BRIEF OVERVIEW OF IELTS WRITING TASK 1
1. Requirements: Accurately describe and summarise visual
information by selecting and presenting the key trends and
features.
2. Timing: 20 minutes
3. Length: At least 150 words
4. Types:
4.1. CHARTS
LINE GRAPH
BAR
PIE
TABLE
4.2. MAPS
4.3. PROCESS
5. Assessment Criteria
Task Achievement
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
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TYPE 1: LINE GRAPH(CHANGES OVER TIME)
Sample 1:
Structure:
1. Write an introduction to the topic of the graph in YOUR OWN
WORDS (paragraph 1)
2. Give an overview of the main ideas in the graph (paragraph 2)
3. Describe the most important changes and numbers (paragraph 3 &
4)
Think about these questions before you start writing.
What is the main topic of the graph?
How could you rewrite the introduction in your own words?
What are the general trends for the three bakeries over the whole
period?
Which number will you select to write about in paragraph 3 &4?
What grammar and vocabulary will you need to use?
Can you give your personal opinion about what happens in the
graph?- NO
2
LANGUAGE AND STRUCTURES FOR DESCRIBING CHANGES/TRENDS
3
4
I. UPWARD TREND
1. INCREASE INCREASED INCREASED INCREASE (n)
2. RISE ROSE RISEN RISE (n)
3. GROW GREW GROWN GROWTH (n)
4. CLIMB CLIMBED CLIMBED
MẠNH
SOAR SOARED SOARED
SURGE SURGED SURGED SURGE (n)
ROCKET ROCKETED
GẤP
DOUBLE (v) DOUBLED DOUBLED DOUBLING (n)
TRIPLE (v)=TREBLE (v)
TRIPLED/TREBLEDTRIPLING/TREBLING (n)
INCREASE TWOFOLD/THREEFOLD/FOURFOLD
(20,00040,000)
The number of visitors to QN INCREASED TWOFOLD from
20,000 to 40,000 in 2010.
Increasing Categories
The number of people watching TV and movies increased from
1980 to 2020.
The number of people watching TV and movies grew from 1980 to
2020.
The number of people watching TV and movies rose from 1980 to
2020.
The number of people watching TV and movies climbed from 1980
to 2020.
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The number of people watching TV and movies went up from 1980
to 2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was an increase in the number of
people watching TV and movies.
From 1980 to 2020, there was growth in the number of people
watching TV and movies.
From 1980 to 2020, there was a rise in the number of people
watching TV and movies.
II. DOWNWARD TREND
1. DECREASE DECREASEDDECREASED DECREASE (n)
2. FALL FELL FALLEN FALL (n)
3. DECLINE DECLINED DECLINEDDECLINE (n)
4. DROP DROPPED DROPPED DROP (n)
5. DIP DIPPED DIPPED
DIP (n): giảm nhẹ và sau đó phục hồi
MẠNH
PLUMMET PLUMMETED PLUMMETED
PLUNGE PLUNGED PLUNGED
SLUMP SLUMPED SLUMPED
Decreasing Categories
The number of people playing video games decreased from 1980
to 2020.
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The number of people playing video games declined from 1980 to
2020.
The number of people playing video games dropped from 1980 to
2020.
The number of people playing video games fell from 1980 to 2020.
The number of people playing video games went down from 1980
to 2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was a decrease in the number of people
playing video games.
From 1980 to 2020, there was a decline in the number of people
playing video games.
From 1980 to 2020, there was a drop in the number of people
playing video games.
From 1980 to 2020, there was a fall in the number of people
playing video games.
III. POSITIONS
1. MAX
+ PEAK (v) AT PEAKED at …
=REACH (ED) A PEAK (n) OF
The number of visitors to QN PEAKED at 50,000 in 2011.
