GMAT写作备考建议及例文分析

常用句型
In respond to the problem of …, as well as to… (improve? prevent?), the arguer concludes that … This recommendation is based on the following claims: …, and …, as evidenced by the fact that …/is based on the claim that … Several reasons/evidences are cited in support of the argument: first, second, third.
At first glance, the argument is seemingly somewhat convincing, but further reflection reveals that the argument fails to address some important concerns which are necessary to substantiate the argument.
Mix up correlation and causation
This argument is a classic instance of "what happens first is the cause" reasoning. The only evidence put forward to support the causal claim that (AA is the cause of BB) is that (AA preceded BB). However, the sequence alone of two events is insufficient to constitute the causal claim. (Although the trend/tendency cited in the study has remained stable for the past 10 years, there is no guarantee that it/the same trend will continue.)
Actually, the speaker overlooks other factors that might also contribute to the result. (The author overlooks the changes of environment where XX and YY happen)
具体举例：For instance, may…/ it is entirely possible that … ( In addition, …may…/perhaps that…)
In short, without considering and ruling out all of these and other possibilities, the credibility of the arguer’s conclusion is really open to doubt for the reason that each of the possibilities, if true, would serve to undermine the arguer’s conclusion.
常见逻辑错误
(1)无端假设（还是找其他可能）Most conspicuously, the argument rests on the
gratuitous assumption that~~~（假设内容）The author, however, cite no evidence to support this assumption. This assumption is dubious in two aspects. For one thing, it’s entirely possible that~~~For another, even it is true that~~~the mere fact ~~~does not necessarily indicate that ~~~ Lacking this assumption, the expectation of ~~~ to ~~~is entirely unfounded.
(2)错误类比（找不同点）The argument is unconvincing also because it is based on a
false analogy. Differences between the ~~~ clearly outweigh the similarities, thus making it highly doubtful to apply facts drawn from ~~~ to ~~~. For example, (例如：problems of ~~~all affect the food industry but are virtually absent in the~~) Therefore, without sufficient information showing that most or even all of the conditions in A and B is similar or the same, the argument is doubtful.
(3)错误调查（调查的样本数、多样性存在问题）A threshold problem with this argument
involves a research itself. The number of the participants, XX, might be just an insufficiently small sample which cannot represent ~~ Also, the sample might be not necessarily representative of (所有群体), for ~~ Unless it can be shown that the sample is typical of all general group, it’s unwarranted to draw any conclusion at all.
(4)情况变化（赖以存在的条件发生变化）The argument is based on the poor
assumption that all conditions have remained unchanged since~~~(时间)(at different time or different locations). Apparently, the author fails to take into account that ~~~might have changed. Without this consideration, it’s unsound to conclude that~~~
(5)必要非充分（找其他的因素、选择）The author unfairly assumes that~~~and~~~are
mutually exclusive alternatives and there is no room for a middle ground. However,
A and
B might not be the only options and there might be other better alternatives
such as ~~~and ~~~ and so on. Therefore, this argument is unwarranted without ruling out other choices.
(6)入不敷出（某一措施的收益可能小于花费）A will not possibly earn a substantial profit
by~~~ while it is entirely possible that the cost of ~~~is prohibitively high, even preventing ~~~ from making a profit/resulting in heavy financial burden. In short, without weighing revenue/gains against expenses the author’s notion is premature at best.
结尾：
In conclusion, the plan/recommendation/solution/argument that … is seriously undermined by the numerous logical flaws identified above. To strengthen the argument, the author should provide reliable evidence about …, eliminate relevant factors that may result in …, or take into consideration other issues discussed above. 举例分析
1.The following appeared as part of an annual report sent to stockholders by Olympic Foods, a processor of frozen foods:
"Over time, the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. In color film processing, for example, the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970to 20 cents for one-day service in 1984. The same principle applies to the processing of food. And since Olympic Foods will soon celebrate its 25th birthday, we can expect that our long experience will enable us to minimize costs and thus maximize profits." Discuss how well reasoned ... etc.
翻译：下面摘自一家冷冻食品处理商（processor）奥林匹克食品提交给股东的年报：
随着时间流逝，由于机构了解了做好事情的方法进而提高了效率，处理的成本会降低。

