinds of transportation tools. First took boat to Hongkong airport, then took plane to Dubait,ransferred to Manchester, then took train to York.

Everything seemed go fine, except that one old fat lady, who sit next to me on the plane and she is so fat that she had to put her arm cross her seat into mine, almost touched me. Surpringly when I was asleep deeply, she woke me up,  said: ' this is my pillow' and grabbed mine. She didn't know that her pillow was under her big fat ass!

After I arrive at York the BT telephone company just swollow my several pounds without getting through any line. I followed the intructions and dialled the number, but it just did not work. The start price for international call is 2 pound. I tried  a few times and finally I gave up the 变态( BT) !

On the train from Manchester to York, I met one chinese girl who was also going to York. She is very kind and let me use her phone to ring my family. She has been at York for 3 years and this is her fourth year studying at University of York. We seprated at the York train station.

I was so appreciated that one of my schoolmates - she will study at York and we contacted through internet-  came to the York station to meet me. She just arrived in York 1 month ago. She is very kind. She helped me to find halifax, the place where I live and tidy up my bedroom.

York is a quite beautiful garden city. The sky in York looks quite low and you nearly can touch the clouds. Lucky for me these days, it didn't rain, but quite sunny. The clouds here move very fast, varying in different shapes. In the downtown, there are many quite traditional buidings, including one the of oldest chunch. All the buidings here show the image of traditional and classical England.

The University of York located at the southern part of Yorkshire. The campus is like a natural park. In it there are lakes, hills, lots of animals too. You can usually see ducks, goose, rabbit somewhere in the campus. People here are really friends of animals. The animals never run away when you walk close to them. They even follow people because usually people will leave some food. My friend told me that in York if foreign people were caught for killing the animals for food, He or she would be banished.

School arranged many activities for us new students. On the fourth day night, we group of students went to pubs in downtown. Interesting to tell the following story. Britain has strict rules in prohibiting young people under 18 years old from acohol. The first bar we went to calls for some identification of age when you buy some acohol, especially for someone looks young and for group of person go there together. Some of us just forgot to bring their passport to show their age. Some of these people who did not bring passport succeeded to buy acohol. But unfortunatly for someone like me and other 3 friends, were found out that I did not have the passport to prove our age. Then we are demanded to leave the bar at once even we do not drink any acohol in the bar. The bartender just warned us in a strict way and said if you do not leave I will call the police. One of us, Jacky just made some argument, but the bartender just picked up his handset and made the call to police. Then he turned to us and said : the police is on the way. there is two options for you to choose, one is to leave, the other is you can explain to the polce. We did not want to make trouble and persuaded Jacky to leave. Later we guessed that perhaps the bartender just pretended to make the call to police. But from this, we can see a certain way of how british doing things.

Fine, stop here, so sleepy, next chapter will continue.....

expecting...haha

 

 

 

 

24日晚，我们6个家伙在避风堂闹了一夜。我们在同一所小学，一所初中和一所高中。谈起过去的往事，我们都快乐破了肚皮，见面时的腼腆一扫而去。两个在广东上大学的家伙都玩起了股票，甚至做起了买卖。

 

有趣的是，我们竟然厚脸皮的拉了5位素不相识的女生作为我们的玩伴，尽管她们表现的非常害羞。

 

次日的凌晨，我们10个家伙一起到天安门广场观看了期待已久的升起。最深的印像就是站在身体由于冷冻不停的发颤，并且知道天安门的升国旗是奏三遍国歌，并且是放广播。我们都说看一次天安门升旗，够了，绝对够了！

为什么Brad总要对着啤酒瓶上的标签说：你看，这里写着，对身体很好？说过无数次话，每次讲过还是像第一次讲过后的那样笑笑，我也附和着。或许同样的幽默就像古典音乐那样耐听。

232The following appeared in a memo from the sales manager of Eco-Power, a company that manufactures tools and home appliances.

 

"Many popular radio and television commercials use memorable tunes and song lyrics to call attention to the products being advertised. Indeed, a recent study of high school students showed that 85 percent could easily recognize the tunes used to advertise leading soft drinks and fast-food restaurants. Despite our company's extensive advertising in magazines during the past year, sales of our home appliances declined. Therefore, to boost company profits, we should now switch to advertisements featuring a distinctive song."