2. MIN
+ REACH THE LOWEST POINT AT
=HIT A TROUGH OF…
3. NO CHANGE
+REMAIN (v) remained
UNCHANGED/STATIC/STABLE/STEADY
CONSTANT AT
+ experience a period of stability
+stabilise (v) AT
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Stable Categories
The number of people playing music stayed at the same
level from 1980 to 2020.
The number of people playing music was constant from 1980 to
2020.
The number of people playing music remained stable from 1980
to 2020.
The number of people playing music remained unchanged from
1980 to 2020.
4. IRREGULAR CHANGE
+FLUCTUATE (v)- FLUCTUATED FLUCTUATION (n)
+VARY (v) VARIED VARIATION (n)
+ TO be (WAS) ERRATIC/VOLATILE (a)
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Fluctuating Categories
The number of people studying fluctuated from 1980 to 2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there were fluctuations in the number of
people studying.
IV. ADJECTIVES-ADVERBS
1. DRAMATIC DRAMATICALLY
=STEEP STEEPLY
=SHARP SHARPLY
2. SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANTLY
=CONSIDERABLE CONSIDERABLY
=SUBSTANTIAL SUBSTANTIALLY
3. MODERATE MODERATELY
4. STEADY STEADILY
=CONSISTENT CONSISTENTLY
5. GRADUAL GRADUALLY
SLIGHT SLIGHTLY
MARGINAL MARGINALLY
NEGLIGIBLE NEGLIGIBLY
FRACTIONAL FRACTIONALLY
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Increasing Categories
The number of people watching TV and
movies increased steeply/rapidly/dramatically/substantially/si
gnificantly/considerably from 1980 to 2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was
a steep/rapid/dramatic/substantial/significant/considerable in
crease in the number of people watching TV and movies.
The number of people reading
books increased modestly/moderately from 1980 to 2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was a modest/moderate increase in the
number of people reading books.
The number of people working
out increased gradually/slowly/slightly/marginally from 1980 to
2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was
a gradual/slow/slight/marginal increase in the number of
people working out.
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Decreasing Categories
The number of
people baking decreased gradually/slowly/slightly/marginally fr
om 1980 to 2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was
a gradual/slow/slight/marginal decrease in the number of
people baking.
The number of
people gardening decreased modestly/moderately from 1980 to
2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was a modest/moderate decrease in the
number of people gardening.
The number of people playing video
games decreased steeply/rapidly/dramatically/substantially/si
gnificantly/considerably from 1980 to 2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there was
a steep/rapid/dramatic/substantial/significant/considerable d
ecrease in the number of people playing video games.
Big or No Rate Changes in Categories
In the next set, we will look at adverbs and adjectives you can use when
there’s a big change in the rate (suddenly/sharply/sudden/sharp) and
adverbs and adjectives for when there is no change in the rate
(steadily/consistently/steady/consistent).
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The number of people doing woodwork increased by about 10 from
1980 to 1990 and suddenly/sharply increased to 200 people in
2000. After that, it steadily/consistently decreased until 2020.
From 1980 to 1990, there was an increase of about 10 in the
number of people doing woodwork, and there was
a sudden/sharp increase to 200 people in 2000. After that, there
was a steady/consistent decrease.
Stable Trends & Fluctuations
And now, adverbs and adjectives to describe stable trends and
fluctuations.
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The number of people playing music remained completely stable
from 1980 to 2020.
The number of people studying remained relatively stable from
1980 to 2020.
The number of people studying fluctuated slightly from 1980 to
2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there were slight fluctuations in the number of
people studying.
The number of people playing board
games fluctuated wildly/considerably/substantially from 1980 to
2020.
From 1980 to 2020, there
were wild/considerable/substantial fluctuations in the number of
people playing board games.
STRUCTURES
1. S + V + Adv
From 2000 to 2010, the number of internet users///
increased///dramatically.
The number of Americans driving to work/// decreased/// sharply
from 2000 to 2006.
2. There + to be + a/an +Adj+ N + IN
There was a steep increase in the proportion of people who
visited London in 2010.
