LINE GRAPHS
THE LANGUAGE OF CHANGES
Task 1: Underline the verbs and verb phrases in each sentence to describe the trend.
1. Sales started at $ 3 million in 1990.
2. From 1997 to 2000, sales fluctuated.
3. Sales reached a peak of 3 million in 2001.
4. Sales increased for two years then levelled off.
5. Sales declined between 1999 and 2003.
6. Sales dipped briefly in 2002, then recovered.
7. In 1990, sales stood at $ 25 million.
8. Sales overtook costs in 2003.
Task 2: Add the verbs and phrases form task 1 to the correct category in the table
below. Can you add some more verbs with the help of dictionary. Movement upwards Movement More than one No movement downwards movement Increase Decline Reach a peak (of) Start ………………….. ………………….. ………………….. ………………….. ………………….. ………………….. ………………….. ………………….. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. …………………. ………………….
Task 3: Complete these sentences with a preposition from the box.
At (×2) between by of to
1. Profits rose from 2 billion dollars ……….5 billion last quarter.
2. Since 1985, the price of houses has increased ……….200 %.
3. Road accidents reached a peak ………50,000 in November.
4. Car sales remained constant ….around 75 per month for the rest of the period.
5. During the summer, temperature fluctuate …………20 and 30 degrees.
6. By close of business, the value of the company’s shares stood ………$ 25.
PATTERN USED TO DESCRIBE CHANGES 1. Nouns + V + Adv
2. There + Be + Adjective + Nouns + in + nouns Example:
1. The consumption of fruit has risen steadily.
2. There has been a steady rise in the consumption of fruit. Trend Verbs Nouns Adj Advs Rise Rise Gradual …………….. ………………. Moderate ……………... ………………. Modest Sharp Dramatic Slight Steep steady Decrease …………….. …………….. Level off ………………… ………………… Fluctuate …………………. …………………. Peak Reach a peak ……………… ………………
Task 4: Rewrite these sentences, using one of these patterns 1. Meat consumption has fallen sharply.
There has been………………………………………………………………….
2. There was a brief dip in share prices at the start of the year.
Share prices……………………………………………………………………..
3. Her fitness level improved drammatically.
There was a…………………………………………………………………….
4. There will be a rapid recovery in share prices next year.
Share prices …………………………………………………………………….
5. The use of GM food has grown steadily in some countries.
There has been………………………………………………………………….. PRACTICE
You should write at least 150 words.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
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