IELTS Vocabulary: Describing & analysing tables
Look at the four tables below. These
show demographic trends in four different countries between 1996 and 2000. The numbers
on the left and right of each table show the number of people in millions.
Using the information in these tables, match sentences 1-13 with the appropriate
country.
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| Number of people under 18 years of age |
Number of people over 65 years of age |
Number of deaths |
Number of married people |
Number of single people |
| Country 1: Lycia | ||||
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 |
 |
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| Country 2: Cilica | ||||
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 |
 |
 |
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| Country 3: Moesia | ||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
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| Country 4: Cappadocia | ||||
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 |
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1) In which two countries was there a considerable discrepancy between married and single people between 1996 and 1998?
a)
2) In which country was there a constant and considerable discrepancy between married and single people over the five-year period?
a)
3) In which country was there a sudden and noticeable difference between those under 18 and those over 65 in 1998?
a)
4) In which country did the number of under-18s rise dramatically between 1996 and 2000?
a)
5) In which country did the number of under-18s increase slightly between 1996 and 2000?
a)
6) In which country did the number of over-65s go up sharply between 1996 and 1998?
a)
7) In which country did the number of married people decline over the five-year period?
a)
8) In which country did the number of deaths decrease significantly between 1996 and 1999?
a)
9) In which country was there a slight decline in the number of married people between 1998 and 1999?
a)
10) In which country was there a sharp drop in the number of under-18s between 1997 and 1998?
a)
11) In which country was there a slight reduction in the number of deaths over the five-year period?
a)
12) In which country was there a significant increase in the number of deaths between 1998 and 2000?
a)
13) In which country did the number of deaths remain constant over the five-year period?
a)
Vocabulary Tip
The verbs rise and increase have the same meaning here. We can also say
climb. These verbs can also be nouns.
The verbs fail, drop and decline have the same meaning here. These verbs
can also be nouns.
The adverbs steadily and noticeably can have the same meaning here. They
can also be adjectives (steady, noticeable).
The adverbs sharply, rapidly and dramatically can have the same meaning
here. They can also be adjectives (sharp, rapid, dramatic).
Now look at the table below, which
shows the changes in economic activity in a town over a period of five years. The
figures on the left and right show the number of people involved in these activities,
in thousands.
Write your own sentences to describe the situation in the town regarding the number
of:
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|
|
|
|
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| Number of people in industry |
Number of people in retail |
Number of semi-skilled / skilled people in public services (including police, doctors, bus drivers, etc.) |
Number of people in tourism |
Number of unemployed |
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1) People employed in industry between 1996 and 2000.
a)
2) People employed in retail between 1996 and 2000.
a)
3) People employed in public services between 1999 and 2000.
a)
4) People employed in tourism between 1996 and 2000.
a)
5) Unemployed between 1998 and 2000.
a)
6) People employed in industry compared with those in tourism in 1996.
a)
7) People employed in industry between 1998 and 1999.
a)
Vocabulary Tip
Other words and expressions which you might find useful include:
For things going up: rocket/jump/edge up/soar/creep up/peak (especially
for numbers, prices, etc.)
For things going down: slump / plunge / slip back / slip down / plummet
/ drop / bottom out (especially when talking about prices)