The Trash-Site Safety Council has recently conducted a statewide study of possible harmful effects of garbage sites on the health of people living near the sites. A total of five sites and 300 people were examined. The study revealed, on average, only a small statistical correlation between the proximity of homes to garbage sites and the incidence of unexplained rashes among people living in these homes. Furthermore, although it is true that people living near the largest trash sites had a slightly higher incidence of the rashes, there was otherwise no correlation between the size of the garbage sites and peoples health. Therefore, the council is pleased to announce that the current system of garbage sites does not pose a significant health hazard. We see no need to restrict the size of such sites in our state or to place any restrictions on the number of homes built near the sites.

　　Sample Essay

　　In this argument, the council comes to the conclusion that the current system of garbage sites does not pose a significant health hazard and that therefore, there is no need to restrict the size of the garbage sites or the number of homes built near the site. To support this conclusion, the council cites a study of five garbage sites and three hundred people that showed only a small correlation between the closeness of the homes to the sites and the incidence of unexplained rashes among those people living there. Additionally, the council came to this conclusion despite the fact that people living near the largest such site had a slightly higher incidence of the rashes. This argument suffers from several critical weaknesses in logic and information presented.

　　First of all, the members of the Trash-Site Safety Council are not listed, which could make a big difference in the believability of the study. A truly independent council could produce results that could be considered much more reliable than one with members with possible conflicts of interest. However, if the council were made up mainly of people who have an interest in finding that there is no problem with the trash sites - homebuilders or city councilmen, for example - then the study would lack some credibility. Without knowing the backgrounds and priorities of the council members, the argument is greatly weakened.

　　Secondly, this was cited as a statewide study, but only five sites and three hundred people were studied. Although on average there was only a small statistical correlation shown between the nearness of the trash sites and the homes and people who lived in them, the margin of error could be quite large due to studying only a small sample of people that live near the trash sites in the state. It would be much more persuasive were a large majority of the homes and people near trash sites studied rather than merely a small percentage.

　　Furthermore, the study cites only unexplained rashes as a health-related problem with some statistical correlation. The presence or absence of other types of health problems is not mentioned in the study. It could be that there were other, perhaps not immediately noticeable health problems such as cancer affecting the people living near the sites. Additionally, the study appears to cover only one moment in time, or at least the duration of the study is not discussed. Perhaps there are long-term effects that cannot be discovered by a study conducted over a short period of time. This weakens the argument by leaving out information that could help to persuade the reader one way or another.

　　To add to the lack of credibility, the study does not discuss the relative size of the garbage sites or how close the homes and people were to the sites. There is really no data present to allow a proper decision to be made restricting the size of the sites or how close the homes could be located near the trash sites. At the very least, the fact that there is a slightly higher incidence of rashes in those living nearest the biggest trash sites indicates a need for further studies to prove or disprove the idea that trash sites of a certain size or location are health hazards.

　　In summary, the findings and conclusions of the Trash-Site Safety Council are based mainly on speculation and a small amount of indicative data. The disclosure of the council members motives, the study of a larger sample of the population and trash sites, and further information on other types of health problems and relative nearness of the homes and people to the trash sites would give a much better argument either for or against restrictions on the such sites.

　　參考譯文

　　［題目］

　　垃圾場安全委員會最近在全州范圍內進行了一項調查，旨在研究垃圾場對居住在附近的居民的身體有可能產生的有害影響。被調查的有五座垃圾場以及300多位居民。研究表明，平均而言，居所緊挨著垃圾場這一事實與這些居所中所居住人口發生的無法解釋的疹子之間，僅存在著一種微弱的數據關系。此外，雖然居住在最大的垃圾場附近的居民發疹的程度略高這一事實屬實，但在其他方面，垃圾場的大小與人們的健康之間毫無關系。因此，委員會可以甚為欣慰地宣布，目前這套垃圾場體制并不會對健康構成一項重大危險。我們認為毫無必要去限制本州內這類垃圾場的規模，也沒有必要去限制垃圾堆附近所建造的房屋數量。

　　在本段論述中，委員會得出結論，認為目前的垃圾場體制并沒有對健康構成一種重大危險，因此，毫無必要去限制垃圾場的規模或垃圾場周圍的住房數量。為了支持這一結論，委員會援引了針對五所垃圾場和300位居民所作的一項研究，據此證明在住房緊挨著垃圾場與居住在那里的人中間所發生的難以名狀的疹子之間僅存微弱的關聯。此外，委員會在得出這一結論時，全然無視這樣一個事實，即居住在這類最大的垃圾場附件的人發病的機率略高。論述在邏輯思路和呈示的信息方面不乏某些關鍵性的弱點。

