Download Language of Graphs and Charts KEY

Language of Graphs and Charts KEY
Adapted from http://esl.about.com/od/businessmeetings/a/Language-Of-Graphs-And-Charts.htm
There are a number of specific words and phrases used to describe and discuss graphs and
charts. Much of the language of graphs and charts relates to movement. Verbs and nouns are
used to describe upward and downward movement, an end to movement, or no change in the
movement. Adjectives and adverbs indicate speed and degree of change.
A) Verbs and nouns
Fill in the missing expressions in the table, either a verb or a noun. Then underline the
stressed syllables.
Verb
Noun
to increase
to grow
to decline
to fluctuate
to rise
to plunge
to peak
to recover
to decrease
to fall
to collapse
to drop
to hit a low
an increase
a growth
a decline
a fluctuation
a rise
a plunge
a peak
a recovery
a decrease
a fall
a collapse
a drop
a low
Now divide the verbs into two groups.
1) Upward movement: __increase, grow, rise, peak, recover
2) Downward movement: _decline, plunge, decrease, fall collapse, drop, hit a low
B) Adjectives and adverbs
Fill in the missing expressions in the table, either an adjective or an adverb, and how
much change they represent. Then underline the stressed syllables.
Adjective
slight
sharp
dramatic
rapid
sudden
Adverb
slightly
sharply
dramatically
rapidly
suddenly
How much change
very small
quite large
very large
quite large
unexpected
significant
significantly
quite large
abrupt
abruptly
very large
subtle
subtly
very small
steady
steadily
no change
moderate
moderately
small
considerable
considerably
quite large
exuberant
exuberantly
very large
gradual
gradually
quite small
massive
massively
very large
Now transform these sentences using the given word so that they mean the same.
a) There’s been a slight decline in life expectancy. Life expectancy decrease slightly.
b) There was a sharp increase in temperature. Temperature increased sharply.
c) There was an abrupt drop in the number of infected people in March. Number of
infected people dropped abruptly in March..
d) Number of neutrons in an isotope suddenly decreased. There was a sudden decrease in
number of neutrons.
e) There has been steady improvement in blood circulation over the past two months.
Blood circulation has been improving steadily.
Language of Graphs and Charts
Adapted from http://esl.about.com/od/businessmeetings/a/Language-Of-Graphs-And-Charts.htm
There are a number of specific words and phrases used to describe and discuss graphs and
charts. Much of the language of graphs and charts relates to movement. Verbs and nouns are
used to describe upward and downward movement, an end to movement, or no change in the
movement. Adjectives and adverbs indicate speed and degree of change.
C) Verbs and nouns
Fill in the missing expressions in the table, either a verb or a noun. Then underline the
stressed syllables.
Verb
Noun
to increase
an increase
a growth
to decline
a fluctuation
a rise
to rise
to plunge
to peak
a recovery
to decrease
to fall
to collapse
a fall
a drop
to hit a low
Now divide the verbs into two groups.
3) Upward movement:
4) Downward movement:
D) Adjectives and adverbs
Fill in the missing expressions in the table, either an adjective or an adverb, and how
much change they represent. Then underline the stressed syllables.
Adjective
slight
Adverb
slightly
sharply
dramatic
rapidly
sudden
How much change
very small
quite large
very large
quite large
unexpected
significantly
quite large
abrupt
very large
subtly
very small
steady
no change
moderately
small
considerable
quite large
exuberantly
very large
gradual
quite small
massively
very large
Now transform these sentences using the given word so that they mean the same.
f) There’s been a slight decline in life expectancy. decrease
g) There was a sharp increase in temperature. sharply
h) There was an abrupt drop in the number of infected people in March. abruptly
i) Number of neutrons in an isotope suddenly decreased. decrease
j) There has been steady improvement in blood circulation over the past two months.
has been improving