 

In this argument, the author suggests that Eco-Power should switch to advertisement featuring a distinctive song. To support his suggestion, the author cites that memorable tunes and song lyrics are commonly used for many popular radio and television commercials. The author also points out that a study showing students are easily recognize the tune used for the advertisement of soft drinks and fast-food restaurants and the sale of its home appliance declined. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly, the author fails to provide us the exact reason why the sales of Eco-Power's home appliance declined. Many factors will influence the sales, such as quality, style, appearance of the products and marketing strategy. Since the author cannot exclude these factors, we cannot just assume that it is the advertising problem that leads to declination of the sales.   

 

Secondly, the study cited by the author on which the argument depend is dubious. First, the respondents are not representative of overall people who watch the advertisement. Second, the study is unreliable since we do not know how many students had been covered by the study. Third, this study does not make much sense to the Eco-Power company because people who buy the home appliance are not just confined to the high students.     

 

Thirdly, the author unfairly assumes a false analogy between the food product and home appliance. For food service, possibly a recognized tune or lyrics is one of the suitable way of promoting their product. But for home appliance, it is not the case at all. Common sense tells me that most of customers would not be willing to buy a certain home appliance because they are fond of the tune of lyrics of the song in the advertisement. 

 

Last but not the least, profits are influenced by cost and revenue. To boost company profit, we need to cut the cost and raise the revenue. But an advertisement featuring a tune would not help.   

 

In sum, this argument is poorly supported. To bolster the argument, we need to find out the reason why the sale of Eco-Power has declined and effective solutions to improve the profits of the company according to the reason.

 

 

 

 

TOPIC: ARGUMENT 131- The following appeared in an environmental newsletter published in Tria Island.

 

"The marine sanctuary on Tria Island was established to protect certain marine mammals. Its regulations ban dumping and offshore oil drilling within 20 miles of Tria, but fishing is not banned. Currently many fish populations in Tria's waters are declining, a situation blamed on pollution. In contrast, the marine sanctuary on Omni Island has regulations that ban dumping, offshore oil drilling, and fishing within 10 miles of Omni and Omni reports no significant decline in its fish populations. Clearly, the decline in fish populations in Tria's waters is the result of overfishing, not pollution. Therefore, the best way to restore Tria's fish populations and to protect all of Tria's marine wildlife is to abandon our regulations and adopt those of Omni."

WORDS: 314          TIME: 0:30:00          DATE: 2006-11-18

 

In this argument, the author assumes that it is the overfishing that has caused the declining of fish in Tria's waters. To support the assumption, the author cites a contrast between the Tria island and Omni island. The author points out that the Tria Island should adopt the same regulation as the Omni island does. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly, the author does not provide us with the clear reason why the fish population in the Tria water has declined. The fact that the fishing is allowed by the Tria Island does not indicate that overfishing problem exists. We cannot exclude the possibilities of pollution killing the fish. Therefore, the author should not just say that the banning of fish in the Tria water helps to increase the population of the fish.

 

Secondly, the author commits a fallacy of analogy between the Tria Island and the Omni island. The different situations between the two island, Tria and Omni should be concerned by the author before he or she makes the conclusion from the contrast. Since we lack enough information about the two island, such as the condition of pollution, population of fish, size of the island, the comparison is incomplete.

 

Thirdly, even granted that the Tria Island adopt the regulation of Omni, we cannot ensure that the marine wildlife in the Tria water would be protected.  Some wildlife has nothing to do with the fishing. Or some marine wildlife itself are confronted with extinction because other irresistible factors. Thus, the author cannot ensure that the marine wildlife would be protected through the regulation of banning the fishing.    

 

In sum, this argument is poorly supported. To bolster the author's conclusion, firstly we should find out the exact reason why the fish population in the Tria water has declined and the right solution according to this reason.  Besides, we should not just copy what the Omni island has adopted and find out a better way of saving the marine wildlife in the Tria water.

 "Scandals---whether in politics, academia, or other areas---can be useful. They focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could."

agree.

 

Can scandals be useful whether in politics, academia, or other areas, as the speaker contends? I agree with the speaker on the basis that scandals can help to call for attention from public in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could and sometimes to solve social pressing problems and encourage public accountability of government. However, in some cases, scandals just draw our attention to the scandals itself and left us less meanings but make us ignore more important matters.

