刘文勇GRE写作Argument题库 Day 17

Day 17 To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must change from its current rock-music format

The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of WWAC radio station.

“To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must change from its current rock-music format. The decline has occurred despite population growth in our listening area, but that growth has resulted mainly from people moving here after their retirement. We must make listeners of these new residents. We could switch to a music format tailored to their tastes, but a continuing decline in local sales of recorded music suggests limited interest in music. Instead we should change to a news and talk format, a form of radio that is increasingly popular in our area.”

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

五问：

（1）“The decline has occurred despite population growth in our listening area, but that growth has resulted mainly from people moving here after their retirement”和“a continuing decline in local sales of recorded music”是事实，“To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must change from its current rock-music format”是结论，需要反驳吗？

（2）摇滚乐节目是 WWAC的听众减少的唯一原因吗？是否可能有其他原因？例如：主持人的主持风格，电台的广告太多等。

（3）新增的人口一定不热衷于音乐吗？唱片业的衰落是意味着人们不热衷音乐，还是仅仅意味着人们不愿意付费而已？又或者有其他原因，你能罗列其中的一两个吗？比如：最近唱片发行量比较小，也许是没有很好听的专辑问世，还有可能是本地居民的收入减少。

（4）日益流行的新闻及谈话类节目一定比音乐类节目更受欢迎吗？（“日益流行”是否意味着它现在已经达到了和音乐同等的流行程度？）新增的人口就一定会喜欢新闻及谈话类节目吗？

（5）追赶潮流有可能会吸引新的听众，但是否也可能会损失原有的忠实听众？这最终会导致总人数的增加还是减少？请说说为什么。如果原本喜欢听摇滚乐的听众因为节目改成新闻和谈话类型而放弃收听该电台，同时新增的人口也没有因此而收听该电台，或者收听人数很少的话，那听众总人数反而会减少。