3. S + saw/witnessed /underwent/experienced +a/an+adj+N
The number of tourists to London underwent a rapid decline
from 2000 to 2010.
4. A/an +Adj+ N was recorded/seen/observed
A remarkable rise of 10 % in the proportion of American workers
was recorded/reported in the period from 2006 to 2010.
5. Before/After + V-ing, S + V + Adv
Before increasing sharply to 50% in 2010, the proportion of
cars in the UK decreased gradually to 20% in 2005.
6. S + V + Adv, then V + more Adv (the same direction)
The number of people going to the cinema in 2010 rose slightly,
then more sharply in the next 5 years.
7. S + V + Adv, but then V + more Adv (the opposite
directions)
The percentage of old citizens aged over 70 went up modestly in
2010, but then declined rapidly over the next 5 years.
8. There was a/an + Adj + N, which was followed by a/an adj +
N
In 2005, there was a slight decrease to 3000 cyclists in
Amsterdam, which was followed by a sharp increase of 5,000
users in 2010.
Language of estimation
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Just over/just under
Just above/just below
Nearly=almost
Approximately=Roughly
Practically
About
Slightly more than/slightly less than
Fractions and proportions
2%=A mere 2%
4%=A tiny fraction/A very small proportion/An insignificant
minority(proportion)
10%=one in ten
20%=a fifth
25%=A quarter
33.33%= A third
40%=two-fifths
50%=Exactly a half
60%=three fifths
66.67%=two-thirds
75%=three-quarters
80%=four-fifths
85%-89%=A significant proportion
90%=A massive 90%
99%=Almost/Nearly all…
Show sequence
Respectively=Sequentially=In turn
The former/the latter
To begin with,…/To commence with,…
Then
Afterwards
Following that,…
Subsequently,…
This+ tobe+ followed by…
Finally,…
Time phrase
Over the next three days
Three days later
In the following three days
The next three days show
From…to…=between…and…
The last/final year
At the beginning of the period
At the end of the period
In the first half of the year,…
For the first quarter,…
During the next six months,…
A decade=10 years
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Half a decade=5 years
A century=100 years
Half a century=50 years
every year → each year = per year = yearly = annually = on an
annual basis
every day → each day = per day = daily = on a daily basis
every week → each week = per week = weekly = on a weekly basis
COMPARE/CONTRAST
Similarly,…=Likewise,…=In the same way,…
A+V while/whereas B+V
By contrast,…=In contrast,…=On the other hand,…
In contrast to A, B…
As opposed to A, B…
Unlike A, B…
Compared with A, B…
EXPENDITURE
spent on average → average expenditure
Average weekly spending → weekly spending figures
levels of spending
spent per month → expenditure per month
the percentage of spending → the proportion of spending = the
proportion of money spent on
COMPARATIVE STRUCTURES
1. Than
Sales were greater in 1980 than in 1990.
Football is more popular than tennis in this country.
Modifying adverbs: slightly, much, far, significantly, considerably.
The number of shoppers was slightly lower last month compared to this
month.
2. (not)As…as
Computer sales were not as high in June as they were in January.
Modifying adverbs: (not) nearly, not quite, almost, just, half,
twice, three times
The population of the town is three times as large as it was in 1960.
The rest of the team were not nearly as good as the captain.
3. Superlatives: -est; the most+Adj(long)
Modifying adverbs: by far; easily; by a long way
Sweden is the company’s smallest market, by a long way.
Tennis was by far the most popular sport in 2002.
Examples:
... by far the most popular item / product / language ...
... the least popular product was ...
... much more popular
15
more languages ...
fewer students ...
the highest percentage of/the lowest proportion of
... as popular as ...
... not as popular as ...
... not quite/nearly as expensive as ...
... did not sell as many computers as ...
... is three times higher than ...