 

 

Scandals can be useful in politics in that they contribute to increase the level of scrutiny and accountability to which our public officials are held, thereby working a significant and lasting benefit to our society. To illustrate this point clearly, one needs look no more than the Nixon's Watergate scandal in the past. President Nixon was accuse of using presidential power to have the Democratic committee' office burgled and to block the investigation supporting the charge against him. Nixon denied all the charges against him and even used his presidential privilege to dismiss the committee who was in charge of the investigation. But with more Nixon's assistants' resign one after the other and more suspects to Nixon from public, president Nixon can no longer elude his responsibility to his activities by his privilege and was forced to submit tapes indicating his illegitimate activities and finally resigned his president job. After Watergate scandals, governments began to reconsider the power of president and amend the relative law to limit the right of president. Thus, from this point, we can see clearly that scandals helps to discipline leader's activity and make government more accountable to its duties.

 

Furthermore, scandals in academia can help to purify the academic environment by revealing hidden bad behaviors of scholars that bring about disgrace or offends the moral sensibilities of society to public. Recently, media has reported that certain professors have made fake essays or publications by copying other's study in order to keep their position. After this scandal came out, people began to reexamine the teaching ability and the reputation of this university. More important, this scandal extends its influence to other schools and help to alarm and prevent similar things happen.

 

However, sometime scandals itself draw too much concern from public but distract more awareness from more pressing and important matters. For instance, the Clinton sex scandal made the congress and demo forget or not emphasize enough on other important matters such as Kosovo crises, tax problem or environmental pollutions.

 

In sum, scandals do give society benefits by increasing the level of scrutiny and accountability to which our public officials are held and helping to solve social pressing problems. At the same time, we also should notice that sometimes it is just the scandal itself that draw our too much attention while ignore more important and pressing matters.

"Over 70 percent of the respondents to a recent survey reported that they are required to take more work home with them from the workplace than they were in the past. Since Valu-Mart has not seen impressive sales in its office-supply departments in the past, we should take advantage of this work-at-home trend by increasing at all Valu-Mart stores the stock of home office machines such as printers, small copy machines, paper shredders, and fax machines. We will also increase stock of office supplies such as paper, pens, and staplers. With these changes, our office-supply departments will become the most profitable component of our stores."

 

11:38-

 

In this argument, the author suggests that Valu-Mart stores should increase the stock of home office machines and office supplies. To support this suggestion, the author cites that over there is a trend of working home from the workplace than in the past based on a recent survey. The author also point that since Valu-mart has not seen impressive sales in its office-supply departments in the past, they should take advantage of this trend. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly, the author provides no assurance that the survey on which the argument depends is statistically reliable. Unless the survey's respondents are representative of overall population of office workers, the author cannot rely on it to predict that the trend of taking more work home does exist. Perhaps that the quantity of respondents is too few or those who are required to take work home from office are more willing to respond the survey.  Therefore, without excluding above-mentioned possibilities, we just cannot ensure that more people will take work home from office.

 

Secondly, even granted that more people will take more work home from workplace, we cannot ensure the demand for new home office machines will increase. It is quite possible that people who take work home from office do not need to buy new home office facilities. Maybe they already have home office machines or the tasks they take home, which usually are simple ones, do not ask for these machines. Thus, even there is a trend that more people will take work home from office, we still cannot promise that the demand for new home office machines will increase.

 

Thirdly, the author failed to establish the causal relationship between the increase of stock and gaining profits. No evidence prove that the current stock supply is insufficient. Perhaps that Valu-mart stores already have large quantity of stock of home office facilities due to the unimpressive selling in the past, or the previous supply of these machines are just suited for current selling conditions. Moreover, the author overlooks other factors may affect to gain profit, such as quality, style, price of the office equipments. Therefore, the assumption that Valu-mart store should increase the stock of office supply is dubious.

 

In sum, this argument is poorly supported. It would be necessary for the author address all above-mentioned issues before we could better evaluate the argument. To bolster the conclusion, the author should provide more evidence to support that more people will take work home from office and new home office machine are needed. Moreover, the author should find out whether the Valu-mart store needs to increase the stock of office supplies according to detail selling condition and the reason why the department of office-supply did not have impressive selling. 

