Describing charts and graphs. Different types of charts, graphs and diagrams

Bar chart



Bar charts are used to compare facts. The bars provide a visual display for comparing quantities in different categories or groups.

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  Line graph
  

Line graphs are used to display data or information that changes continuously over time. Line graphs allow us to see overall trends such as an increase or decrease in data over time. Line graphs plot two or more sets of facts on vertical and horizontal axes.

-Tables

Make	Price	Country of origin	Engine size	Miles per gallon
Toyota Corolla	$15,550	Japan	1400cc	48
Volkswagen Golf	$18,250	Germany	1600cc	40
Ford Focus	$15,800	USA	1400cc	50
Nissan Micra	$15,500	Japan	1200cc	52

Tables are used to organize exact amounts of data and to display numerical information. Tables do not show visual comparisons. As a result, tables take longer to read and understand. It is more difficult to examine overall trends and make comparisons with tables, than it is with graphs.

Vocabulary for describing graphs

Helpful words and phrases for describing graphs

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  Up –Verbs rise, increase, grow, improve, jump, surge, shoot up, soar, rocket
  
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  Up- Nouns a rise, an increase, growth, an upward/ rising/increasing trend, an improvement, a jump, a surge
  
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  Down- Verbs fall, decrease, drop, decline, go down, slump, plummet
  
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  Down- Nouns a fall, a decrease, a decline, a downward/falling/decreasing trend, a slump
  
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  No change- Verbs remain stable/ constant, stay at the same level, stabilize
  
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  Frequent change- verb fluctuate
  
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  Frequent change- noun fluctuation
  
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  At the top – verbs reach a peak, peak, reach its/their highest point
  
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  At the bottom-Verbs reach/hit a low (point),hit/reach its/their lowest point
  

Change

Adjectives:

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  dramatic, considerable, sharp, significant, moderate, slight, sudden, rapid, steady, gradual, slow
  

Adverbs:

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  dramatically, considerably, sharply, significantly, moderately, slightly, suddenly, rapidly, steadily, gradually, slowly
  

Prepositions:

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  a rise from $725 to $825
  
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  to increase by 2.1%
  
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  an increase of 2.1% in the crime rate
  

a.After peaking early in 2001, Deutsche Bank shares declined for nearly two years, apart from a slight rise inthe autumn of 2001. They bottomed out in early 2003, and climbed steadily for most of the year. They fell again in the summer of 2004, but the end of the year saw an improvement.

b.Following a sharp fall early in 2001, UBS shares were up and down for a couple of years, reaching a low of CHF40 in September 2002. They improved steadily in 2003 and after a moderate drop in the middle of 2004 they began to increase again.

c. Barclays shares reached a peak in spring 2002, and then fell steadily for six months, before rising slightly and then dropping again until the end of the year. However, 2003, saw an almost uninterrupted growth, which despite a couple of moderate falls continued in 2004.

B.Look at the graph showing the development of the USD / GBP exchange rate and complete the description using words and phrases from the box.



climbed hit rapid fall

significantly bottom rising

declined steadily peaked sharply
After the pound was devalued by 14% in 1967 it was worth $2.41.

The pound floated after 1921, and (1) ……………. ……………. during 1975 and 1976, before (2) ……….. …………… again between 1977 and 1980. There was a (3) ………… ………….in 1981, and the pound continued to slide until 1985, when it (4) ………….. …………….at $1.06. In 1991 it reached $1.88, and (5) ………………..at $1.96 in 1990, but in 1993 it fell again to below $1.50. The pound (6) ……………. ……………….again during most of 2002-3.

C.Use the words in the list to fill the gaps.



Significantly, tailing off, busiest time, a plateau, Overall, a sharp increase, fluctuation, a rapid rise, apeak, decline, drop quickly to less than

The graph shows the ­­­­­­1)______________________ in the number of people at a London underground station over the course of a day.

The 2)_______________ ____________of the day is in the morning. There is 3)_________ ________________ between 06:00 and 08:00, with 400 people using the station at 8 o'clock. After this the numbers 4)_______ _________ ___ ______ _______ 200 at 10 o'clock. Between 11 am and 3 pm the number rises, with 5)_____________ of just under 300 people using the station. 

In the afternoon, numbers 6)_____________, with less than 100 using the station at 4 pm. There is then 7)___ _____ ______ to 8)____________ of 380 at 6pm. After 7 pm, numbers fall 9)_________________, with only a slight increase again at 8pm, 10)__________ ____ after 9 pm.

11)_______________, the graph shows that the station is most crowdedin the early morning and early evening periods.

Activity2. Fill in the missing words in the sentences below. Choose from the following:

 almost      biggest      comprise      conclusion      data      majority      making up   Oceania’s      Overall      parts      quarter      respectively      second      totals      vary      with