... twice as many _____ as …
AGE GROUPS
People aged 65 and over= people who were aged 65 and over
The 10-20 year-old group
People in the 10-20 age bracket
Children between the ages of 5 and 10
Children over/under the age of 12
Children above/below 12 years of age
People who fell into the 18 to 24 age group
18-to-24-year-old people
18-to-24-year-olds
people in the age range of 18 to 24
people in their twenties (những người ở độ tuổi 20 – từ 20 đến 29)
people aged 11 to 19 = teenagers=adolescents
elders = old people
youngsters = the young = young people
adult (người lớn – từ 18 tuổi trở lên)
INTRODUCTION
1. The given line graph COMPARES+S (cities, countries,
companies)+IN TERMS OF the number of/the amount of/the
quantity of/the proportion of/percentage of + ….over a
period of …years commencing from…
2. The given line graph
ILLUSTRATES/DEMONSTRATES/DEPICTS/INDICATES+ the
number of/the amount of/the quantity of/the proportion of…
in+Place+ over a 15-year period(span) between …and…
3. The given line graph illustrates how many+N (count)+V
how much+N (non-count)
+V
OVERALL STATEMENT
Overall,…
Overall, it is quite evident/obvious that…
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As can be clearly seen,…
It can be clearly seen/observed that…
From the provided/given graph, it is noticeable that…
Practice
1. Rewrite the given information below.
1.1. The graph shows the percentage of CO2 emissions per person
in the UK, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.
1.2. The graph shows the proportion of visitors to London, New
York, and Paris cities between 2000 and 2005.
1.3. The graph shows the spending on housing, food and
healthcare in France from 1998 to 2005.
1.4. The graph shows the consumption of beef and pork by people
in the UK between 1960 and 2000. Units are measured in
pounds.
1.5. The graph shows the number of people who commuted to
work by train, bus and car in the UK from 1990 to 2010.
1.6. The graph shows oil production in the US, UK and Iran
between 1990 and 2006.
2. Rewrite the sentences below using the word in brackets.
a. There was a dramatic increase in club membership between January
and March. (dramatically)
Club membership…
b. Visits to the museum fell steadily in 2016. (steady)
c. Online sales fluctuated noticeably. (noticeable)
d. The number of people joining the social website peaked in 2015.
(reach a peak)
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e. Spectator numbers increased gradually over the football season.
(gradual)
f. Overall, it is clear that the rise in numbers is erratic throughout the
period. (erratically)
g. The number of visitors to the leisure centre declined slightly.
(slight)
h. There was a significant rise in ticket sales to the concert.
(significantly)
3. Rewrite the sentences using the words and phrases
provided.
a. Twice as many cars were sold in June compared to March.(half)
b. The football match was attended by three times as many spectators
as the rugby match. (a third of the number of spectators)
c. The sports department was visited by only 20% of the shoppers in
February 2009 when compared to February 2008.(five times the
number of shoppers)
d. More than four out of every ten competitors were from the main
city.(more than 40%)
e. The bulk of players were from overseas rather than home-grown.(A
smaller proportion of players)
f. A quarter of the members of the sports club paid by cash rather
than credit card.(Three-quarters of the members of the sports
club)
g. The team lost just under half of the games they played last season.
(just over half of the games)
4. Correct the mistakes in each sentence.
a. Nearly twice as many spectators watched the football match live on
the Internet compare to the last time.
b. There were far fewer men and women involving in walking.
c. Generally speaking, similar proportions of males and females
participated in each sport.
d. Males were less likely than females to take part in running.
e. A greater proportion of women than man participated in badminton.
f. The table compare data about male and female involvement in a
range of sports in New Zealand last year.
g. Compared to last year, more than twice as many male took up keep-
fit classes.
h. In 2016, a much large proportion of girls (15.89%) played football in
sharp contrast to 2015.
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i. Kayaking was the less popular extreme sport.
5. Work in groups and describe the table below in your own
words.
The table shows the number of overseas visits to the UK by country of
residence and mode of travel in two years.