185The following appeared in a letter from the owner of the Sunnyside Towers apartment building to its manager.

"One month ago, all the showerheads on the first five floors of Sunnyside Towers were modified to restrict the water flow to approximately 1/3 of its original force. Although actual readings of water usage before and after the adjustment are not yet available, the change will obviously result in a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation, since the corporation must pay for water each month. Except for a few complaints about low water pressure, no problems with showers have been reported since the adjustment. Clearly, restricting water flow throughout all the 20 floors of Sunnyside Towers will increase our profits further."

20:20

In this argument, the author suggests that manager should restrict water flow throughout all the 20 floors of Sunny Towers in order to increase their profits further. To support this suggestion, the author cites that all the showerheads on the first five floors of Sunnyside Towers were modefied to restrict the water flow to approximately 1/3 its original force and this change will result in a considerable savings. The author also points outs that only a few people complaints about low water pressure due to the restriction. However, this argument  suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

Firstly, the assumption that the restriction of water flow by modifying the showerheads will result in the a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation is unwarranted. No objective evidence can indicate that any decline of water usage happened after the restriction. It is possible that people who live on the first five floors of Sunnyside Towers use approximately the same amount water as they used to do before the restriction, which just took them longer time to wait for the water coming out. Moreover, since we do not how much water can be saved and the price of water per unit, the author just cannot ensure that this change will bring the corporation considerable profits. Without excluding this possiblity, the author just cannot tell Sunnyside Corporation will save considerable money from the restriction.

Secondly, the author wrongly ignores the fact that only a few complaints about the low water pressure. First, low water pressure is a big problem concerning about people's living standard. Without high enough water pressure, some home equitments cannot work properly, like the machine for warming water. Second, a few complaints does not mean only a few people have the same complaints. Perhaps that other people who have had the similar problem did not report, or these a few complaints came from almost all the members on the first five floor since maybe there are only a few people living on the first five floor. lacking of relatively evidence, the author cannot just ignore these a few complaints.

Thirdly, even granted that this restriction can be implemented on the first five floor, the author cannot ensure this measure can be taken to the whole building. Common physical knowledge tells me that the water pressure becomes weaker on a higher altitude. It is quite possible that if we still regulate the showerheads to its 1/3 of its original force on the 20th floor, there is no water comming out. Besides, since the water problem will be more obvious on the higher floors, the complaints would double or triple, even more. Therefore, without considering these factors, the author should not just spread this method to the whole builing.

In sum ,this augument is poorly supported. To bolster the arument, the author should provide evidence to show that the restriction is truly effective in reducing the expenditure from the Sunnyside and whether this method is feasible. Moreover, the author should consider other way of obtaining the profits for Sunnyside.

"The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."

 

Can the greatness of individuals be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries, as the speaker contends? However, I concede that the author's view generalized. Different answers can be found in following three different fields: natural science, art and business.

 

Admittedly, in the field of natural science, it is not difficult to find that some of the greatness of individuals are only recognized or accepted by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries. The reason lies in that in most cases a certain theory or view cannot be testified during the time when the theory or view was put forwards due to the limit of technology and experimental condition. For instance, Einstein's principle of relativity was not as largely accepted at that time as now was. Because his principle cannot be testified as a result of the poor experimental conditions, but later, new technology has brought us more advanced and modern experimental facilities, such as higher resolution space telescope and more powerful computer, allowing us to find out more evidence to support the Einstein's principle of relativity until authority has also believe it. Besides, a second reason why the greatness of individuals cannot be accepted by their contemporaries is that the content of a certain new theory or view, which runs contradiction to what authority already has believed would be objected or prohibited. We need look no further than the story of Copernicus, whose first step he took in ignoring the established boundaries and challenged long-standing assumption of astronomy for publishing his Heliocentric conjecture that the earth and other planets revolves around the sun. Therefore, from above, we see that greatness of individual in the field of natural science usually takes long time to be recognized by people.

