Vocabulary: Thematic & Topical Vocabulary (C1) - Lesson 4: Describing Trends, Statistics & Research

C1 - Lesson 4: Describing Trends, Statistics & Research

The Language of Data and Analysis

At an advanced level, it is crucial to be able to interpret and describe data, charts, and research findings accurately. Whether you are in a business meeting, writing an academic paper, or taking an exam like IELTS, using precise language to describe a trend¹ or statistic makes your analysis credible and sophisticated. This lesson provides the essential vocabulary to describe data like an expert.

Part 1: The Vocabulary of Movement (Trends)

When describing a graph or chart, you are telling the story of what happened over time.

• Upward Movement:
  • Verbs: to increase, to rise, to grow, to climb, to surge (a strong, sudden rise)
  • Nouns: an increase, a rise, growth, a surge
• Downward Movement:
  • Verbs: to decrease, to fall, to decline, to drop, to plummet (a very sharp, sudden fall)
  • Nouns: a decrease, a fall, a decline, a drop
• Changing Movement:
  • Verbs: to fluctuate², to vary
  • Nouns: a fluctuation, a variation
• No Movement:
  • Verbs: to remain stable/steady, to stabilize, to level off
  • Nouns: a period of stability

Part 2: The Language of Precision (Modifiers)

Use adverbs and adjectives to make your descriptions more precise.

• Describing the speed of change (adverbs): rapidly, quickly, gradually, steadily, slowly
• Describing the degree of change (adjectives/adverbs): significant(ly), dramatic(ally), substantial(ly), sharp(ly), modest(ly), slight(ly), marginal(ly)

Examples: "There was a slight increase in sales." / "Profits grew steadily over the year." / "The price of oil plummeted dramatically."

Part 3: The Language of Research & Relationships

When discussing research, it's important to use the correct terminology.

• Hypothesis (n.): A proposed explanation for something, made as a starting point for further investigation.
• Finding(s) (n.): The information discovered as a result of research.
• Correlation (n.): A mutual relationship or connection between two things. This is a key concept.

Crucial Distinction: Correlation is NOT causation. Just because two trends happen at the same time (e.g., ice cream sales and shark attacks both rise in summer) does not mean one causes the other. The hot weather causes both!

Discourse in Action: Analyzing a Report

The following is a short, formal analysis of a hypothetical business report.

"The primary finding of this report relates to sales performance in the fourth quarter. After a period of stability in Q3, sales began to climb steadily in October. This was followed by a dramatic surge in November, representing a substantial increase of 40% over the previous month. This data shows a strong correlation³ between our new marketing campaign and customer engagement. However, further research is required to prove direct causation. Our initial hypothesis is that the campaign was successful, but we must also consider external economic factors."

quiz Check Your Understanding

1. If a value changes up and down frequently, it...

• a) surges
• b) fluctuates
• c) stabilizes

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) fluctuates

2. Which sentence describes a large, fast, downward change?

• a) The numbers declined slightly.
• b) The stock price plummeted.
• c) The rate remained stable.

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) The stock price plummeted.

3. A scientist believes that a specific chemical causes a disease, but has not yet proven it. This belief is a...

• a) Finding
• b) Correlation
• c) Hypothesis

Click to see the answer

Answer: c) Hypothesis

edit Your Mission

1. Describe Your World: Think about the price of something you buy regularly in Kampot (e.g., gasoline, a kilo of rice, a cup of coffee). Has it changed over the last year? Write two sentences describing the trend using vocabulary from this lesson.
2. Become a Data Analyst: Find a graph or chart in an English news article (search for "chart of the week" for ideas). Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing what it shows. Your goal is to use one verb of movement, one adverb of degree, and one adverb of speed.
3. Think Critically: Can you think of a real-world example of a correlation that is not a causation? (e.g., In cities, the number of fire stations and the number of crimes are correlated, but one does not cause the other; population size is the real factor).

book Lesson Glossary

1. Trend (noun) - Khmer: និន្នាការ - A general direction in which something is developing or changing. ↩
2. To Fluctuate (verb) - Khmer: ឡើង​ចុះ - To rise and fall irregularly in number or amount. ↩
3. Correlation (noun) - Khmer: ទំនាក់ទំនងគ្នា - A connection or relationship between two or more things, especially one in which they change together. ↩