比如在彩色胶卷处理方面，3/5英寸照片的成本从1970年的5天50%降至1984年的1天20%。

同样的规律适用于食品处理方面。

由于奥林匹克食品即将庆祝它的25岁生日，我们可以指望我们长期的经验会使我们达到最小的成本和最大的利润。

分析：1.错误类比，彩色胶卷业的成本下降效率提高并不一定适用于食品处理方面，不同行业间不能简单做比较，缺乏说服力2.无据假设，作者得出的降低成本提高效率的结论是基于对长效经验的假设，但这种假设是没有根据的。

3忽略它因，胶卷效率提高的原因可能与处理成本无关4没考虑公司的实际情况。

1. false analogy: The food industry is not analogous to the color film industry.
2. causal oversimplification: Other factors that may contribute t to the cost decline of the printing cost should be considered and ruled out.
3. gratuitous assumption: The conclusion of the argument is based on a gratuitous assumption that the company can minimize cost and maximize profit because the company has been conducted for 25 years.
1. 错误类比：color film processing和processing of food不相同。

problems of spoilage,
contamination, and timely transportation都只影响food 不影响film.
2. 同时，忽略他因。

是否是因为组织更有效率才使COST下降的？很可能是material necessary for the process下降了价钱。

所以，两者更不同。

3. gratuitous assumption：二十五年不代表学到了很多。

很可能什么都没学到，或者技术已经out of date.
范文：Citing facts drawn from the color-film processing industry that indicate a downward trend in the costs of film processing over a 24-year period, the author argues that Olympic Foods will likewise be able to minimize costs and thus maximize profits in the future. In support of this conclusion the author cites the general principle that "as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient." This principle, coupled with the fact that Olympic Foods has had 25 years of experience in the food processing industry leads to the author's rosy prediction. This argument is unconvincing because it suffers from two critical flaws.
First, the author's forecast of minimal costs and maximum profits rests on the gratuitous assumption that Olympic Foods' "long experience" has taught it how to do things better. There is, however, no guarantee that this is the case. Nor does the author cite any evidence to support this assumption. Just as likely, Olympic Foods has learned nothing from its 25 years in the food-processing business. Lacking this assumption, the expectation of increased efficiency is entirely unfounded.
Second, it is highly doubtful that the facts drawn from the color-film processing industry are applicable to the food processing industry. Differences between the two industries clearly outweigh the similarities, thus making the analogy highly less than valid. For example, problems of spoilage, contamination, and timely transportation all affect the food industry but are virtually absent in the film-processing industry. Problems such as these might present insurmountable obstacles that prevent lowering food-processing costs in the future.
As it stands the author's argument is not compelling. To strengthen the conclusion that Olympic Foods will enjoy minimal costs and maximum profits in the future, the author would have to provide evidence that the company has learned how to do things better as a result of its 25 years of experience. Supporting examples drawn from industries more similar to the food-processing industry would further substantiate the author's view.
2. The following appeared in a memorandum from the business department of the Apogee Company:
"When the Apogee Company had all its operations in one location, it was more profitable than it is today. Therefore, the Apogee Company should close down its field offices and conduct all its operations from a single location. Such centralization would improve profitability by cutting costs and helping the company maintain better supervision of all employees." Discuss how well
reasoned ... etc.
翻译：下面摘自Apogee公司的商务部门的备忘录：
当Apogee将它所有的业务部门集中在一处时，它将有比现在更多的利润。

因此，Apogee应该关闭它的驻外办公室并从单一场所管理它的所有部门。

这样的话，集中会通过削减成本提高利润，并帮助公司更好地对所有员工进行监督。

分析：1. 无据假设，作者认为将业务部门集中在一块可以有更高的利润，但这并不能说明如果关闭它的驻外办公室并从单一场所管理它的所有部门就能达到预期效果，和更好地监督员工。