　　其一，垃圾場安全委員會的成員沒有被清楚列舉出來，這一點可令該研究的可信度產生巨大的差異。一個完全獨立的委員會所提出的結論，會被視為比一個成員間可能存在著利害關系沖突的委員會所得出的結論可信度高。但是，如果組成該委員會的成員所感興趣的僅僅是去揭示出垃圾場不存在問題例如象房地產開發商或市政廳議員，那么，該項研究會失去某些可信度。如果對委員會成員的背景以及他們所優先考慮的問題一無所知，則本段論述倍遭削弱。

　　其二，所作的研究據稱是涵蓋整個州的，但被調查的僅有五座垃圾場和300位居民。盡管平均而論，垃圾場的近距離與住所以及與居住在這些房屋內的人之間存在一絲微弱的聯系，但由于所研究的僅是該州內居住在垃圾場附近的很小一批人口樣本，故誤差程度可能會相當的嚴重。如果在所有垃圾場附近的人和住所當中，有大部分的居民和住所得以被研究，而不只是一個很小的百分比的話，那么，所作的調查將更具說服力。

　　此外，該研究僅援引難以名狀的疹子作為與健康相關的、帶有一定統計學關系的問題。該研究沒有提及其他類別的健康問題存在與否。情況有可能是，還存在著其他類型的、或許不是那么昭然若揭的健康問題，例如癌癥，正影響著居住在這些垃圾場附近的人們。再有，該研究所涵蓋的似乎只是一小段時間，或者至少該研究的時間跨度不曾得到討論。也許，有些長遠影響決非是一份只在短期內進行的研究所能涵蓋得了的。這一點再度削弱了本段論述，因為可以使讀者信服的信息被疏忽了。 使可信度進一步受損的是，該研究沒有討論各垃圾場的相對規模，也沒討論住房和居民離垃圾場到底有多近。

　　實際上，一點都沒有數據來允許人們作出一種恰當的判斷，是否應該去限制垃圾場的規模，也沒討論住房與垃圾場之間相隔多遠才算安全距離。至少，在那些居住在最靠近最大的垃圾場的人身上疹子的發生率略高這一事實表明，有必要進行更深入的研究，以證明或駁倒某種規模或某種位置的垃圾場會對健康構成危害這一想法。 概括而論，垃圾場安全委員會的研究發現和研究結論所主要依據的是揣測和數量有限的說明數據。如能揭示出委員會成員的動機，研究為數的人口和垃圾場樣本，就其他類別的健康問題以及住房和居民應與垃圾場之間保持怎樣的相對距離提供更進一步的信息的話，那么，便能作出更為充分的論述，無論是贊成還是反對對垃圾場實施限制。

　　The Trash-Site Safety Council has recently conducted a statewide study of possible harmful effects of garbage sites on the health of people living near the sites. A total of five sites and 300 people were examined. The study revealed, on average, only a small statistical correlation between the proximity of homes to garbage sites and the incidence of unexplained rashes among people living in these homes. Furthermore, although it is true that people living near the largest trash sites had a slightly higher incidence of the rashes, there was otherwise no correlation between the size of the garbage sites and peoples health. Therefore, the council is pleased to announce that the current system of garbage sites does not pose a significant health hazard. We see no need to restrict the size of such sites in our state or to place any restrictions on the number of homes built near the sites.

　　Sample Essay

　　In this argument, the council comes to the conclusion that the current system of garbage sites does not pose a significant health hazard and that therefore, there is no need to restrict the size of the garbage sites or the number of homes built near the site. To support this conclusion, the council cites a study of five garbage sites and three hundred people that showed only a small correlation between the closeness of the homes to the sites and the incidence of unexplained rashes among those people living there. Additionally, the council came to this conclusion despite the fact that people living near the largest such site had a slightly higher incidence of the rashes. This argument suffers from several critical weaknesses in logic and information presented.

　　First of all, the members of the Trash-Site Safety Council are not listed, which could make a big difference in the believability of the study. A truly independent council could produce results that could be considered much more reliable than one with members with possible conflicts of interest. However, if the council were made up mainly of people who have an interest in finding that there is no problem with the trash sites - homebuilders or city councilmen, for example - then the study would lack some credibility. Without knowing the backgrounds and priorities of the council members, the argument is greatly weakened.

　　Secondly, this was cited as a statewide study, but only five sites and three hundred people were studied. Although on average there was only a small statistical correlation shown between the nearness of the trash sites and the homes and people who lived in them, the margin of error could be quite large due to studying only a small sample of people that live near the trash sites in the state. It would be much more persuasive were a large majority of the homes and people near trash sites studied rather than merely a small percentage.

　　Furthermore, the study cites only unexplained rashes as a health-related problem with some statistical correlation. The presence or absence of other types of health problems is not mentioned in the study. It could be that there were other, perhaps not immediately noticeable health problems such as cancer affecting the people living near the sites. Additionally, the study appears to cover only one moment in time, or at least the duration of the study is not discussed. Perhaps there are long-term effects that cannot be discovered by a study conducted over a short period of time. This weakens the argument by leaving out information that could help to persuade the reader one way or another.

