Arg-55
The following appeared in an editorial in a business magazine:
"Although the sales of Whirlwind video games have declined over the past two years, a recent survey of video-game players suggests that this sales trend is about to be reversed. The survey asked video-game players what features they thought were most important in a video game. According to the survey, players prefer games that provide lifelike graphics, which require the most up-to-date computers. Whirlwind has just introduced several such games with an extensive advertising campaign directed at people 10 to 25 years old, the age group most likely to play video games. It follows, then, that the sales of Whirlwind video games are likely to increase dramatically in the next few months."
This editorial concludes that a two-year decline in sales of Whirlwind's video games is about to reverse and that, further, sales will increase dramatically “in the next few months”. To justify this conclusion the speaker cites a survey in which video-game players indicated a preference for games with realistic graphics. The editorial then points out that Whirlwind has just introduced several such games alongside an advertising campaign, which, the speaker reasons, are clear indicators of fast approaching success. The argument is based on several unproven assumptions.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument开头段结构，即：C – E - F的开头结构，首句概括原文的C(Conclusion)。接下来的一句话概括了原文为了支持他的结论所引用的E(Evidence)。最后尾句中给出开头段到正文段的过渡句，指出原文在逻辑上存在F(Flaw)。
【此段功能】
本段作为Argument开头段，具体功能就在发起攻击。首先，概括原文的结论：Whirlwind(简称W)电子游戏销售持续两年的下降有望在几个月后逆转。接下来分别列举了原文为了支持这个结论引用的证据：一项调查指出玩家喜欢有realistic graphics的游戏，同时W公司刚刚推出这样的游戏并实施了广告战略。论据的归纳用于铺垫出正文段的具体攻击。最后点出原文存在逻辑错误，引出后面的分析。
First, the statistical reliability of the survey quickly comes into question. Unless the survey's respondents are representative of the overall population of video-game enthusiasts, the author should not rely on it to make forecasts about future earnings.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument正文段结构，即：概括第一个逻辑错误的错误类型和原文犯错位置，接下来给出合理的理由和他因来反驳原文。
【此段功能】
本段作为正文第一段，攻击文章犯的主要逻辑错误：调查类错误。作者认为文中引用的调查的可靠性值得商榷。作者提出，原文中的调查应当具有在游戏爱好者中有representative，否则基于调查得到的结论是靠不住的。
Secondly, the argument relies on the assumption that the two-year decline in company sales is attributable to a problem that the introduction of its new games and ad campaign will solve. It is entirely possible that the decline was due to other factors: pricing and distribution strategies, poor management, and so on. Consider, for example, if the advertising agency was actually the cause for sagging sales over the past two years. An additional, albeit ramped up effort, by the same failing tactics is not likely to cause a reversal.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument正文段结构，即：概括第二个逻辑错误的错误类型和原文犯错位置，接下来给出合理的理由和他因来反驳原文。
【此段功能】
本段作为正文第二段，攻击文章犯的主要逻辑错误：因果错误。原文中“新游戏的推出和广告战略的实施将逆转公司两年销售量下降的局势”这一论断存在逻辑性缺陷。进一步，作者提出了其他可能发生的情况来反驳上述观点，例如销售下降可能由pricing, distribution, management的其他因素造成，或者ad agency就是导致销售下降的罪魁祸首，这些都会导致公司销售量持续下降。
