The following appeared as part of an annual report sent to stockholders by Olympic Foods, a processor of frozen foods. “Over time, the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. In color film processing, for example, the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970 to 20 cents for one-day service in 1984. | Analysis of Argument Questions for the GMAT The following appeared as part of an annual report sent to stockholders by Olympic Foods a processor of frozen foods. Over time the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better they become more efficient. In color film processing for example the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970 to 20 cents for one-day service in 1984. The same principle applies to the processing of food. And since Olympic Foods will soon celebrate its twenty-fifth birthday we can expect that our long experience will enable us to minimize costs and thus maximize profits. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound and what if anything would help you better evaluate its conclusion. The following appeared in a memorandum from the business department of the Apogee Company. When the Apogee Company had all its operations in one location it was more profitable than it is today. Therefore the Apogee Company should close down its field offices and conduct all its operations from a single location. Such centralization would improve profitability by cutting costs and helping the company maintain better supervision of all employees. Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc. The following appeared in a memorandum issued by a large city s council on the arts. In a recent citywide poll fifteen percent more residents said that they watch television programs about the visual arts than was the case in a poll conducted five years ago. During these past five years the number of .