　　To add to the lack of credibility, the study does not discuss the relative size of the garbage sites or how close the homes and people were to the sites. There is really no data present to allow a proper decision to be made restricting the size of the sites or how close the homes could be located near the trash sites. At the very least, the fact that there is a slightly higher incidence of rashes in those living nearest the biggest trash sites indicates a need for further studies to prove or disprove the idea that trash sites of a certain size or location are health hazards.

　　In summary, the findings and conclusions of the Trash-Site Safety Council are based mainly on speculation and a small amount of indicative data. The disclosure of the council members motives, the study of a larger sample of the population and trash sites, and further information on other types of health problems and relative nearness of the homes and people to the trash sites would give a much better argument either for or against restrictions on the such sites.

　　參考譯文

　　［題目］

　　垃圾場安全委員會最近在全州范圍內進行了一項調查，旨在研究垃圾場對居住在附近的居民的身體有可能產生的有害影響。被調查的有五座垃圾場以及300多位居民。研究表明，平均而言，居所緊挨著垃圾場這一事實與這些居所中所居住人口發生的無法解釋的疹子之間，僅存在著一種微弱的數據關系。此外，雖然居住在最大的垃圾場附近的居民發疹的程度略高這一事實屬實，但在其他方面，垃圾場的大小與人們的健康之間毫無關系。因此，委員會可以甚為欣慰地宣布，目前這套垃圾場體制并不會對健康構成一項重大危險。我們認為毫無必要去限制本州內這類垃圾場的規模，也沒有必要去限制垃圾堆附近所建造的房屋數量。

　　在本段論述中，委員會得出結論，認為目前的垃圾場體制并沒有對健康構成一種重大危險，因此，毫無必要去限制垃圾場的規模或垃圾場周圍的住房數量。為了支持這一結論，委員會援引了針對五所垃圾場和300位居民所作的一項研究，據此證明在住房緊挨著垃圾場與居住在那里的人中間所發生的難以名狀的疹子之間僅存微弱的關聯。此外，委員會在得出這一結論時，全然無視這樣一個事實，即居住在這類最大的垃圾場附件的人發病的機率略高。論述在邏輯思路和呈示的信息方面不乏某些關鍵性的弱點。

　　其一，垃圾場安全委員會的成員沒有被清楚列舉出來，這一點可令該研究的可信度產生巨大的差異。一個完全獨立的委員會所提出的結論，會被視為比一個成員間可能存在著利害關系沖突的委員會所得出的結論可信度高。但是，如果組成該委員會的成員所感興趣的僅僅是去揭示出垃圾場不存在問題例如象房地產開發商或市政廳議員，那么，該項研究會失去某些可信度。如果對委員會成員的背景以及他們所優先考慮的問題一無所知，則本段論述倍遭削弱。

　　其二，所作的研究據稱是涵蓋整個州的，但被調查的僅有五座垃圾場和300位居民。盡管平均而論，垃圾場的近距離與住所以及與居住在這些房屋內的人之間存在一絲微弱的聯系，但由于所研究的僅是該州內居住在垃圾場附近的很小一批人口樣本，故誤差程度可能會相當的嚴重。如果在所有垃圾場附近的人和住所當中，有大部分的居民和住所得以被研究，而不只是一個很小的百分比的話，那么，所作的調查將更具說服力。

　　此外，該研究僅援引難以名狀的疹子作為與健康相關的、帶有一定統計學關系的問題。該研究沒有提及其他類別的健康問題存在與否。情況有可能是，還存在著其他類型的、或許不是那么昭然若揭的健康問題，例如癌癥，正影響著居住在這些垃圾場附近的人們。再有，該研究所涵蓋的似乎只是一小段時間，或者至少該研究的時間跨度不曾得到討論。也許，有些長遠影響決非是一份只在短期內進行的研究所能涵蓋得了的。這一點再度削弱了本段論述，因為可以使讀者信服的信息被疏忽了。 使可信度進一步受損的是，該研究沒有討論各垃圾場的相對規模，也沒討論住房和居民離垃圾場到底有多近。

　　實際上，一點都沒有數據來允許人們作出一種恰當的判斷，是否應該去限制垃圾場的規模，也沒討論住房與垃圾場之間相隔多遠才算安全距離。至少，在那些居住在最靠近最大的垃圾場的人身上疹子的發生率略高這一事實表明，有必要進行更深入的研究，以證明或駁倒某種規模或某種位置的垃圾場會對健康構成危害這一想法。 概括而論，垃圾場安全委員會的研究發現和研究結論所主要依據的是揣測和數量有限的說明數據。如能揭示出委員會成員的動機，研究為數的人口和垃圾場樣本，就其他類別的健康問題以及住房和居民應與垃圾場之間保持怎樣的相對距離提供更進一步的信息的話，那么，便能作出更為充分的論述，無論是贊成還是反對對垃圾場實施限制。