2.样本不足，影响部门利润的因素有许多，作者只考虑到了关闭它的驻外办公室并从单一场所管理它的所有部门，忽视了其他因素的存在。

1. causal oversimplification: It is imprudent to conclude that the establishment of the field offices is the only reason explaining the decline of the profit.
2. all things are equal: The success of the centralization of the past does not guarantee the applicability in the future.
3. either-or-or choice: The author assumes that the centralization and the establishment of field offices are mutually exclusive alternatives, there is no middle ground between they two. In fact, we can have the field offices under centralized control.
范文：In this argument the author concludes that the Apogee Company should dose down field offices and conduct all its operations from a single, centralized location because the company had been more profitable in the past when all its operations were in one location. For a couple of reasons, this argument is not very convincing.
First, the author assumes that centralization would improve profitability by cutting costs and streamlining supervision of employees. This assumption is never supported with any data or projections. Moreover, the assumption fails to take into account cost increases and inefficiency that could result from centralization. For instance, company representatives would have to travel to do business in areas formerly served by a field office, creating travel costs and loss of critical time. In short, this assumption must be supported with a thorough cost-benefit analysis of centralization versus other possible cost-cutting and/or profit-enhancing strategies.
Second, the only reason offered by the author is the claim that Apogee was more profitable when it had operated from a single, centralized location. But is centralization the only difference relevant to greater past profitability? It is entirely possible that management has become lax regarding any number of factors that can affect the bottom line such as inferior products, careless product pricing, inefficient production, poor employee expense account monitoring, ineffective
advertising, sloppy buying policies and other wasteful spending. Unless the author can rule out other factors relevant to diminishing profits, this argument commits the fallacy of assuming that just because one event (decreasing profits) follows another (decentralization), the second event has been caused by the first.
In conclusion, this is a weak argument. To strengthen the conclusion that Apogee should close field offices and centralize. This author must provide a thorough cost- benefit analysis of available alternatives and rule out factors other than decentralization that might be affecting current profits negatively.
3. The following appeared in a memorandum issued by a large city's council on the arts:
"In a recent citywide poll, 15 percent more residents said that they watch television programs about the visual arts than was the case in a poll conducted five years ago. During these past five years, the number of people visiting our city's art museums has increased by a similar percentage. Since the corporate funding that supports public television, where most of the visual arts programs appear, is now being threatened with severe cuts, we can expect that attendance at our city's art museums will also start to decrease. Thus some of the city's funds for supporting the arts should be reallocated to public television."
Discuss how well reasoned ... etc.
翻译：一个大城市的艺术理事会出版的备忘录：
在最近的城市范围的民意测验中，多于15%的居民说他们通过电视观赏视觉艺术，这要比5年前民意测验的时候多。

在过去5年中，参观城市艺术馆的人也增长了类似百分比。

由于支持公共电视（多数视觉艺术节目出现的地方）的社团基金面临大幅缩减的危险，可以预期参观我们城市艺术馆的人数将开始下降。

因此应该将一些原来用于支持艺术的基金重新分配给公共电视。

分析：1.无据结论，作者得出应该将一些原来用于支持艺术的基金重新分配给公共电视这一结论的前提是对参观我们城市艺术馆的人数将开始下降的预期，即结论的前提是一个假设，所以结论不足以令人信服。

2.样本不足，影响城市艺术馆的人数的因素有很多，不能仅从通过电视观赏视觉艺术的人数上升就得出城市艺术馆的人数将开始下降的结论。

范文：In this argument the author concludes that the city should allocate some of its arts funding to public television. The conclusion is based on two facts: (1) attendance at the city's art museum has increased proportionally with the increases in visual-arts program viewing on public television, and (2) public television is being threatened by severe cuts in corporate funding. White this
argument is somewhat convincing, a few concerns need to be addressed.
To begin with, the argument depends on the assumption that increased exposure to the visual arts on television, mainly public television, has caused a similar increase in local art-museum attendance. However, just because increased art-museum attendance can be statistically correlated with similar increases in television viewing of visual-arts programs, this does not necessarily mean that the increased television viewing of arts is the cause of the rise in museum attendance.
Moreover, perhaps there are other factors relevant to increased interest in the local art museum; for instance, maybe a new director had procured more interesting, exciting acquisitions and exhibits during the period when museum attendance increased, in addition, the author could be overlooking a common cause of both increases. It is possible that some larger social or cultural phenomenon is responsible for greater public interest in both television arts programming and municipal art museums.
To be fair, however, we must recognize that the author's assumption is a special case of a more general one that television viewing affects people's attitudes and behavior. Common sense and observation tells me that this is indeed the case. After all, advertisers spend billions of dollars on television ad time because they trust this assumption as well.
In conclusion, I am somewhat persuaded by this author's line of reasoning. The argument would be strengthened if the author were to consider and rule out other significant factors that might have caused the increase in visits to the local art museum.
4. The following appeared in an announcement issued by the publisher of The Mercury, a weekly newspaper:
"Since a competing lower-priced newspaper, The Bugle, was started five years ago, The Mercury's circulation has declined by 10,000 readers. The best way to get more people to read The Mercury is to reduce its price below that of The Bugle, at least until circulation increases to former levels. The increased circulation of The Mercury will attract more businesses to buy advertising space in the paper."
Discuss how well reasoned ... etc.
翻译：一份周刊Mercury的出版者发表的公告：
由于一份5年前出现的低价竞争的报纸The Bugle,使Mercury 的发行额下降了1000份。

