WRITING TASK 1
The chart shows the percentages of paper and cardboard, glass containers, aluminium
cans and plastics that were recycled in one country between 1982 and 2010.
In 1982, about 65% of paper and cardboard was recycled. This figure fluctuated before
rising steeply to reach a peak of 80% in 1994. From then on, however, it decreased
steadily to a level of 70% in 2010. In 1982, half of all glass containers were recycled;
after dipping to a low of 40% in 1990, the glass recycling rate gradually increased to
60% by 2010.
Aluminium cans were first recycled in 1986, starting at about 5%, but this figure
climbed rapidly over 25 years and by 2010 it had reached 45%. Recycling of plastics, on
the other hand, was not introduced until 1990 and, although the growth in this
category was also constant, it was very slow, rising from about 2% to around 8% over
the period.
Overall, the proportion of paper and cardboard that was recycled was the highest of
the four classes of material, but this category experienced a decline after 1994,
whereas there was a continuing upward trend in the recycling of the other materials.
The line graph provides insights into the recycling percentages of four materials –
paper & cardboard, glass containers, aluminium cans, and plastics – in an
unspecified country from 1982 to 2010.
Despite the fluctuations along the way, the general trend for paper, cardboard,
and glass container recycling increased. Paper and cardboard were the most
recycled materials during this period, with plastic lagging as the least recycled
item.
In the grand scheme of things, the overall recycling rate increased over this time
compared to 1982. Specifically, aluminium cans and plastics steadily climbed,
while paper & cardboard, and glass containers experienced ups and downs until
1994.
The percentage of recycled aluminium cans went from a mere 5% in 1983 to a
solid 45% in 2010. Plastic recycling also made notable progress, jumping from less
than 5% to 9% by 2010.
In contrast, the recycling rate for glass containers initially took a 10% dip within
eight years. However, from 1990 onward, it steadily recovered, reaching an
impressive 60% in 2010. Paper & cardboard recycling initially had its share of
fluctuations but hit its peak at 80% in 1994, eventually settling at 70% in 2010.
The line graph compares the number of cars stolen for every 1000 vehicles in four
countries from 1990 to 1999.
Overall, it can be seen that car thefts were far higher in Great Britain than in the
other three counties throughout the whole time frame.
To begin, car thefts in Sweden, France and Canada followed a fairly similar pattern
over the first five years, all remaining at between 5 and 10 per thousand. The
general trend though for France and Canada was a decline in the number of
vehicles stolen over the period, with both at around 6 in 1999. In contrast,
Sweden experienced an upward trend, starting the period at approximately 8, and
finishing at just under 15.
Interestingly, car thefts in Great Britain started at 18 per thousand, which far
exceeded that of the other countries. It then fluctuated over the next nine years,
reaching a peak of 20 thefts per 1000 in 1996, and ending the period slightly
lower than where it began, at approximately 17 per thousand.