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Describing statistics

Grammar

The following linę graph shows the unemployment ratę (percentage of the workforce who are unemployedj in Indonesia for the period 1990 to 2004.

1 Read the following description of the graph.

In 1990, the unemployment ratę stood at just over 2 per cent. There was a slight rise over the next three years and then in 1993, it increased sharply to over 4 per cent. During the next two years it fell slightly, but then it increased again td reach over 6 per cent at the beginning of 1999. After that, there was another dip, but then it rosę dramatically. The ratę hit 8 per cent in 2001. There was a morę gradual ńse over the following three years.

2 Write an alternative version in your notebook, changing the verb-adverb phrases in italics to nouns and adjectives and vice versa. Begin with the sentences below.

Xn J990, The unev^plo^men^J' raTe sTpod ciT ^usT oyer 2 per cenT.

XT.riosesl 19!?+.!^ oyer The vyex+ Three ^eary prd +hep in 1993,................

There was c\ styyrp increase To oyer 4 per cenT..........................................

STRONG SALES AT IBIS GROUP

v0SĘĘĘtfjjjjĘĘĘ

i";:

Ibis group reported a 1 (successfulfcuccessfully second quarter of trading yesterday | with overali sales 3.5 per cent higher than the same period last year. Bonaccord, the I flagship fashion outlet, performed very well with a 2 steady/steadily rise in profits from £10.2 million in 2005 to £12.3 million in 2006. The women's clothing department f performed very 3 strong/strongly and sales were also helped by the 4 recent/recently | refurbishment of twenty of their Stores. Sales also rosę 5 sharp/sharply at Fragrance, I

the perfume storę which the group acquired in September.

'' 1^; It must be admitted that the figures for Bertrand, the group's fashion outlet for the g

over-50s, 6 complete/completely failed to reflect this success. Here, like-for-like profits |

fell by 4.1 per cent. However, this poor performance was not 7 unexpected/

unexpectedly and was partly caused by the wet weather which affected the sales of |

summer clothes. Mr Tim Wright, chief executive, is 8 confident/confidently that things I

will improve.

...... ..........................- — —......................................- — -----------------—~--'-------T

Vocabulary

Below you will find two mixed-up descriptions of the movements in the share prices of two different companies over a week. Separate the two descriptions by choosing A or B for 1-5 in the box below. Write the two descriptions below.

1 A The share price rosę slightly	B The share price showed a slight
on Monday and continued ...	fali on Monday and continued ...
2 A ... to go down the following	B ... to climb the following day.
day. However, ...	However, ...
3 A Wednesday saw an end to this	B Wednesday saw an end to this
downward trend as the price	upward trend as the price
stabilised.	levelled off.
4 A There were no further increases	B There were no further drops in
on Thursday either but unfortunately	price on Thursday either but on
on Friday ...	Friday there was a complete
5 A ... the price suddenly recovered and	change of fortunę as ...
rosę sharply to exceed even Monday’s	B ... the price suddenly plunged
value.	to just below Monday’s value.

Company X

1 The. shareprice. rosę.sljgh+l.^ on /^or\da^ and con+jnuied......................

i

t

I

i

..... +o climb. The..following. day...W.......................................................

Company Y

1 The share price showed asligbt; fall on /Mondasj agd coynłinued ...

... +o go down the following dg^. Howeyer,......

1

UNIT 17 Describing statistics 39