STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
45
4.5
7
Complete the report with the words and phrases a–g.
a
the approximate number
e
however
b
approximately
f
over the period
c
a significant increase
g
overall
d
there were no figures given
The bar chart shows
1
of speakers of different
languages in the world now and fifty years ago.
2
,
the chart demonstrates that the number of speakers of all
languages have increased over the period.
Fifty years ago there were
3
200 million speakers of
Chinese. This has increased to the present figure of almost a
billion. There were also 200 million speakers of English fifty
years ago, but this figure has only increased to 370 million.
In addition, there has been
4
in the number of
Spanish speakers from 100 million fifty years ago to around
400 million today. Similarly, there were increases in the
number of Russian and Japanese speakers. In contrast, there
were 100 million speakers of German fifty years ago, but
this figure has remained almost the same
5
.
6
for speakers of Hindi and Arabic fifty years ago.
7
, at present there are about 300 million speakers
of Hindi and 280 million speakers of Arabic.
WRITING SKILLS
A REPORT
8
a
You have been asked to write a report for a
university lecturer describing the information shown
in the chart on the right. In pairs or small groups,
answer these questions.
1
What percentage of the population of Australia uses
English as a first language?
2
Which country has the highest percentage that uses
English as a second language?
3
Which country in the chart has the highest
combined percentage of speakers of English?
8
b
Look at the other countries in the chart and make
statements about their use of English as a first and
second language.
9
a
Look at the chart again and complete the
sentences.
F
In Malaysia almost a third of the population …
F
There were no figures given for …
F
Overall, the chart demonstrates that six countries in
the chart have a majority of …
F
This chart shows the percentage of people from a
number of countries who …
F
The country with the lowest percentage of speakers
of English as a first language …
F
In South Africa, just under a quarter of …
F
It is also interesting that in Barbados and New Zealand…
F
Compared to the 97% of speakers of English as a first
language in the UK , in the USA the percentage …
F
The percentage of speakers of English as a second
language in the USA is approximately the same as …
9
b
Put the sentences in a logical order. The first and
last have been numbered.
10
Look back at the report in Exercise 7. Underline
the linkers (e.g.
however
).
11
Write a report about the information in the chart
in Exercise 8. Use your sentences from Exercise 9 and
link them where you can. Use the report in Exercise 7
as a model.
9
1
Percentage of population using English as a first or
second language
English as a first language English as a second language