 

Turning to the field of arts, the assumption that greatness of individuals can only be determined by those who live after them depends on case to case. The reason is complex concerning about the piece of work itself, the level of appreciation from public and societal environment. Here are several examples that can prop my reasons. Van Gogh,two of whose still life paintngs have recently broken all records in selling for $50 millions, sold only one of his paintings in his entire career. Mazart, one of the most talented musicians, could play piano three years old and write scores four years old. But the real society treated coldly and mercilessly druring his life and his fetal position is miserable. But some other artists seem much luckier, for example Pavarotti has been considered as one of the three most famous tenors in the world and he got his honor and wealth before his successful retirement. Thus in the respect of arts, whether the greatness of individuals can be recognized by their contemporaries is from case to case.

 

However, contributions of individuals in the business field are usually decided by their contemporaries since these contributions are easier to see, from which the benefits and improvement are quick to respond. Here are examples to illustrate my reasons. Bill gates, the richest man in the world, established and developed his software empire that no other companies can match, which radically shaped people's way of living and work through Windows - an operating system almost every personal computers use. The start button on the taskbar just by a click has become really start of modern people life. Moreover, Bill gates also makes great effort to support philanthropy, donating $30 billion to establish his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help those who are struggling with AIDS, malaria and other problems in different respects. Thereby everyone can see Bill Gates, as successful businessman, he is doing something worth praising and appreciating for society.

 

In sum, the contention that one's greatness can be decided only by those who are live after them, not by his or her contemporaries generalized. In the field of natural science, it is the case mostly. But in the field of business, one's contributions are usually able to be accepted by the same generation. However, in the field of art, whether the prominence can be recognized depends on case to case.

 

"Over 70 percent of the respondents to a recent survey reported that they are required to take more work home with them from the workplace than they were in the past. Since Valu-Mart has not seen impressive sales in its office-supply departments in the past, we should take advantage of this work-at-home trend by increasing at all Valu-Mart stores the stock of home office machines such as printers, small copy machines, paper shredders, and fax machines. We will also increase stock of office supplies such as paper, pens, and staplers. With these changes, our office-supply departments will become the most profitable component of our stores."

 

11:38-

 

In this argument, the author suggests that Valu-Mart stores should increase the stock of home office machines and office supplies. To support this suggestion, the author cites that over there is a trend of working home from the workplace than in the past based on a recent survey. The author also point that since Valu-mart has not seen impressive sales in its office-supply departments in the past, they should take advantage of this trend. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly, the author provides no assurance that the survey on which the argument depends is statistically reliable. Unless the survey's respondents are representative of overall population of office workers, the author cannot rely on it to predict that the trend of taking more work home does exist. Perhaps that the quantity of respondents is too few or those who are required to take work home from office are more willing to respond the survey.  Therefore, without excluding above-mentioned possibilities, we just cannot ensure that more people will take work home from office.

 

Secondly, even granted that more people will take more work home from workplace, we cannot ensure the demand for new home office machines will increase. It is quite possible that people who take work home from office do not need to buy new home office facilities. Maybe they already have home office machines or the tasks they take home, which usually are simple ones, do not ask for these machines. Thus, even there is a trend that more people will take work home from office, we still cannot promise that the demand for new home office machines will increase.

 

Thirdly, the author failed to establish the causal relationship between the increase of stock and gaining profits. No evidence prove that the current stock supply is insufficient. Perhaps that Valu-mart stores already have large quantity of stock of home office facilities due to the unimpressive selling in the past, or the previous supply of these machines are just suited for current selling conditions. Moreover, the author overlooks other factors may affect to gain profit, such as quality, style, price of the office equipments. Therefore, the assumption that Valu-mart store should increase the stock of office supply is dubious.

 

In sum, this argument is poorly supported. It would be necessary for the author address all above-mentioned issues before we could better evaluate the argument. To bolster the conclusion, the author should provide more evidence to support that more people will take work home from office and new home office machine are needed. Moreover, the author should find out whether the Valu-mart store needs to increase the stock of office supplies according to detail selling condition and the reason why the department of office-supply did not have impressive selling. 

2The following appeared in a letter sent by a committee of homeowners from the Deerhaven Acres to all homeowners in Deerhaven Acres.

 

"Seven years ago, homeowners in nearby Brookville community adopted a set of restrictions on how the community's yards should be landscaped and what colors the exteriors of homes should be painted. Since then, average property values have tripled in Brookville. In order to raise property values in Deerhaven Acres, we should adopt our own set of restrictions on landscaping and house painting."

