刘文勇GRE写作Argument题库 Day 27

Day 27 Commuters complain that increased rush-hour traffic on Blue Highway between the suburbs and the city center has doubled their commuting time

The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.

“Commuters complain that increased rush-hour traffic on Blue Highway between the suburbs and the city center has doubled their commuting time. The favored proposal of the motorists' lobby is to widen the highway, adding an additional lane of traffic. But last year's addition of a lane to the nearby Green Highway was followed by a worsening of traffic jams on it. A better alternative is to add a bicycle lane to Blue Highway. Many area residents are keen bicyclists. A bicycle lane would encourage them to use bicycles to commute, and so would reduce rush-hour traffic rather than fostering an increase.”

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）“Commuters complain that increased rush-hour traffic on Blue Highway between the suburbs and the city center has doubled their commuting time. The favored proposal of the motorists' lobby is to widen the highway, adding an additional lane of traffic. But last year's addition of a lane to the nearby Green Highway was followed by a worsening of traffic jams on it”和“ Many area residents are keen bicyclists”是事实， “A better alternative is to add a bicycle lane to Blue Highway”是结论，值得反驳吗？

（2）扩建高速公路和增加自行车道，两者是替代品还是互补品？抑或是处于这两种关系的中间地带？还有其他解决方案吗？例如：增加公共交通工具。

（3）邻近的 Green Highway和当地的 Blue Highway所面临的情况一定是一样的吗？例如车流量。在 Green Highway采用扩建高速公路的方法效果不理想，能说明这种方法在 Blue Highway也不会有好的效果吗？

（4）造成交通拥堵的原因有哪些？除了本段提及的原因外，你能再罗列一两个原因吗？例如：红绿灯设置不合理，路况不好经常导致车祸造成堵车。所以，交通状况变得更糟不一定是扩建高速公路造成的。

（5）喜欢骑自行车的人是那些需要通勤的人吗？鼓励人们这样做，他们就一定会这样做吗？这样做一定是合理的吗？你能罗列一两个方面吗？例如：骑自行车比开车耗时更长，在高速公路上骑自行车会产生安全隐患等。