Language knowledge Graph 1 $m .5 '■■ .4 .3 .2 . .1 1.0 9 .8 .7 H .6 .5 .4 ■ 3 H :2 .1 0 —rr -5 years Now. joanna brookes 'Production flattened out around the 480,000 mark for four years and then, moreworryingly, dropped to 460,000 last year.' You are going to hear Francesca Rocca, Finance Director of Marvotto, talking about turnover figures. As you listen, write the information she presents on Graph 1 below. Check your version with the key on page 62. Complete this description with information from Graph 2 below. Check your answers in the key on page 62. I'd like to draw your attention to some key figures. On this graph, I have --both profitability and turnover. The --.-line represents turnover and the ^_ one represents profits over the last ten years. As you can see, ten years ago our turnover stood at £550,000. Over the next five years it --steadily. It reached a peak of £750,000 five years ago and, unfortunately, since then it has ?__It now stands back at £550,000. Let's look at the profit figures for a minute. During the same period, profits t--There was a slight i_ in 1993, but otherwise we have — throughout this period. Graph 2 our profitability $,000 . 750 • 500 - ■250- (750) ■ (550) (550) +5 years. I--1--—I- -10 years —5 years Now Key Key ■■ turnover profit yi unit five Language focus Describing trends, charts, and graphs Types of chart segments bars columns pie chart line graph bar chart table flow chart organigram Describing change Upward movement to increase/rise/go up to grow/expand to rocket/boom Our sales rose last year. To increase and to expand can also be used transitively: e.g. We increased sales. We expanded our workforce. To raise can only be used transitively: e.g. We raised our prices. ► Note Transitive verbs can be used when we want to express an action which affects an object. ACTION OBJECT e.g. We raised our prices. Intransitive verbs cannot be used to express an action, only a result. RESULT e.g. Prices rose. Downward movement to decrease/fall/drop/ decline/go down to contract to slump/collapse Profits have fallen recently. To decrease and to drop can also be used transitively: e.g. We have decreased our costs. We will drop our prices. To reduce and to cut can only be used transitively: e.g. We reduced his salary. We had to cut200jobs. An end to movement to flatten out/level off No change to remain constant/stable to stay the same/at the same level Sales have flattened out. Sales have remained constant. Three other verbs - to maintain, to hold and to keep- are used transitively: e.g. We plan to maintain our dividend (at the same level). We need to hold our costs down. We plan to keep our prices low. Degree of change dramatically/considerably/significantly/moderately/ slightly Sales have fallen considerably. Profits rose slightly. Speed of change rapidly/quickly/suddenly/gradually/steadily/slowly Absenteeism had dropped slowly. Sales went up rapidly. visual aids 33 3 Make these sentences transitive. The first one has been done for you. Check your answers in the key on page 62. a Our salaries have remained constant for five years. The company-salaries at the same level b The temperature in the b uilding has fallen. The caretaker-the temperature in the building. c Interest rates have risen over the last two weeks. Banks_their interest rates. d Production has stayed the same for some time. The company_production at the same level. e The average age has decreased in the company. Recruiting policy-the average age. 4 We often use noun phrases instead of verbs to describe trends. For example: Prices have risen considerably. There has been a considerable rise in prices. Change the following sentences to include a noun phrase. Compare your answers with the key on page 63. a The market has expanded slightly, b Prices are going to fall dramatically, c Our export sales collapsed suddenly, d Sales are increasing steadily. * e Salaries have dropped gradually, f Profits will certainly rise significantly. 'Our export sales collapsed suddenly! 34 unit five REFERRING TO USUAL AIDS Even if a visual aid has been designed using the techniques discussed in this unit, it can only work well if the presenter knows how to refer to it effectively. 5.1 ^You will hear three short excerpts from a presentation in which the speaker refers to a visual aid about international student recruitment. The visual aid itself and the transcript of each excerpt are shown below. As you listen, fill in the blanks to complete the missing words. Excerpt A As I mentioned earlier, this year we've seen a considerable increase in our international student memberships._____ which countries these students are coming from and which clubs and societies they're choosing to join. Excerpt B _the international students currently studying at the university. _the number of students and _ their country of origin. _, most international students are coming from four key areas: China, Japan, Nigeria and India. Excerpt C -, the University Travel Club is still the most popular society for international students, particularly for students from China and Nigeria._ - two other societies: the Student Debating Group and the Drama Circle. -, the Student Debating Group is a popular choice with Indian students, and the Drama Circle attracts lots of members from Japan. Newtown University Clubs & Societies International Student Memberships 2007 m China H Nigeria I India Gl Japan 200 100- Travel Club Debating Group Drama Circle Sports Club 5.2 Some useful language for dealing with visual aids is listed in the Language Focus box on the next page. Working with a partner, take turns using relevant phrases to practise referring to the Newtown Campus visual.