Thirdly, even if the ad campaign successfully attracts many 10-25 year-olds to Whirlwind's new games, the argument rests on the further assumption that this result will suffice to cause the predicted sales increase during the next few months. Perhaps Whirlwind's new state-of-the-art games are prohibitively expensive for the key demographic group. Or perhaps Whirlwind's competitors are now introducing similar games at lower prices or with additional features that rendering them comparatively more attractive to video-game enthusiasts than Whirlwind's new games. Unless the author can rule out such possibilities, the prediction can’t be supported.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument正文段结构，即：概括第三个逻辑错误的错误类型和原文犯错位置，接下来给出合理的理由和他因来反驳原文。
【此段功能】
本段作为正文第三段，攻击文章犯的主要逻辑错误：错误因果(忽略他因)。作者认为W公司新游戏收10-25岁玩家的欢迎并不能说明其销量会增加。进一步，作者提出了其他可能的因素来反驳原文中的观点，例如W公司的新游戏对于这一年龄段的人来说是prohibitively expensive，而其竞争对手可能推出类似的游戏但有lower price和additonal feature。
Finally, even if the author can substantiate the foregoing assumptions, no evidence regarding sales trends has been presented. For example, it is possible that the launch of the new games corresponds to a generally low sales period. If so, the author must modify the prediction accordingly.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument正文段结构，即：概括第四个逻辑错误的错误类型和原文犯错位置，接下来给出合理的理由和他因来反驳原文。
【此段功能】
本段作为正文第四段，攻击文章犯的主要逻辑错误：错误因果(无理由假设)。作者认为原文中没有关于“销售趋势”的具体介绍。进一步，作者提出其他可能性来反驳原文的结论，例如：很有可能刚发布的新游戏前几个是low sales period。
To strengthen it the author must provide clear evidence that video-game enthusiasts, 10-25 years of age, would be interested in Whirlwind's new games and that they could afford to buy them. To better assess the argument the audience would need to know (1) what caused the two-year sales decline to begin with, and whether Whirlwind's new strategy eliminates that cause; (2) what competing products might challenge earnings over the next three months; and (3) general information about video game sales trends.
【此段结构】
本段采用的Argument结尾段结构是 S的结尾结构，首直接分条给出合理建议Suggestion。
【此段功能】
本段作为Argument结尾段，具体功能就是提供建议措施，作者给出几条建议：一是要证明10-25岁的游戏爱好者对W公司新游戏感兴趣并且可afford，二是要指出过去两年销售量下降的原因以及new strategy能否避免下降的证据。三要给出接下来几个月中其他竞争的情况，四要给出电子游戏销售的趋势。这几条建议含蓄的隐射前面的错误，前后呼应，文章有力结尾，浑然一体。
满分因素剖析
一、语言方面
1. First, the statistical reliability of the survey quickly comes into question. (标志性的
2. Thirdly, even if the ... , the argument rests on the further assumption that this result will suffice to ... (标志性的GRE argument论证段开头句，首先通过让步状语从句承认原文中前一个论论断是正确的，指出后面的论断存在问题). Perhaps... . Or perhaps ... .(标志性的GRE argument论证段论证结构，提出两种可能性，来反驳原文中的论断) Unless the author can rule out such possibilities, the prediction can’t be supported.(最后重申原文中的错误)
3. Finally, even if the author can substantiate the foregoing assumptions, no evidence regarding ... has been presented. (标志性的GRE argument论证段开头句，首先通过让步状语从句承认原文中前一个论论断是正确的，指出后面的论断存在问题) For example, it is possible that... .(标志性的GRE argument论证段论证结构，提出其他可能性，来反驳原文中的论断) If so, the author must modify the prediction accordingly.
二、逻辑结构
本文内容清晰，逻辑严谨，采用了开头段——正文段1——正文段2——正文段3——正文段4——结尾段的六段论结构，文章长短适中，层次一目了然。开头段按照C-E-F的逻辑结构，顺利引出后文的分析。论证段中，从提出错误，到分析错误，到给出可能性，最后总结错误，层次清晰，衔接自然。结尾段总结全文，重申错误，给出合理化建议。这样一篇文章从开头到结尾逻辑严谨，内容清晰，圆满的完成了论证的作用。
正文的第三个论证段和第四个论证段的开头句写的很精彩
Thirdly, even if the ad campaign successfully attracts many 10-25 year-olds to Whirlwind's new games, the argument rests on the further assumption that this result will suffice to cause the predicted sales increase during the next few months.
Finally, even if the author can substantiate the foregoing assumptions, no evidence regarding sales trends has been presented.
两句都用到了even if引导的让步状语从句，即先假设前一个论断是正确的，在这一基础上提出文章的其他错误。这样使得论证段与论证段之间内容关联性更加紧密。