 

In this argument, the author suggests that Deerhaven Acres should adopt their set of restrictions on landscaping and house painting. To support the suggestion, the author cites that homeowners in nearby Brookville community has adopted a set of restrictions seven years ago on how the community's yards should be landscaped and what colors the exteriors of homes should be painted and average property values have tripled in Bookville since then. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly,  the author wrongly assumes that Deerhaven Acres applies equally to Brookville community, yet this might not be the case, for variety of possible reasons. Maybe the situation in Deergaven Acres and Brookville is quite different, thus we cannot ensure this set of restriction would take effect if we adopt it in Deergaven Acres. Perhaps the community's yards in Brookville are suited for one unified style or shape of landscape and color of the exteriors of homes for better appearance because of the demand of the initial design of the yard and homes but the Deerhaven Acres does not have this problem. Or perhaps that homeowners in the Deergraven Acres are more artistic and some of them are experts in doing the yard job and painting, thereby this kind of restriction just is unnecessary.  Thus, lacking of evidence showing the similarity between the two communities, we just cannot assume this sort of restriction would take effect in the Deerhaven.

 

 

Secondly,  the author observes a correlation between implementing a set of restrictions and tripling in average property values, then conclude that the former is the cause of the latter. The author overlooks other possible factors that lead to the raise of the value of their property in Brookville. Maybe that Brookville' economy condition has enhanced a lot, which make their property more valuable. Or perhaps that the local government has greatly improved the environment of Brookville which attracts more people from the other places to live, which lead to triple values of property happened in Brookville. Therefore, without excluding other possible factors which may result in the triple value of the average property in Brookville, we just cannot assume that the sort of restriction contributes to it.

 

Thirdly, since the Brookville adopted the set of restriction seven years ago, we do not know that whether this kind of restriction will work out effectively today. Things vary all the time, let alone the adoption of the set of restriction at seven years ago. It is quite possible that home-buyers like a unite style of yards and color of home buildings at that time , but now they do not like that kind any more. Maybe now home-buyers are willing to pursue more their individual, creative and unique styles and colors nowadays. Thus the author just unfairly makes the assumption based on out-of-date fact.

 

In sum, this argument is poorly supported. To strengthen the argument, we should know more exactly and true reason why the average property values have tripled in Brookville and find out whether the Deerhaven Acres and Brookville both have similar condition. Moreover, we should also find out what exactly reasons why Deehaven Acres's property has not raised and make corresponding solutions to this problem.

144"It is the artist, not the critic,* who gives society something of lasting value."

 

Is it the artist, not the critics, who gives society something of lasting value, as the speaker contends? I fundamentally agree with the speaker in following two respects: First, what really last long is the work of artists but not the comments to the work from critics. Second, critics often give inaccurate and bias opinion toward art work by their narrow limitation of knowledge, societal reasons. However, we should also notice that the role that critic plays in the appreciating, educating arts to public and directing artists to the way of benefiting the society. 

 

In ages, Countless artworks with highly unique value have been handed down for descendants to appreciate and learn from. These true arts are the products of artists' authentic passion, a manifestation of artist's unique creative impulse, and a creation of artist spirits. Innumerable music stores, painting galleries and libraries are selling or displaying or collecting all kinds of artwork, no matter the classical or modern ones, including records, paintings, and literature books with greatly high value. For example, A Beethoven symphony is the last word on human endurance; Renaissance painting of a Modonna and Angles, for many viewers, is somehow a revelation of transcendent spirituality. Shakespeare's Macbeth, for instance, teach us that inordinate ambition is pernicious. All these work has stood through the long time trial for their value, demonstrating that they are still conveying us with the vivid and compelling means of beauty, humanity and endurance.

 

Furthermore, critic sometime are likely to mislead others to appreciate one piece of art work wrongly and unfairly imposing unnecessary influence on other viewers by subjective or objective reasons. From empirical evidences we know that a great number of great works are trivialized and neglected by contemporary critics when they come out. Here are examples that can support my reason. Picasso's painting was not recognized by neither his contemporary critics, nor the ordinary people. His great works may go far beyond other people's acceptance. Voltaire's rejected the Shakespeare’s work as barbaric because he did not conform to the neo-classical principles of unity. Or consider the completeness dismissal of Beethoven's music by the esteemed critics of his time. These art critics’ judgments are limited by narrow confines of old and established parameters of for assessment. Besides, critic judgment is often misguided by the subject ego-driven mind. Therefore, it is unreliable to leave the work to critics to evaluate and for public just to follow them.

