Describing charts and graphs

Increase and decrease

The UK inflation rate has climbed to 3%.

The basic income tax rate will rise from 25% to 28%.

ABC sales improved last year by 10% to $lm.

CBA profits decreased from €4.5m to €4.2m as sales continued to deteriorate.

Travel agents are expecting a 4% fall in prices.

Rate of change

Adjectives and adverbs can describe both the quantity and the speed of a change.

High points, low points, and staying the same

To reach the highest point and then go down To reach the lowest point and then rise

To stay at the same level on the graph or chart To go up and down continuously

38.1 Match the graphs (1-3) to the descriptions (a-c). Look at A, B and C opposite to help you.

650- 600- 550- 500- 450- 400- 350-

a After peaking early in 2001, Deutsche Bank shares declined for nearly two years, apart from a slight rise in the 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.

38.2 Complete the text describing the graph with words from the box. Look at A, B and C opposite to help you.

grew slowly remained stable sharp increases

The number of hedge funds (1).....................................

............................. in 1991-92 but has (2).........................

............................. ever since. Although the number of

funds (3).................................................. between 1992 and

1997 the assets of the funds only (4)......................................

................................ There were (5)....................................... in

Growth of hedge funds

$bn assets (bars) 900

I I I I I I I I I I I I г

T—I CO lo t^ T—¹ <~n

ON ON ON ON О О

C\ ON ON C\ О О

т-ч v-i T— r—I <4

Number (line 9,000 8,000- 7,000 6,000- 5,000- 4,000- 3,000 2,000 1,000 0

increased rapidly risen regularly

hedge funds' total assets in 1999 and 2003.

550.00 _w 500.00 с 450.00-1 ° 400.00 &350.00H 2 300.00 ^ 250.00 200.00

38.3 Describe the graph showing the price of gold. Look at A, B and C opposite to help you.

Ov&r -fo upu

Find a graph on the internet showing recent changes in the sales, profits or stock price of a company you are interested in, and describe it using words from the opposite page.

Professional English in Use Finance

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 3419