刘文勇GRE写作Argument题库 Day 85

Day 85 In a study of the reading habits of Waymarsh citizens conducted by the University of Waymarsh, most respondents said that they preferred literary classics as reading material

In a study of the reading habits of Waymarsh citizens conducted by the University of Waymarsh, most respondents said that they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a second study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Waymarsh was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.

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）“Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits”是结论，其余部分是事实，值得反驳吗？

（2）本题与调查研究相关，请大家先回顾基础理论的部分：到底什么样的调查研究才是合理的？具备哪些要素才能使一项调查研究更加有效？

（3）两项调查研究分别选取了两个不同的途径来呈现研究对象的阅读习惯：前者采用“most respondents said”的方式，而后者采用“most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries”的方式，你能说说看，这两个途径可能存在的问题分别是哪些？（比如：对于前者来说，说出来的情况就一定属实吗？会不会出现被调查者因为顾及面子或是其他原因而不愿意说真话的情况？而对于后者来说，可能民众并不愿意到图书馆去借书看——看书的主要途径可能是买书——因此图书馆的情况并不能很好地反映阅读习惯。）

（4）在信息不充分的情况下，我们能否简单地认定，第二次调查研究比第一次更有效，更有代表性？原文中如果能提供哪方面的信息，就能让我们得出扎实的结论？例如：提供第二次调查的时间范围，排除人们爱读推理小说是由于某部刚上映的推理电影而一时产生兴趣的可能；或者提供图书馆借阅数据以证明其真实性等。

（5）你能否尝试描述一种情形：两个调研由于着重点不同，虽然各自并不存在什么缺陷，却得出了不同的结论？第一个调研是调查 Waymarsh citizens的阅读习惯，而第二个调研调查的是图书馆里哪一种图书的借阅率最高，可见两个调研的着重点并不相同。