Vocabulary Study: Describing Developments & Statistics

Vocabulary Study Notes - Describing Developments & Statistics

• Describing Increases:

• Numbers went up steadily – A consistent and gradual rise.

• Numbers increased from 2011 to 2012 – A clear rise over a period of time.

• Numbers rose to 700 units in May – Reaching a specific number at a particular time.

• Numbers grew by 0.5% – A percentage increase.

• Numbers climbed to CHF 5’000m – Gaining in value to a specific amount.

• Numbers jumped to an all-time high – A sudden and significant peak.

• Slightly/slight rise – A minor increase.

• Steady rising – Consistent increase.

• Sharp increase – A quick and considerable increase.

• Numbers surged (A sudden, significant increase)

• Numbers climbed to CHF 5’000m (gaining in value)

• Describing Decreases:

• Numbers went down dramatically – A significant and sudden decrease.

• Numbers decreased by 10% – A percentage decrease.

• Numbers fell in November – A decrease happening during a month.

• Numbers dropped by 200 units – A specific amount of decrease.

• Numbers declined from 2021 to 2022 – A decrease over time.

• Slowly declining – A gradual decrease.

• Rapid decline – A quick decrease.

• Significant decline – An important decrease.

• Numbers plummeted (a steep and sudden decrease)

• Describing Stability:

• Numbers stayed steady for two months – Consistent numbers over a period.

• Numbers remained stable – Consistent and unchanging numbers.

• Constant increase – An ongoing rise.

• Remaining stable – No change at all.

Engaging Exercises (B1 Level)

Short Story Scenario:

• Scenario:* Imagine you are a market researcher. Use the vocabulary to describe trends you see.

• Scenario 1: Sales of a specific product remained stable for a few months, then declined slowly. Explain this trend.

• Scenario 2: A new product launch saw initial sales increase sharply, then fall in the following quarter. Explain this pattern.

• Scenario 3: Average daily traffic to a website increased steadily over several months, then jumped during a specific promotional period. Explain the trend.

• Scenario 4: A local business reported a dramatic drop in customers after negative publicity. What might be the cause, and what measures could be taken to recover?

• Scenario 5: Sales of a certain food item rose to an all-time high after a positive review in a local paper. Explain the trend followed by a slight decline in the next month.

• Scenario 6: A clothing store in New York saw its sales increase steadily throughout the year 2023 after a marketing campaign.

• Scenario 7: Subway ridership in New York plummeted during the pandemic.

• Scenario 8: A new restaurant in New York experienced a sharp increase in customers during the first month following its opening.

• Scenario 9: The number of tourists visiting Times Square in New York rose steadily as the city recovered from the pandemic.

• Scenario 10: A popular bookstore in New York experienced a significant decline in sales after a competitor opened a new store nearby.

Graph Analysis (Case Study)

• Question: Analyze the following graph representing monthly sales. Use appropriate vocabulary to describe the trends and predict future sales.
• Illustrative Graph: (a simple line graph illustrating fluctuating sales)

Example Questions for Graph Analysis:

• Q1 Describe the general trend of sales over the year.
• Q2 In which months did sales jump and by what amount? Give examples.
• Q3 Did sales remain stable during anytime in the year? If so, in what month(s)? Give exact dates.
• Q4 Were there any dramatic fluctuations, and what might have caused these, considering Geneva?

This quiz focuses on the vocabulary used to describe changes in statistics, including increases and decreases. Review terms and phrases that communicate numerical shifts clearly and effectively. Perfect for enhancing your descriptive language skills in statistical contexts.