Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

WRITING TASK 1 (with a TREND)

Task 1 is to write about a graph which shows trends, which are changes over time. You can
be asked to write about different types of graphs, such as line graphs, pie charts, tables or
bar charts. For graphs with trends, you will see a time period in the title of the graph (e.g.
the annual earnings of three bakeries in London, 2000-2010).

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

I. DESCRIBING TRENDS
1) VOCABULARY

Put these words into the correct blanks

Rise Fall Sharply Steady Slowly Fluctuation

Jump Drop Quickly Stable Decline Rapidly
Grow Slightly Fluctuate Go up Decrease Steeply
Constant Steadily Considerably Increase Go down Significantly
Moderately Gradually Plummet Soar Plunge Substantially

Verbs to describe Adverbs to describe “HOW”

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Verbs to describe
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How to describe
Words to describe stay ………….
fluctuation remain + ………….
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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

2) PARAPHRASING

a. Exercise

i.e. The number of cars fell gradually from 500 to 200 over the period from 1990 to 2000.

The number of cars saw/experienced a _________ fall __ 200 over the period from 1990 to 2000.

A gradual fall __ 200 was seen/experienced in the number of cars the period from 1990 to 2000.

There was a gradual fall __ 300 in the number of cars over the period from 1990 to 2000.

The period from 1990 to 2000 __________ a gradual fall of 300 in the number of cars.

1. The research investment decreased significantly from $5,000 to $1,500 in 2005.

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

2. There was a slight fall from 70% to 25% in the sales of mangos in 2006.

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3. The quality of food in supermarkets has increased sharply in 2010.

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4. There was a quick drop of $3 million in sugar imports in 1988.

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5. The price of laptops dropped quickly to $1000 over the 2000s.

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

6. There was an upward trend in the number of visitors to the website in 2002.

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7. The growth rate fluctuated wildly at around 5% throughout the years.

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8. The number of students applying to the university stabilized at 3500 over the decade.

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9. The year 2000 saw a gradual growth of $2000 in the house price in London.

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

II. USING correct Prepositions

a. Read this paragraph and choose the correct prepositions.

As regards Robbie's Bakery, income started 1 to / at £55.000 in 2000 and remained stable 2

at / to this figure 3 during / until 2005. At this point, there was a sharp rise 4 to / at
£70,000. Between 2007 and 2008, the figure went up 5 to / by around £30,000, 6 to / from

£70,000 7 at / to nearly £100.000. Finally, income grew gradually, and peaked 8 at / to

£105;000 in 2010. If we look at Lovely Loaves, earnings fluctuated 9 between / at £80.000

and £90,000 in the first five years, and then there was a sharp fall 10 to / at £40,000 in

2008. Finally, the figure levelled off 11 to / at £40,000, and finished 12 to / at the same

figure.

b. Fill in the blank

1. With started and finished. use ...

Example: Income started ..... £55,000.
2. With increases or decreases, use ...................
Example: There was a sharp rise ..................... £70,000.
3. With remained stable and levelled off'. use ....................
4. With peaked, use ....................
5. To describe how much something increases or decreases, use ....................
Example: The figure went up ..................... around £30,000.
6. To describe the range of fluctuation. use ....................
Example: Earnings fluctuated ..................... £80,000 and £90,000.

c. Add the missing prepositions to this paragraph.

If we look at Bernie's Buns, income started £20,000 in 2000, and then there was a slight rise

£25,000 in 2001. At this point, the figure fell back just over £20.000, followed by a slight

increase just under £40,000. Earnings then levelled off £39,000, and then fell marginally

£38,000. Income then rose £23,000, £38.000 £61.000. In the next two years, there was a

gradual rise around £62,000, and then the figure peaked around £65,000.

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

IV. JOINING two changes together

1. Read this paragraph and underline all the linking words and phrases which mean
and then.
Income of Bernie's Buns started at £20,000 in 2000, and after that there was a slight rise to

£23.000 in 2001. Following this, the figure fell slightly to £21,000 in 2002, after which

income rose sharply in 2003. At this point, the number levelled off until 2005. Next, there was

a slight dip in 2006, but this was followed by a sharp increase to £60,000 in 2008.

Subsequently, income went up gradually in the last two years.

2. Join these changes together using the linking phrase in brackets. Make any other
necessary changes.
1/ Income began at just over £80.000. Income went up slightly to £95.000 in 2001. (and

then)

2/ There was a steady fall to £80,000. Income recovered to £90.000 in 2004. (after which)

3/ Earnings dropped sharply to just over £60,000. There was a slight dip. (At this point)

4/ There was a slight rise to just under £60,000. The figure went down considerably.

(Subsequently)

5/ Income fell significantly to £40,000. The number levelled off. (Next)

3. Choose the correct form of each verb. Check the model answer if you need to.
1/ Despite falling / fell sharply to just above £40,000, the figure then rose in 2010.

2/ Having remained / remaining stable at £55.000, income then rose sharply in 2008.

4. Rewrite these sentences using the words in brackets.

1/ There was a steady decline to £80.000. and then income recovered to £90.000 in

2004. (Despite ...)