The table compares the number of UK visits from various countries
by different means of transport in the two years, 2011 and 2013.
The table provides a breakdown of the number of visits to the UK
from a selection of countries according to two forms of transport in
2011 and 2013.
…and …, respectively: The number of visits made to the UK from
Sweden was slightly higher in 2013 compared to 2011, 766,000
and 756,000 respectively.
from….to…: Trips to the UK by air from Sweden rose slightly
between 2011 and 2013, from 756,000 to 766,000, respectively.
With+noun+V-ing: Trips to the UK by air from Sweden rose
slightly in 2013 compared to 2011, with number rising to
766,000 from 756,000, respectively.
V-ing: Trips to the UK by air from Sweden rose slightly between
2011 and 2013, increasing from 756,000 to 766,000,
respectively.
With+Noun: Trips to the UK by air from Sweden rose slightly in
2013 compared to 2011 with an increase to 766,000 from
756,000, respectively.
6. Combine the two sentences using the structure in brackets.
a. There was a gradual increase in visits by air from Belgium between
2011 and 2013. Visits rose from 167,000 to 183,000. (from…to…)
There was a gradual increase in visits by air from Belgium from
167,000 to 183,000 between 2011 and 2013.
Visits by air from Belgium rose gradually from 167,000 to
183,000 between 2011 and 2013.
b. The general trend for the number of overseas visits by air and by
tunnel from Bulgaria was clearly upward. It climbed from 57,000 for
the former in 2011 to 71,000 in 2013, and by tunnel from 6,000 to
12,000, respectively. (V-ing)
The general trend for the number of overseas visits by air and by
tunnel from Bulgaria was clearly upward, CLIMBING from…
c. Visits from France by air and by tunnel also went up. They rose from
1.339 million to 1.441 million, and 1.514 million to 1.761 million, in
2011 and 2013 respectively. (with+noun)
Visits from France by air and by tunnel also went up, with a RISE
from…
d. Trips from Germany by air and by tunnel saw an increase. They
were 2.070 million and 2.129 million for the former and 141,000 and
218,000 for the latter. (…and…., respectively)
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Trips from Germany by air and by tunnel saw an increase, 2.070
million and 2.129 million AND 141,000 million and 218,000 million
RESPECTIVELY.
e. As regards Italy, there were 1.445 million trips to the UK by air and
24,000 trips by tunnel in 2011. There were 1.562 million trips by air
and 23,000 trips by tunnel in 2013.
f. As regards Italy, there were 1.445 million trips to the UK by air
and 24,000 trips by tunnel in 2011 COMPARED TO 1.562 million trips
by air and 23,000 trips by tunnel in 2013.
g. Trips from Portugal by air fell and by tunnel rose. The number of
trips by air fell from 260,000 to 251,000 and trips by tunnel rose
from 4,000 to 7,000, respectively. (with+V-ing)
Trips from Portugal by air fell and by tunnel rose, WITH the
number of trips by air FALLING from……and by tunnel RISING …
h. The overall visit numbers by air and tunnel went up between 2011
and 2013. They were 22.631 million to 23.754 million and 3.67
million to 4.479 million, respectively. (from…to…)
The overall visit numbers by air and tunnel went up, from 22.631
million to 23.754 million and 3.67 million to 4.479 million,
respectively.
SAMPLE QUESTION AND MODEL ANSWER
S-M1
Writing Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the results of a survey among online adults on
their use of various social media in the USA between 2012 and 2015.
Write at least 150 words.
The line graph illustrates the proportion of adults using a variety of social
networking sites, according to a survey in the United States over a 3-year
period from 2012 to 2015.
From the given graph, it is quite evident that the trend in the proportion of
adults using the websites was upward, with a faster increase for
Instagram and Pinterest than the others, including Facebook, the most
popular website overall.
