4月GMAT作文机经2：种植者应对橘类水果的价格上涨负责

　　【原始】

　　作文是讲citrus crops的。MEGAmarket的lemon价格11年里面涨了很多，然后又谈到因为天气的原因crop种的不好，所以growers要为crops价格上涨负责，并且要对产品价格进行控制以免造成通胀，大概是这样的，攻击点还是毛毛多的

　　【原题】

　　The following is taken from an editorial in a local newspaper:

　　“Over the past decade, the price per pound of citrus fruit has increased substantially. Eleven years ago, Megamart charged 15 cents a pound for lemons, but today it commonly charges over a dollar a pound. In only one of these last 11 years was the weather unfavorable for growing citrus crops. Evidently, then, citrus growers have been responsible for the excessive increase in the price of citrus fruit, and strict pricing regulations are needed to prevent them from continuing to inflate prices.”

　　Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.

　　【译文】

　　当地报纸的社论：

　　过去的10年里，桔类水果的价格实际上上升了。11年前，Megamart每磅柠檬要价15美分，现在一般每磅要价超过1美元。过去11年只有一年不适合桔类水果生长。显然，柑桔种植者应该对桔类水果价格过度上涨负责。为防止他们继续哄抬价格规范价格规定很有必要。

　　【参考思路】

　　1、 样本不足(citrus fruit有很多种，只列举lemons不足以说明橘类水果价格整体上涨)

　　2、 可疑调查(“过去11年只有一年不适合citrus fruit生长”这一调查的来源不明)

　　3、 忽略它因

　　1即使过去11年基本都适合生长，也还有别的因素可能导致，比如环境恶化，加工价格上升，人力成本上升，或者物价上涨monetary inflation, increased distribution and labor costs, or alterations in supply and demand conditions)

　　2橘类水果价高就不一定是农民肆意抬高的缘故，可能是dealers在其中的作用;政府是否要介入，虽然价格变贵了，但是targeted customers没有变化，对整个国民经济影响不大

　　4、 无根据假设：

　　天气好不一定导致产量高，因为种植柑橘的农民已经动用了可用的资源了，产量无法再多了;

　　【范文】

　　In this editorial the author argues for the imposition of strict pricing regulations in order to prevent citrus growers from continued inflation of prices of citrus fruit. The need for such regulation is supported by the author's contention that citrus growers have been unnecessarily raising prices of citrus fruit in the past. The evidence for this allegation is the fact that the price of lemons has increased from 15 cents per pound to over a dollar per pound during the preceding 11-year period, even though weather conditions have been favorable to citrus production in all but one of those years. This argument is flawed in two important respects.

　　First and foremost, the author assumes that the only factor that influences the price of citrus fruit is the weather. Other factors—such as monetary inflation, increased distribution and labor costs, or alterations in supply and demand conditions—are ignored as possible sources for the increase. The charge that citrus growers have unnecessarily raised prices can be sustained only if these and other possible factors can be completely ruled out as contributing to the price increases. Since the author fails to address these factors, the recommendation calling for strict pricing regulations can be dismissed out-of-hand as frivolous.

　　Second, the author assumes that the only way to combat increased prices is through government intervention. In a free-enterprise system many other means of affecting the pricing of goods are available. For example, boycotting a product and thereby influencing supply and demand conditions of the commodity is an effective means of influencing the price of the product. In a free market economy the government should consider regulating prices only when all other means to rectify the problem have been exhausted.

　　In conclusion, the author's argument is unconvincing. To strengthen the argument the author would have to show that the only factor influencing the price increases is the growers' desire for increased profits.