争取读者的最好方法是至少在发行额恢复以前的水平前把Mercury的价格订的低于Bugle的价格。

Mercury 增长的发行额会吸引更多的企业来购买报纸的公告版面。

分析：1.样本不足, Mercury 的发行额下降了1000份，并不一定是由于The Bugle引起的，因为市场上的报纸不是只有这两种，理由不充分。

2.无因果联系，Mercury增长的发行额与吸引更多的企业
来购买报纸的公告版面没有直接关系。

3.结论无据，作者对于最好方法是至少在发行额恢复以前的水平前把Mercury的价格订的低于Bugle的价格这一结论并没有给出充分的理由。

范文：A newspaper publisher is recommending that the price of its paper, The Mercury, be reduced below the price of a competing newspaper, The Bugle. This recommendation responds to a severe decline in circulation of The Mercury during the 5-year period following the introduction of The Bugle. The publisher's line of reasoning is that lowering the price of The Mercury will increase its readership, thereby increasing profits because a wider readership attracts more advertisers. This line of reasoning is problematic in two critical respects.
While it is clear that increased circulation would make the paper more attractive to potential advertisers, it is not obvious that lowering the subscription price is the most effective way to gain new readers. The publisher assumes that price is the only factor that caused the decline in readership. But no evidence is given to support this claim. Moreover, given that The Mercury was the established local paper, it is unlikely that such a mass exodus of its readers would be explained by subscription price alone.
There are many other factors that might account for a decline in The Mercury's popularity. For instance, readers might be displeased with the extent and accuracy of its news reporting, or the balance of local to other news coverage. Moreover, it is possible The Mercury has recently changed editors, giving the paper a locally unpopular political perspective. Or perhaps readers are unhappy with the paper's format, the timeliness of its feature articles, its comics or advice columns, the extent and accuracy of its local event calendar, or its rate of errors.
In conclusion, this argument is weak because it depends on an oversimplified assumption about the causal connection between the price of the paper and its popularity. To strengthen the argument, the author must identify and explore relevant factors beyond cost before concluding that lowering subscription prices will increase circulation and, thereby, increase advertising revenues.
5. The following appeared in a report presented for discussion at a meeting of the directors of a company that manufactures parts for heavy machinery:
"The falling revenues that the company is experiencing coincide with delays in manufacturing. These delays, in turn, are due in large part to poor planning in purchasing metals. Consider further that the manager of the department that handles purchasing of raw materials has an excellent background in general business, psychology, and sociology, but knows little about the properties of metals. The company should, therefore, move the purchasing manager to the sales department and bring in a scientist from the research division to be manager of the purchasing department." Discuss how well reasoned ... etc.
翻译：生产重工业部件的公司的领导人的会议辩论：
公司的利润下降和生产的延时是同步发生的。

