HOW TO TALK ABOUT A VISUAL AID

1. Choosing the right visual aid

A flow chart is a diagram A pie chart displays the size A (vertical or horizontal) bar
showing the progress of (taille) of each part as a chart is used to compare unlike
material through the steps percentage of a whole (un (different) items
(étapes) of a manufacturing tout).
process (processus) or the
succession of operations in a
complex activity

A line chart depicts changes A table is a convenient way A diagram is a drawing showing
over a period of time, showing to show large amount of data arrangements and situations,
data and trends (données, informations) in a such as networks (réseaux),
small space distribution, fluctuation ...

2. Presenting a graph

Introduction Topic Circumstances

This graph shows ... the results of our products ... over 10 years.
The diagram outlines ... rates of economic growth ... between 1990 and 1996.
This table lists ... the top ten agencies ... in the industrial world.
This pie chart represents the company's turnover ... for this year in our sector.
This line chart depicts ... the changes in sales ... over the past year.
This chart breaks down (ventile) ... the sales of each salesman ... during the past ten weeks.

3. The four basic trends (tendances) are :

 upward movement : 
 downward movement : 
 no movement : 
 change in direction :  or 

How to talk about visual aids page 1 F.D.

4. Indicating upward movement : 

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) increase (to) increase (an) increase
(to) raise (to) rise (rose, risen) (a) raise (US), a rise (UK)
(to) push/put/step up (to) go/be up (an) upswing
(to) grow (a) growth
(to) extend, (to) expand (to) extend, (to) expand (an) extension, expansion
(to) progress (a) progression
(to) boom/soar/climb (a) boom
(to) jump, (to) skyrocket (a) jump
(to) reach a peak, (to) peak (a) peak
(to) reach an all-time high

5. Indicating downward movement : 

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) decrease (to) decrease (a) decrease
(to) cut, (to) reduce (a) cut, (a) reduction
(to) fall (off) (fall, fell, fallen) (a) fall
(to) plunge, to plummet (a) plunge
(to) drop (off) (a) drop
(to) go down (a) downswing
(to) decline (a) decline
(to) collapse (a) collapse (dramatic fall)
(to) slump, (to) go bust (a) slump
(to) bottom out

6. Indicating no movement : 

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) keep ... stable (to) remain stable
(to) hold ... constant (to) stay constant
(to) stabilize (to) stabilize stability

7. Indicating a change of direction :  or  ...

Verbs Nouns
Transitive Intransitive
(to) level off (to) level off/out, to flatten out (a) levelling-off
(to) stop falling/rising (a) change
(to) stand at (to) remain steady
(to) stop falling and start rising
(to) stop rising and start falling
How to talk about visual aids page 2 F.D.
8. Indicating the degree or the speed of change

9. Describing the elements of a graph

Look at the graph and write the appropriate letters in front of each definition :

 : the horizontal axis ( or the x axis) b  : a solid line c

 : the vertical axis (or the y axis) a  : a broken line e
 : the scale f  : a dotted line d

10. Analysing an example

The x axis of this graph shows the twelve

months of the past year while our sales in
millions of dollars appear on the y axis. It may
be seen clearly that sales rose steadily in the
first half of the year (from January to May)
and reached their peak in June. Then they
dropped off in July and levelled out in August.
After rising sharply during September, they
suffered a dramatic (spectaculaire) fall in
October but then made a significant
(sensible) recovery (redressement) in
November. However, the year ended with a
slight downturn.
How to talk about visual aids page 3 F.D.
 DESCRIBING GRAPHS AND TRENDS (EXERCISES 1)
NAME : FORM : DATE :

1.Match each sentence below with one of the following graphs

1.  The investment level rose suddenly. e

2.  The sales of our products fell slightly in the final quarter. b
3. The Research and Development budget has stabilized over the past few years. d
4. At the end of the first year, sales stood at 50 per cent of the present level. f
5.  The price reached a peak before falling a little and then maintaining the same level. a
6.  There has been a steady increase in costs over several years. h
7.  The sudden collapse in share prices has surprised everyone. g
8.  The value of the shares has shown a steady decline. c

2. Look at the graph below, then complete the sentences.

1. The line chart compares three products : A, B and C.

2. The x axis shows time over ten years while the vertical axis shows sales in number of units.
3. As you can see, product A is represented by the solid line
4. The performance of Product B is shown by the broken line
5. And a dotted line has been used to show the results of Product C.
6. Clearly, A is the most successful product throughout the years
7. Sales of Product B has stabilized in recent years while sales of Product C fell slightly.
8. On the contrary, product A has shown a gradual growth

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 DESCRIBING GRAPHS AND TRENDS (EXERCISES 2)
NAME : FORM : DATE :

3. Read the following text and draw the corresponding graph on the right.

The graph opposite covers

the years 1976 to 1995. It
shows that the number of
television viewing hours
rose steadily and steeply
during that period in the US,
starting at just under 5 hours
a day to reach more than 7
hours in 1995. There was a
slight increase in 1982 and
sharper falls in 1986 and
1991. The next decrease, in
1994, is hardly (à peine)
significant. Though we do
not have the latest figures, it
is unlikely that the trend will
have reversed.

4. Comment on the graph below using and organising the following expressions :

Sales rose / went up /

increased / climbed ...
+ adverb (slowly / steadily /
rapidly / gradually ...)
Sales stood at ...
Sales peaked / peaked out
Sales levelled out / flattened out
Sales bottomed out
This was due to ...
This was the result of ...
This caused ...
This led to ...

Avoid repetitions !

Conclude by saying whether

this graph is typical or not;
Justify your answer.

The line graph depicts the monthly

ice-cream sales in units over the past
year. Sales went up in the beginning of
the year, when they’ve flattened out
in February and March. In April, there has been a rapidly increase that was not stabilized, leading
to a fall trough May. In June a slight recovery in sales levells out in July, but rapidly rose again,

How to talk about visual aids page 5 F.D.

reaching it’s peak in August. From that, a dramatically plunge happens, declining the sales in
3000 units. A small progress happens in October, but then again, there’s a vast decrease in
sales. The year ended as it has started, with only 1000 units sold in a month

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