Aim:
This exercise introduces the vocabulary and grammar needed to describe trends. For
students taking the English for Academic Purposes course, this function is from Unit 3 of
the EAP book and will help EAP students prepare for Assignment One. (Teachers: Click here
for a printable version of this exercise in
MS Word.)
Instructions:
Read the information on the vocabulary for
describing trends, then fill in the gaps in the text following the table by choosing an options from the drop-down
lists. Then check your answers.
Vocabulary for Describing Trends
Word | Part of Speech | Example Sentences |
increase | verb: to increase, is increasing, has
increased, increased noun: an increase of $5,554m an increase in spending of $5,554m |
Total expenditure increased
from $33,611m to $39,165m from 1995 to 1996. From 1995 to 1996 there was an increase in expenditure of $5,554m. |
decrease | verb: to decrease, is decreasing, has
decreased, decreased noun: a decrease of 0.7% a decrease in spending of 0.7% |
Expenditure on primary education decreased
from 22.2% to 21.5% from 1995 to 1996. From 1995 to 1996 there was a decrease in expenditure of 0.7%. |
rise | verb: to rise, is rising, has risen,
rose noun: a rise of $5,554m a rise in spending of $5,554m |
Total expenditure rose from
$33,611m to $39,165m from 1995 to 1996. From 1995 to 1996 there was a rise in expenditure of $5,554m. |
fall | verb: to fall, is falling, has
fallen, fell noun: a fall of 0.7% a fall in spending of 0.7% |
Expenditure on primary education fell
from 22.2% to 21.5% from 1995 to 1996. From 1995 to 1996 there was a fall in expenditure of 0.7%. |
drop | verb: to drop, is dropping, has
dropped, dropped noun: a drop of 0.7% a drop in spending of 0.7% |
Expenditure on primary education dropped
from 22.2% to 21.5% from 1995 to 1996. From 1995 to 1996 there was a drop in expenditure of 0.7%. |
to be financed by | verb: to be
financed by, is financed by, has been financed by, was financed by meaning: to be paid for (e.g. money is transferred from one budget to another) |
The increase in spending in this sector was financed by decreases in other sectors. |
_ing forms | After an introductory clause that includes some analysis; e.g. 'Spending rose in all three years', an '_ing' form can be used to describe numbers and dates. | Spending rose in all three years, increasing from 17.6% to 18% from 1995 to 1996, and then rising again to 18.2% in 1997-8. |
Expenditure on Education in Hong Kong 1995 to 1998
Breakdown of spending | 1995-6 | 1996-7 | 1997-8 |
Total expenditure ($ million) | 33,611 | 39,165 | 45,315 |
As % of government budget | 17.6% | 18% | 18.2% |
% spent on
|
22.2% 33.7% 35.9% . |
21.5% 33.2% 36.7% . |
21.6% 33.5% 35.9% . |
Source: Hong Kong 1998. Hong Kong: Government Printer
Exercise Text:
Note: this text not only describes the figures from the table, it analyses them, for example by comparing the rise in the percentage spent on education and contrasting the spending on secondary and tertiary education. Repeating the numbers from the table without analysing them is not enough to describe the trends.
Click here to see the answers.
Related pages: EAP pages | Online Exercises
Last updated: Monday, 27 August 2012
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