刘文勇GRE写作Argument题库 Day 46

Day 46 Medical experts say that only one-quarter of Corpora's citizens meet the current standards for adequate physical fitness

The following appeared in a health magazine published in Corpora.

“Medical experts say that only one-quarter of Corpora's citizens meet the current standards for adequate physical fitness, even though twenty years ago, one-half of all of Corpora's citizens met the standards as then defined. But these experts are mistaken when they suggest that spending too much time using computers has caused a decline in fitness. Since overall fitness levels are highest in regions of Corpora where levels of computer ownership are also highest, it is clear that using computers has not made citizens less physically fit. Instead, as shown by this year's unusually low expenditures on fitness-related products and services, the recent decline in the economy is most likely the cause, and fitness levels will improve when the economy does.”

Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.

五问：

（1）本段的第一句“Medical experts say that only one-quarter of Corpora's citizens meet the current standards for adequate physical fitness, even though twenty years ago, one-half of all of Corpora's citizens met the standards as then defined”是医学专家的观点，并非本文的观点，属于事实，并不值得被反驳（尽管医学专家的论述有误——对比的对象不稳定：不是使用同一个体质测试标准来判定）。“overall fitness levels are highest in regions of Corpora where levels of computer ownership are also highest”和“this year's unusually low expenditures on fitness-related products and services, the recent decline in the economy”也是事实。同学们应该注意：“the recent decline in the economy is most likely the cause, and fitness levels will improve when the economy does”才是结论，值得反驳吗？

（2）影响个人健康的因素有哪些？过度使用电脑是不是这些因素中的一个？除此之外，你还能罗列其他一些可能的因素吗？比如：抽烟喝酒、不良的生活习惯、年龄、职业等。

（3）你能否提供一种可能性来解释为什么在电脑使用率较高的地区，人们的身体状况反而更好？是否可能这些地区的人格外年轻？是否可能这些地区的人都受过良好的教育，更加懂得如何保养自己的身体？

（4）我们能否简单地认为在健康产品上的花费是决定身体健康状况的唯一因素？

（5）经济增长与人们在健康方面的花费一定是成正比的吗？你能举出反例吗？例如：人们并没有把钱花在健康产品和服务上。