2/ Earnings dropped sharply to just over £60.000, but then rose slightly. (Having ...)

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

V. INTRODUCE new sections of the graph

Rewrite these sentences using the linking phrases in brackets.

l. The income of Robbie's Bakery began at just under £60.000. (with respect to)
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2. The amount of money which was earned by Bernie's Buns in 2000 was £20,000. (if we look

at)
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3. The earnings of Robbie's Bakery remained stable during the first five years of the graph. (as

for)
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4. Income for Lovely Loaves fluctuated considerably between 2000 and 2005. (regarding)
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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

VI. INTRODUCTION
1.

2.

EXERCISE 1: Rewrite the Topic question

The graph indicates/provides information/data about how many people visited

Australia, over an eight-year period between 2000 and 2008.
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TOPIC:

1. Unemployment rates, India and Brazil (1995-2000)

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2. DVD sales, UK and USA (2005-2008)

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3. Chocolate production, Colombia (1997-2007)

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

EXERCISE 2: Write the Overview

A. Look at the graph about bakeries on page 1 and discuss these questions.
1. What was the general trend for the earnings of the three bakeries?
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2. Which were the most popular bakeries in 2000 and in 2010?
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3. Is there anything else you could talk about in the overview?
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B. Match the two halves of these phrases for describing general trends.
1. There was a significant upward trend a. trend in the income of Lovely Loaves.

2. The earnings of Lovely Loaves saw b. significantly over the period.

3. There was a downward c. in the income of Bernie's Buns.

4. The income of Bernie's Buns fluctuated d. a dramatic increase in the last five years.

5. The income of Robbie's Bakery witnessed e. a considerable fall over the period.
C. Read this overview and find synonyms for the phrases below.
Overall, what stands out from the graph is that there were considerable upward trends in the

income of both Bernie's Buns and Robbie's Bakery, while the earnings of Lovely Loaves saw a

substantial fall over the period in question.

1. in general
2. it can be seen that
3. the income of Bernie's Buns and Robbie's Bakery rose
4. whereas
5. the income of Lovely Loaves went down significantly
6. the time period covered by the graph
D. Match the phrases in italics in these sentences (1-2) with their definitions (a-b).
2. Another interesting point is that Lovely Loaves was the most popular bakery in 2000, but

in 2010 Robbie's Bakery earned more money than the others.

3. In addition, the highest income in the period was for Robbie's Bakery in 2010.
a. the peak income in the ten years
b. the highest figures at the start and the end of the period
E. Write an overview for the graph about bakeries on page 1

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

• Use the linking phrases from Exercise 1 & 2 and despite/having to join these ideas to
form a good paragraph.
Income of Lovely Loaves began at just over £80.000 in 2000. There was a slight rise to around

£95,000 in 2001. The figure went down steadily to £80.000 in 2003. There was a slight

increase to around £90,000 in 2004. There was a sharp fall to just over £60,000 in 2005.

Income dipped in 2006. There was a negligible increase to just under £60,000 in 2007. Income

fell considerably to £40.000 in 2008. The figure levelled off in the last two years.

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SAMPLE ANSWER

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

VII. COMMENTING on the data

Try to __________ on the data, rather than just give a list of numbers. Add ____ or ____
comments to show that you understand and can interpret the graph. Here are some ways
you can do this.
• Compare the different parts of the graph, using a relative clause:
The income of lovely Loaves fell significantly to around £40,000 in 2008, which
meant that it earned far less than the other bakeries.
• Comment on the peak:
There was a considerable rise in the takings of Robbie's Bakery in the last two years to
£105,000, this figure being the peak level of income during the whole period.
• Add an extra verb to give emphasis:
The income of Robbie's Bakery rose sharply in 2008, rocketing to just under £100,000.
• Add a superlative:
Lovely Loaves earned just over £80,000 in 2000. This meant that it had the highest
income of the three bakeries in that year.
• Group data into a period of time:
There was a significant fluctuation in the income of Lovely Loaves in the first half of
the decade.
1. Use the ideas above to complete these comments on the graph on page 1.
1/ The earnings of Bernie's Buns were £20.000 in 2000, .........................................

2/ The income of Lovely Loaves fell sharply in 2005. p..................... to just over £60,000.

3/ The income of Robbie's Bakery remained stable in the first ..................... of the period.

4/ There was a sharp rise in the income of Robbie's Bakery between 2005 and 2008, which

meant that it earned far ..................... than the other bakeries.

5/ Lovely Loaves' income fell considerably to £40,000 in 2008. This meant that it had

the ..................... income of the three bakeries.

2. Complete the comments in this paragraph with one word in each gap.
If we look at Bernie's Buns, it started at £20.000 in 2000, which was the 1 .....................

income of the three bakeries at this point. After that, it started to rise and went up

sharply to around £60.000 in 2008, which meant that it earned 2 ..................... money

than Lovely Loaves. Finally, the earnings of Bernie's Buns rose gradually, 3 .....................
at around £65.000 in 2010.

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

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 Instructor: Vo Thao Ngan

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