1

INTERPRETING TEXTS AND PRESENTING FIGURES

Often, data presented in texts complicates understanding. To avoid that, non-linear forms such as graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, maps and flowcharts are frequently used to present data in a clear and orderly way. They also allow you to see large quantities of information at a glance.

Bar graph Line graph

Pie chart Map

Table Diagram/Flowchart

2

Transferring data from text to non-linear form

Based on the text below, present the data in a suitable non-linear form to show a comparison of the population in major cities in Malaysia in 2000 and 2010.

Parallel with the increased number of population in Malaysia, several major cities in the country also show a significant increase in terms of population. Although the population in these major cities is not as high as Shanghai, Tokyo, or Mexico City, the number of population in eight major cities clearly show a positive trend for a small country like Malaysia.

The urban population in Malaysia can be detected from the total of these eight densely populated cities which marked 4,775,812 people in 2000 and an increase of 3,122,678 more in 2010. One reason for such an increase was the large scale migration from the rural to the urban areas.

Subang Jaya, the city with the highest number of population, is ahead of other cities. It shows a drastic increase in numbers, from a total of 423,338 people in 2000 to 1,553,589 within a ten-year period. Kuala Lumpur recorded a moderate increase in the number population by 177,811people from a total of 1,297,526 people in 2000.

In 2000, Klang and Johor Bahru recorded a total number of 631,676 and 630,603 people respectively. These numbers have increased to 1,113,851 and 916,409 people in 2010.

Ampang Jaya, Ipoh and Shah Alam are cities with lesser population, which are about 600 to 800 thousand people in 2010. The population in Ampang Jaya was 475,253 in 2000. This is higher than Shah Alam which recorded 155,641 people, but the number was reduced by 98,788 people when compared to Ipoh. In 2010, the respective population for these three cities is 804,901 for Ampang Jaya, 704,572 for Ipoh, and 671,282 for Shah Alam. The population in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak completes the data for the number of population in the eight most densely populated cities in Malaysia within the stipulated time frame. It is expected that the number of urban population will continue to increase in the near future.

Adapted from Statistics Department of Malaysia, 2012

Option Answer I

A Comparison of Population in Major Cities in Malaysia in 2000 and 2010

No. Cities 2000 20101 Subang Jaya 423,338 1,553,589

2 Kuala Lumpur 1,297,526 1,475,3373 Klang 631,676 1,113,8514 Johor Bahru 630,603 916,4095 Ampang Jaya 475,253 804,9016 Shah Alam 155,641 671,2827 Ipoh 254,429 704,5728 Kuching 907,346 1,382,959

Total 4,775,812 7,898,490

Option Answer II

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A Comparison of Population in Major Cities in Malaysia in 2000 and 2010

Year Subang Jaya

Kuala Lumpur

Klang Johor Bahru

Ampang Jaya

Shah Alam

Ipoh Kuching Total

2000 423,338 1,297,526 631,676 630,603 475,253 155,641 254,429 907,346 4,775,812

2010 1,553,589 1,475,337 1,113,851 916,409 804,901 671,282 704,572 1,382,959 7,898,490

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Data in the form of Table

Population of Major Cities in Malaysia between 2000 and 2010

CitiesYear

Subang Jaya

Kuala Lumpur

Klang Johor Bahru

Ampang Jaya

Shah Alam

Ipoh Kuching Total

2000 423,338 1,297,526 631,676 630,603 475,253 155,641 254,429 907,346 4,775,812

2010 1,553,589 1,475,337 1,113,851 916,409 804,901 671,282 704,572 1,382,959 7,898,490

Statistics Department of Malaysia, 2012

Data in the form of Bar graph

Statistics Department of Malaysia, 2012

5

Verbs

These verbs are alternatives to the basic rise and fall vocabulary. One benefit of using them is that sometimes they help you avoid repeating too many numbers. If you have a strong verb, you don’t always have to give the exact figure.

Up verbs

Notes: “Soar “and “rocket” are both very strong words that describe large rises. “Rocket” is

more sudden. You probably do not need to qualify these verbs with adverbs. “Leap” shows a large and sudden rise. Again, you probably do not need to qualify it with

an adverb. “Climb” is a relatively neutral verb that can be used with the adverbs below.