While there was a slight rise in the percentage of online adults using the
latter, from 67% to 72% over the period, in the last three years the trend
was flat. By contrast, the proportion of the usage of Instagram jumped
more than twofold from 13% in 2012 to 28% in 2015. A similar pattern
was seen at the Pinterest site where the proportion of adult users went up
more than 100% from 15% to 31%.
LinkedIn, by comparison, saw a 5% increase in the proportion of online
adult users, from 20% in 2012 to 25% in 2015 with a noticeable peak of
about 28% in 2014. Similarly, as regards Twitter, there was a rise from
20
16% to 23% in 2012 and 2014 respectively, but in 2015 usage remained
flat.
The graph illustrates=The graph depicts
The trend in the proportion of adults using the websites is
upward=There was an upward trend in the proportion of adult users
of the websites.
LinkedIn, by comparison, saw a 5% increase in the proportion of
online adult users=LinkedIn enjoyed a 5% rise in the proportion of
adult users.
The proportion of the usage of Instagram jumped more than
twofold=The proportion of adults using Instagram more than
doubled
Remained flat=remained stable
A similar pattern was seen=A similar pattern was apparent
There was a slight rise in the percentage of online adults using the
latter=The proportion of online adults using the latter increased
slightly.
S-M 2
The table provides information about the engagement of men and women
in various sports in the UK from 2005/06 to 2008/09.
Overall, it is clear that participation of both genders in the selected sports
varied with jogging experiencing a significant increase. It is also
noticeable that whereas jogging, cross-country and road-running had the
lowest level of participation among both genders, there was a significant
rise in involvement.
In 2008/09, participation among men was higher with a rise to 7.6% from
6.9% in 2005/06. By contrast, the rise among women was much larger, to
4.8% in 2008/09 from 3.5% at the beginning of the period.
For indoor swimming or diving, while there was a slight decline in the
proportion of male participants from 2005/06 to 2008/09, 13.3% to 13.0%,
the drop in female engagement was greater, from 18% to 16.5% over the
period. By comparison, in cycling for various purposes a greater
proportion of men than women took part, with male involvement
increasing marginally from 12.7% to 14.4% compared to a fall among
women from 7% to 6.4%.
S-M 3
The table provides a breakdown of the number of visits made to various
countries through four UK airports.
Overall, it is clear that there was a considerable variation in the
popularity of the airports for each destination.
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Whereas 91,000 visits were made from Gatwick to Canada, compared to
187,000 from Heathrow and 50,000 from Manchester, more visits were
made from Gatwick and Manchester to Spain, 1.896 million and 1.715
million respectively with 814,000 from Stansted and only 273,000 from
Heathrow.
This is in contrast to visits made to Austria via Heathrow, Gatwick,
Manchester and Stansted, 86,000, 148,000, 66,000 and 44,000
respectively. Regarding the Irish Republic, a different pattern is seen with
278,000 visits made from Heathrow 158,000 from Gatwick, 111,000 from
Manchester and 187,000 from Stansted.
In comparison, there was a smaller number of visits made to Finland with
Heathrow and Manchester being more popular than Gatwick and
Stansted, 58,000 visits, 53,000, 25,000, and 8,000 respectively. By
contrast, the most frequently used airport for visits to Lithuania was
Stansted with 33,000, followed by Gatwick with 15,000, only 1,000 visits
from Heathrow and none from Manchester.
SAMPLES FOR PRACTICE
QUESTION 1
The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per
person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between
1967 and 2007.
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QUESTION 2
The graph below shows the number of overseas visitors to three
different areas in a European country between 1987 and 2007.
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QUESTION 3
The graph below shows the consumption of fish and different
kinds of meat in a European country between 1979 and 2004.
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QUESTION 4
The graph below shows the quantities of goods transported in the
UK between 1974 and 2002 by four different modes of transport.
25
QUESTION 5
The graph shows waste generation in the UK, measured in
millions of tonnes from three different sources between 1990 and
2005.
26
QUESTION 6: The line graph illustrates the proportion of total
expenditure in a certain European country between 1960 and
2000.
27
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