Organising Descriptions of Data

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Aim: This exercise is to help you organise your description of data by choosing suitable headings.

Instructions:
Look at Figure 1, then do the following two exercises. For each paragraph of the exercises, choose an appropriate heading from the list. Then check your answers.

Figure 1: Product Sales in the Last 12 Months
in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan

Number of Sales	.																																								.
4,000
	.																				.			.			.			.				.			.			.

3,500
	.																.				.			.			.			.				.			.	.		.

3,000
	.													.			.		.		.			.			.			.				.	.		.	.		.

2,500
	.			.				.			.			.	.		.		.		.			.			.			.		.		.	.		.	.		.

2,000
	.	.		.				.	.		.	.		.	.		.		.		.			.			.	.		.		.		.	.		.	.		.

1,500
	.	.	.	.				.	.		.	.		.	.		.		.		.			.	.		.	.		.		.		.	.		.	.		.

1,000
	.		.	.		.	.	.	.		.	.		.	.		.		.		.	.		.	.		.	.		.		.		.	.		.	.		.

500
	.	H	S	T		H	S	T	H	S	T	H	S	T	H	S	T		H	S	T	H	S	T	H	S	T	H	S	T		H	S	T	H	S	T	H	S	T

0-



		Key:			Hong Kong													Singapore													Taiwan

Exercise 1

It has been a good year for sales in our Asian markets, as total sales have almost doubled, from 4,500 one year ago to 8,000 at the end of last month. However, as shown in Figure 1, sales trends in the three markets have been very different.

Sales rose from 500 a year ago to a high of 3,000, before falling dramatically in to 1,000. This was probably due to the re-location of our shop. As customers found our new shop, sales rose again. Last month sales reached 3,500.

In this market sales were very different. One year ago sales volume was 1,500 per month. This fell steadily to a level of 500 a month in , and has stayed at this level. The reason for this is probably that a new competitor moved into the local market a year ago, and has taken market share in economy-priced products. We have retained the market share for luxury products. Although it is a smaller market, the profit-margin is higher.

This has been the best-performing market, which may be due to the larger size of the market. A year ago sales were 2,500 a month. In sales started to rise. They levelled out in at 4,000 units per month, and have remained at that level.

Sales are increasing only in Hong Kong. In Taiwan sales volume is relatively high, but it is not increasing. In Singapore sales are low, and are not increasing.

Exercise 2

to
Sales performance in the three countries was very different. Sales in Singapore fell from 1,500 to 500 units per month, but in Hong Kong they rose from 500 to 1,500. In Taiwan they remained stable at 2,500.

to
In both Hong Kong and Taiwan sales increased by 1,500 units, but in Singapore they remained at 500 units.

to
Sales in Taiwan levelled out at a plateau of 4,000 units per month, and have remained at that level. Sales in Singapore also remained stable at 500 units per month. In Hong Kong, sales fell dramatically in to 1,000, then continued to rise throughout the rest of the year to a present level of 3,500.

Sales are increasing only in Hong Kong. In Taiwan sales volume is relatively high, but it is not increasing. In Singapore sales are low, and are not increasing.

Here is the correct answer to Exercise One:

Introduction (your answer was )
It has been a good year for sales in our Asian markets, as total sales have almost doubled, from 4,500 one year ago to 8,000 at the end of last month. However, as shown in Figure 1, sales trends in the three markets have been very different.

Hong Kong (your answer was )
Sales rose from 500 a year ago to a high of 3,000, before falling dramatically in to 1,000. This was probably due to the re-location of our shop. As customers found our new shop, sales rose again. Last month sales reached 3,500.

Singapore (your answer was )
In this market sales were very different. One year ago sales volume was 1,500 per month. This fell steadily to a level of 500 a month in , and has stayed at this level. The reason for this is probably that a new competitor moved into the local market a year ago, and has taken market share in economy-priced products. We have retained the market share for luxury products. Although it is a smaller market, the profit-margin is higher.

Taiwan (your answer was )
This has been the best-performing market, which may be due to the larger size of the market. A year ago sales were 2,500 a month. In sales started to rise. They levelled out in at 4,000 units per month, and have remained at that level.

Conclusion (your answer was )
Sales are increasing only in Hong Kong. In Taiwan sales volume is relatively high, but it is not increasing. In Singapore sales are low, and are not increasing.

Now click here to go to Exercise 2

Here is the correct answer to Exercise 2:

(your answer was )
Sales performance in the three countries was very different. Sales in Singapore fell from 1,500 to 500 units per month, but in Hong Kong they rose from 500 to 1,500. In Taiwan they remained stable at 2,500.

(your answer was )
In both Hong Kong and Taiwan sales increased by 1,500 units, but in Singapore they remained at 500 units.

(your answer was )
Sales in Taiwan levelled out at a plateau of 4,000 units per month, and have remained at that level. Sales in Singapore also remained stable at 500 units per month. In Hong Kong, sales fell dramatically in to 1,000, then continued to rise throughout the rest of the year to a present level of 3,500.

Conclusion (your answer was )
Sales are increasing only in Hong Kong. In Taiwan sales volume is relatively high, but it is not increasing. In Singapore sales are low, and are not increasing.

Last updated on 20 December 2002.

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Exercise 1

Exercise 2