Down verbs

Notes: “Plummet” is the strongest word here. It means to fall very quickly and a long way. “Drop”  and “drop” are normally used for fairly small decreases “Slip back” is used for falls that come after rises “Drop” and “Dip” are also frequently used as nouns: eg “a slight dip” “a sudden drop”

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Adjectives and adverbs

This is a selection of some of the most common adjectives and adverbs used for trend language. Please be careful. This is an area where it is possible to make low-level mistakes. Make sure that you use adjectives with nouns and adverbs with verbs:

a significant rise – correct (adjective/noun) rose significantly – correct (adverb/verb) a significantly rise – wrong wrong wrong

Please also note the spelling of the adverbs. There is a particular problem with the word “dramatically:

dramatically – correct dramaticly – wrong dramaticaly – wrong

Adjectives of degree

Notes

“sudden” and “sharp” can be used of relatively minor changes that happen quickly “spectacular” and “dramatic” are very strong words only to used to big, big, big changes

Steady adjectives

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Small adjectives

Notes

“marginal” is a particularly useful word for describing very small changes

Other useful adjectives

These adjectives can be used to describes more general trends

Notes

“overall” can be used to describe changes in trend over the whole period: very useful in introductions and conclusions

“upward” and “downward” are adjectives: the adverbs are “upwards” and “downwards”

Upward trends (Rising trends)

Fill in all the gaps with: climb      modest      overall      rocketed      steadily upwards   

It is of note that the overall trend for the first

six months of the year was steadily

upwards. After a modest increase of 10

units sold in February, this figure rocketed to

approximately 125 in March, and then

continued to climb until it reached nearly 200

by the end of June.

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Downward trends (Falling trends)

Fill in all the gaps with: downward      dropped      slightly      slipping      spectacular

After starting the period at almost 150 units,

sales dropped to around 130 in August.

They then rose slightly to 135 in September

before slipping back to 130 in October, a

downward trend that continued in

November. The period ended with a

spectacular fall to 60 units sold.

Adjectives and Adverbs

Fill in all the gaps: marginal      marginally      overall      steadily      steady      substantial

1. It is immediately apparent that the overall   trend is that considerably more women than men were recruited in this period.

2. The number of females employed rose steadily between 2001 and 2004, despite a marginal dip in 2002.

3. There was a very substantial increase in the number of men employed in 2005.

4. There was a steady rise in the number of females employed between 2001 and 2004, notwithstanding the fact that this number fell marginally in 2002.

Source: http://www.dcielts.com/task-1-2/trend-vocabulary-ielts/

9

Practice

Based on the information below, present the data in a suitable non-linear form to show a comparison on the projected growth of selected Malaysian economic sectors between 2014 and 2015.

Malaysia’s economy is expected to expand between 5% and 6% in 2015 as the economic growth momentum continues from 2014, led by the private sector. The Economic Report 2014-2015 said improving external demand and resilient domestic economic activity would underpin the growth amid concerns about the global economic growth.

For 2015, the services sector is forecast to expand at 5.6% (2014: 5.9%) and account for 55.4% share of GDP. The services sector includes the wholesale and retail trade as well as accommodation and restaurant sub-sectors. Buoying the growth will be the strong domestic consumption and higher tourist arrivals following the Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015. The communications sub-sector, real estate and business services, and the transport and storage sub-sector also promise growth.

The agriculture sector is forecast to grow at 3.1% in 2015 (2014: 3.8%) due to higher output of palm oil. Output of rubber is expected to increase. The mining sector is expected to see faster growth of 2.8% (2014: 0.7%) on higher production of crude oil and natural gas and also enhanced oil recovery and additional fields.

The valued-added of the manufacturing sector is expected to grow at 5.5% (2014: 6.4%) but this is mitigate by the electrical and electronics (E&E) sub-sector due to strong demand for semiconductors, electronic components, communications and computer peripherals. Higher demand for petroleum, rubber and chemical products will underpin the resource-based industry. The transport equipment sub-sector, especially the car segment, will expand further. Infrastructure projects including the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and extension of the light rail transit will help drive growth in the construction-related industry.

Construction would expand at the similar pace of 10.7% (2014: 12.7%), supported by the civil engineering and residential sub-sectors. Demand for affordable housing will support the industry while the non-residential sub-sector is also expected to remain stable.

In the domestic demand, the public sector will remain the main driver. However, after the strong expansion in 2014, the government anticipates growth in private consumption and investment to moderate in 2015. The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is expected to temporarily impact domestic demand. However, high export earnings and increased wages are expected to have positive effect on private investment and consumption.

Public consumption should see 3.8% growth (2014: 2.1%) due to spending on supplies and services as well as emoluments. Private consumption is expected to grow at 5.6% (2014: 6.5%) below the long-term average. Consumers will remain cautious following the fuel subsidy reduction in October and the implementation of the GST in April 2015.

Public investment is expected to jump to 4.7% (2014: 2.6%) as the government speeds up its implementation of projects towards the tail-end of the 10th Malaysia Plan, particularly in the transport, trade and industry sub-sectors. As for private investment, the government forecasts 10.7% growth (2014: 12%) as the private sector remains the engine of growth. Capital expenditure is expected mainly in the services sector, especially private education, transportation and health sub-sectors, and manufacturing sector.

Adapted from The Star Business News 2014/10/10