 

 

However, we should confess that the position of critics cannot be replaced or abolished. On one hand, Critics help us to appreciate and understand arts. This function is better accomplished by docents and teachers, who are more able to enhance a layman's appreciation and understanding of art by providing an objective, educated interpretation of it. On the other hand, the critics who know the framework of artwork, which is long lasting in the field of art, would guide artists' working towards the direction of benefiting human being. Without critics, artist are more easily to lose their ideal goal and be immersed into extreme individualism.

 

In sum, what truly will last long in ever developing society is the art work inspired with unique value and character, although critic plays also important role of helping more people to understand and appreciate art, to orient artists go about towards the beneficial direction to society.

TOPIC: ARGUMENT209 - The following recommendation was made by the Human Resources Manager to the board of directors of the Fancy Toy Company.

 

"In the last three quarters of this year, under the leadership of our president, Pat Salvo, our profits have fallen considerably. Thus, we should ask for her resignation in return for a generous severance package. In Pat's place, we should appoint Rosa Winnings. Rosa is currently president of Starlight Jewelry, a company whose profits have increased dramatically over the past several years. Although we will have to pay Rosa twice the salary that Pat has been receiving, it will be well worth it because we can soon expect our profits to increase considerably."

WORDS: 171          TIME: 0:30:00          DATE: 2006-9-10

 

In this argument, the Human Resoures Manager suggests that Fancy Toy Company should ask for their president , Pat Salvo' resignation in return for a generous severance package. To support his or her idea, the author cites that company's profits have been dramatically fallen under the leadership of Pat Salvo during last three years. The author also points out that Rosa Winning from Starlight Jewelry, a company whose profits have increased much over past several years, would be nice substitute for Pat Salvo. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly, the reason why Fancy Toy Company's profits have dropped is not clear. Lacking of detail evidence that show Pat is incapable of doing her job, the author just cannot blame the fallen profits on Pat Salvo's mistake. It is quite possible that Pat Salvo is doing her job fine, but other reasons such as bad economic condition of overall toy market, or the products made by Fancy Toy are not following the current fad, or the problematic strategy of selling product caused the decline of profits. Therefore, without knowing the clear reason why Fancy Toy receives less profit, the author should not put down all consequence to Pat’s head.   

 

Secondly, the assumption that Rose Winnings would be the right person to replace Pat Salvo is dubious. First, the increase of profits of Starlight Jewelry does not mean that president of its company Rose contributes mainly to the success. Other factors can also lead to the increasing profits of Starlight Jewelry, for example, the better market condition, or high-skilled salesman in Starlight Jewelry and so on.  Second, even granted that Rose is the key role in managing the Starlight Jewelry, we still cannot ensure that she would be able to equally manage the Fancy Toy company as well then to help the company to gain profits. Common sense tells me that Starlight and Fancy Toy are two different companies in the different business field. Without any proof that Rose got the experience in this field and enough ability to manage the job in Fancy Toy, the idea that let her replace Pat is unwarranted.

 

Thirdly, as we do not know how much salary Pat receives and how much profits would the company gain, we cannot ensure that twice of that money given to Rosa Winnings as her salary would be worthwhile. Perhaps that Pat's salary is already fairly high comparing to the current profits the company gain, if anything, twice of salary would be a big burden for the company, especially in the circumstance of no assuring that how much profits would boost.

 

In sum, this argument is poorly supported. To bolster the author's suggestion, we should find out the exactly reason leading to the decline of profits of Fancy Toy Company and think out solutions base on that. Moreover, more evidence demonstrating Rose is the right person to be the president of Fancy Toy Company should be provided. 

OPIC: ARGUMENT107 - The following appeared in an editorial in the Seatown newspaper.

 

"Seatown has a large port exclusively for fishing boats, whose owners pay fees for the upkeep of the docks and for facilities for cleaning engines and repairing nets. In recent years, declining fish populations have decreased fishing revenue and forced many owners to stop fishing altogether. As a result, the port has a high vacancy rate and port managers are considering allowing pleasure boats, including cruise ships and other large vessels, to use the port in order to increase revenue. But allowing pleasure boats into the port would be a mistake, because the fishing boats would be forced out of the port. We should preserve the port for the fishing fleet, which, unlike pleasure boats, contributes to the prosperity of Seatown."