而延时的主要原因是购买原料的计划很糟，考虑到负
责原料购买的部门经理具有很好的商业，心理学，社会学背景但是对原料性质知之甚少。

公司应该将该经理调往销售部门而把研究部门的一位科学家调来当采购部经理。

分析：1.无因果联系，首先,这份报告未能建立一个公司的收入下降和制造业的延迟的关系。

收入下降的事实与延迟制造不足以得出这样的结论。

没有令人信服的证据来支持这两个事件之间的因果联系,报告的建议不值得考虑。

2.结论无据，公司的利润下降和生产的延时与是否调换部门经理没有关系，得出这样的结论是没有根据的。

范文：In response to a coincidence between calling revenues and delays in manufacturing, the report recommends replacing the manager of the purchasing department. The grounds for this action are twofold. First, the delays are traced to poor planning in purchasing metals. Second, the purchasing manager's lack of knowledge of the properties of metals is thought to be the cause of the poor planning. It is further recommended that the position of the purchasing manager be filled by a scientist from the research division and that the current purchasing manager be reassigned to the sales department. In support of this latter recommendation, the report states that the current purchasing manager's background in general business, psychology, and sociology equip him for this new assignment. The recommendations advanced in the report are questionable for two reasons.
To begin with, the report fails to establish a causal connection between the falling revenues of the company and the delays in manufacturing. The mere fact that falling revenues coincide with delays in manufacturing is insufficient to conclude that the delays caused the decline in revenue. Without compelling evidence to support the causal connection between these two events, the report's recommendations are not worthy of consideration.
Second, a central assumption of the report is that knowledge of the properties of metals is necessary for planning in purchasing metals. No evidence is stated in the report to support this crucial assumption. Moreover, it is not obvious that such knowledge would be required to perform this task. Since planning is essentially a logistical function, it is doubtful that in-depth knowledge of the properties of metals would be helpful in accomplishing this task.
In conclusion, this is a weak argument. To strengthen the recommendation that the manager of the purchasing department be replaced, the author would have to demonstrate that the falling revenues were a result of the delays in manufacturing. Additionally, the author would have to show that knowledge of the properties of metals is a prerequisite for planning in purchasing metals. 6. The following appeared as part of an article in a magazine devoted to regional life: "Corporations should look to the city of Helios when seeing new business opportunities or a new location. Even in the recent recession, Helios's unemployment rate was lower than the regional
average. It is the industrial center of the region, and historically it has provided more than its share of the region's manufacturing jobs. In addition, Helios is attempting to expand its economic base by attracting companies that focus on research and development of innovative technologies." Discuss how well reasoned ... etc.
翻译：一份面向地方生活的杂志上的一篇文章：
企业在寻找新的商机或位置时应该去Helios城。

甚至在最近的衰退中，Helios的失业率也比地区平均水平低，它是地区的工业中心，历史上它提供的比它在地区制造业工作中分享的份额中更多。

而且，Helios正试图通过吸引研究和发展革新技术的公司来扩张它的经济基础。

分析：1.无因果联系，作者认为应该到该地区建厂理由是这里的失业率很高。

但是却没有给出因果关系。

从常理来看这是没有道理的因为失业率高的地方可能更难雇佣到雇员从而使成本增加。

2.可疑调查，作者认为该地区会鼓励研发，所以应该到该地区投资。

但事实上就象作者说的那样该地区是制造业中心怎么可能有很多对技术和科研很熟练的人员。

1. 作者认为应该到该地区建厂理由是这里的失业率很高。

但是却没有给出因果关系。

从常理来看这是没有道理的因为失业率高的地方可能更难雇佣到雇员从而使成本增加。

2. 作者认为该地区会鼓励研发，所以应该到该地区投资。

但事实上就象作者说的那样该地区是制造业中心怎么可能有很多对技术和科研很熟练的人员。

1，因为H地区industrial and manufacturing比较attractive，所以那里的工人很可能只适合做这类的，如果缺乏能够做innovative technologies and research的工人labor pool，那么很可能导致失败。

2，H的低失业率更可能成为坏处。

因为比如有less available work force。

企业必须提高wage才能吸引他们。

提高了COST。

3，错误的假设过去的成功能够代表未来。

比方说已经饱和的资源、过分的竞争、以及可能出现的错误政策，都可能导致H地区的经济不再发达。

范文：In this argument corporations are urged to consider the city of Helios when seeking a new location or new business opportunities. To support this recommendation, the author points out that Helios is the industrial center of the region, providing most of the region's manufacturing jobs and enjoying a lower-than-average unemployment rate. Moreover, it is argued, efforts are currently underway to expand the economic base o' the city by attracting companies that focus on research and development of innovative technologies. This argument is problematic for two reasons.
To begin with, it is questionable whether the available labor pool in Helios could support all types of corporations. Given that Helios has attracted mainly industrial and manufacturing companies in the past, it is unlikely that the local pool of prospective employees would be suitable for corporations of other types. For example, the needs of research and development companies would not be met by a labor force trained in manufacturing skills. For this reason, it's unlikely that Helios will be successful in its attempt to attract companies that focus or research and development of innovative technologies.
Another problem with the available work force is its size. Due to the lower than average unemployment rate in Helios, corporations that require large numbers of workers would not find Helios attractive. The fact that few persons are out of work suggests that new corporations will have to either attract new workers to Helios or Day the existing workers higher wages in order to lure them away from their current jobs. Neither of these alternatives seems enticing to companies seeking to relocate.
In conclusion, the author has not succeeded in providing compelling reasons for selecting Helios as the site for a company wishing to relocate. In fact, the reasons offered function better as reasons for not relocating to Helios. Nor has the author provided compelling reasons for companies seeking new business opportunities to choose Helios.。