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Sample Response to Real GRE Argument Questions
Topic # 10: A recent study
shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times
more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people
living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20
grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns
out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been
found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans
should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing
fatigue and depression.
In this argument, the arguer cites a study showing that North Americans
suffer from an amazingly higher rate of chronic fatigue and chronic
depression than people living in Asia. From an unknown source, the arguer
states that Asians eat much more soy than North Americans, who eat almost
none, and that soy contains disease-preventing properties. The arguer then
concludes his or her argument by stating that North Americans should
consider regularly eating soy as a means of battling fatigue and
depression. This argument suffers from at least four critical fallacies.
For the sake of this argument, we will assume that the studies and the
statistics about North Americans' and Asians' soy eating habits are
correct, and that isoflavones have been found to have disease-fighting
properties. Given that, there is still a problem with the arguer directly
correlating the eating of soy with the prevention of disease and
depression. First of all, simply because soy may have disease-preventing
properties, that does not mean that it can therefore fight chronic fatigue
and chronic depression. Fatigue and depression may not actually even be
considered as "diseases", therefore even given the fact that soy has
disease-fighting properties, it would have no effect on the "nondiseases"
of fatigue and depression. Secondly, even assuming that fatigue and
depression are diseases, they are not specifically mentioned as diseases
that soy or isoflavones are able to prevent. Perhaps soy can help prevent
osteoporosis (bone loss), mumps or even chicken pox, but that does not
mean that it can specifically address the problems of chronic fatigue and
chronic depression. These two critical weaknesses alone make the argument
unconvincing.
Furthermore, the arguer's conclusion is based on the idea that diet alone
can prevent fatigue and depression by comparing the diets of North
Americans and Asians. It is highly unlikely that diet alone is responsible
for the tremendous difference in the rates of fatigue and depression
between the two populations. Other factors such as lifestyles,
occupations, residence in city or rural areas and levels of stress may
play a much bigger factor than diet. Additionally, the arguer states that
soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which supposedly have
disease-preventing properties. What is not stated, however, is whether
these isoflavones are contained in a form in soy that is usable by the
human body. It is possible that the particular configuration of the
phytochemicals found in soy products is not usable by the human body,
thereby producing no beneficial effects by people eating more soy
products. In and of themselves, isoflavones may prevent certain diseases,
but perhaps those found in soy are of no benefit to humans. By failing to
address these possibilities, the arguer has presented an unconvincing
argument.
In summary, the argument fails due to four major flaws in logic. First,
"disease-preventing" properties does not mean "fatigue and depression"
preventing properties. Secondly, fatigue and depression may not even be
considered as diseases. Thirdly, the arguer ignores the probability that
diet alone is not the sole reason behind the increased rates of fatigue
and depression for North Americans as opposed to Asians. Finally,
isoflavones as found in soy may not produce the same beneficial effects as
when it is found in other forms. To strengthen the argument and
conclusion, the arguer should present evidence that directly links diet to
fatigue and depression as well as evidence that shows that soy can
specifically prevent chronic fatigue and chronic depression in North
Americans.
(576 words)
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