WORDS: 202          TIME: 0:30:00          DATE: 2006-9-7

 

In this argument, the author suggests that they should preserve the port for the fishing fleet. To support his idea, the author cites that the fishing boat would be forced out of the port due to the introduction of pleasure boats. The author also points out that the port for the fishing fleet once contributed to the prosperity of Seatown. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly, the assumption that the fishing boat would be force out by allowing pleasure boats is dubious since insufficient evidence in supporting this assumption has provided by the author. It is reasonable that through appropriate modification or enlargement of the port, it would be suitable for both the pleasure boats and fishing boats to accommodate.

 

Secondly, the fact that the port for the fishing fleet contributes to the prosperity of Seatown should not necessarily consider as the reason for dispelling the pleasure boats. The fact that the port exclusively for the fishing boat once made contribution to the prosperity of Seatown would not mean that it will boom the economy of Seatown again in the future. Besides, it is quite possible that introduing the pleasure boat would be intelligent way of increasing revenue for the port owner and stimulating the economy of Seatown through promoting the development of the tour business espeacially when the fishing production is undergoing a difficult time.

 

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In sum, this argument is poorly supported. It would necessary for the author to address all above-mentioned issue before we can better evaluate the argument. To bolster the author's conclusion, we should that what obstacles of making both pleasure boats and fishing boat use the same port simutaniously. Moreover, we should know that whether the fishing bussiness still make money or not. 

TOPIC: ARGUMENT135 - The following is a memorandum from the business manager of WLSS television station.

 

"Over the past year, our late-night news program has devoted increasingly more time to covering national news and less time to covering weather and local news. During the same time period, most of the complaints we received from viewers were concerned with the station's coverage of weather and local news. In addition, several local businesses that used to run advertisements during our late-night news program have just cancelled their advertising contracts with us. Therefore, in order to attract more viewers to our news programs and to avoid losing any further advertising revenues, we should expand the coverage of weather and local news on all our news programs."

WORDS: 141          TIME: 0:30:00          DATE: 2006-9-4

 

in this argument, the author suggests that the WLSS television station should expand the coverage of weather and local news on all their program. To support the conclusion, the author cites that complaints from viewers concerning about the coverage of weather and local increased and the revenue from the advertisement during the late news program has declined since they put less time to cover the weather and local news program. However, this argument suffers from several logical flaws and is unpersuasive as it stands.

 

Firstly, we do not know whether most of the complaints respect to the station coverage of weather and local news are the result of the change of the time length of reporting national news and weather and local news. Perhaps before regulating the covering time, the complaints about weather and local news are still occupy big part of the all complaints as it does now. Or perhaps the quantity of complaints regarding weather and local has reduced much due to the decline of the whole number of complaints from the viewers. Therefore, the complaints should not just contribute to the change of the length covering national news between weather and local news.

 

Secondly, since the author does not provide what the views exactly complain about, we cannot extrapolate that the less time of reporting weather and local news is the problem. It is quite possible that the viewers are complaining about the authenticity of the local news, or the inaccuracy of the weather forecast, or the completeness and depth of investigating the local news. As we cannot exclude the possibilities above, we should not reach the assumption that viewers is requiring more covering of weather and local news.

 

Thirdly, Cancellation of advertisement contracts from several companies used to run advertisement during the late-night program cannot indicate that the company did this owning to decline of proportion of covering weather and local news in the whole news program. First, it is a common phenomenon that company changes its advertisements plan: some company out and some company in. On the other hand, maybe companies cancelled their contractions in the consideration that they thought during the late-news program are there not many viewers and there expenditure did not match the outcome from the advertisement during that period of time.

 

Last but not the least, even granted that the change of time length of covering national and weather and local news in the late-night new program is the main problem, we should not expand the time of covering weather and local news to the all news program. In the absence of supporting this assumption, the suggestion of expanding the covering weather and local news to the all news program is dubious.

 

In sum, this argument is poorly strengthened. It would be necessary for the author to address the above-mentioned issues before we can better assess it. To support the author’s idea, we should know what exactly the viewers complained about, and the real reason for the cancellation of the advertisement contracts between the company and television station.