2.4.1 Interpreting Graphs Line Graphs
| Exercise 1
The verbs in the box on the right can all be used to describe changes commonly represented on line graphs. Use your dictionary to look up the meanings of the verbs and then answer the following questions: 1. Which 5 verbs mean go up? 2. Of these, which 3 mean go up suddenly/a lot? 3. Which 5 verbs mean go down? 4. Which verb means reach its highest level? 5. Which verb means stay the same? 6. Which verb means go up and down? Now decide which parts of the graphs below, showing the sales of a book between 1990 and 2000, can be described using the verbs given.
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| Exercise 2
Now, using the verbs above, complete these sentences using the information shown on the graphs: 1 In the year 2000, sales _____ at the beginning of August. 2 Sales rocketed between 19_____ and 19_____. 3 From 1992 to 1993, sales of the book _____. 4 Book sales fluctuated between _____ and _____ 2000. 5 Sales _____ between September and November 2000. 6 Sales started to fall for the first time in 19_____. 7 Book sales _____ from 1994 to 1997. 8 However, from 1997 to 1999, sales _____. |
| Exercise 3
Changes can also be described in more detail by modifying a verb with an adverb. Using a verb from the box on the left, and an adverb from the box on the right, make sentences describing the changes represented on the line graphs above for the years or months shown. The first one has been done for you as an example. 1. 1990-–1992 Sales increased/rose dramatically/sharply. 2. 1992-–1994 3. 1994-–1997 4. 1997-–1999 5. July – August 2000 6. November–December 2000 |
2.4.2 Interpreting Pie Charts
Let’s use an exercise to show how one can interpret a pie chart.
The two pie charts below illustrate two families’ average monthly expenditure. In the summary there are ten factual errors. Using the information on the pie charts, underline the mistakes and then rewrite the text, making the corrections necessary. The first one has been done for you as an example.
Both families’ biggest expenditure each month is the mortgage. Family A spends far more on their mortgage than they do on anything else (32%). This is exactly half what they spend on entertainment each month. Their food budget (19%) is significantly higher than their entertainment budget, while they spend well under 10% each month on clothes. Family B’s clothes budget is far less (5%). Family B’s entertainment budget is similar to Family A’s, at just 9%. In contrast, Family B spends much more on bills each month, over a quarter of the whole monthly budget. This is compensated for by their mortgage, which is slightly less than Family A’s, at only 24%. Just over 15% of their monthly budget goes on the car, significantly more than the 9% that Family A spends each month. In general, Family B spends more on necessary items such as bills, food and their car, while Family A allows slightly more money for entertainment and clothes.
— Family A’s biggest expenditure each month is the mortgage…
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