Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Maps
Maps
French households spend 2.1 US Dollars for every m3 of water used. Water costs
considerably less in Germany at about $1.35 per m3 and this figure is nearly twice as
much as that of Italy, which is only $0.7 per m3. It is even cheaper to buy water in the
Northern America region. Water cost is $0.31 per m3 in Canada and just $0.01 per m3 in
the US.
II. Map
This is type of question can be considered as the least challenging as it does not require
as much analysis as the graph or table. Candidates should describe the map in a certain
flow to fully cover every main feature, which can be from inside to outside or from left
to right and from top to bottom and vice versa. In addition, the vocabulary used for this
question should be learnt and applied flexibly.
1. Languages
The language used for map description includes direction and changes.
Directional languages
West East
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Top left-hand corner Top Top right-hand corner
Change languages
Subjects Changes Example
Buildings Built, constructed, erected A power plant was constructed to the
east of the mine.
Renovated, reconstructed, The university library was completely
modernized renovated.
converted, transformed The playground was converted into a
(into something) large car park.
replaced (by something) The garden was replaced by a large car
park.
relocated (to somewhere) The student hall was relocated to the
east of the university.
extended, expanded The hotel was greatly extended to a total
of 70 rooms.
demolished, knocked down, The warehouse was demolished and
flattened replaced by a garage.
Trees/ Forest Cut down, chopped down The forest on the western end of the
cleared (to make way for) island were chopped down to make way
for a hotel.
planted Many palms were plante around the
villa.
Bridge, port, constructed, built, erected A bridge across the river was erected.
road, railway, extended, expanded, The main road was widen to meet the
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Amenities opened up, set up, A new theme park was opened just
established opposite the shopping mall.
developed, expanded The cinema was expanded with the total
cost of $80000.
2. Sample
The maps below show the center of a small town called Islip from 2005 to 2010
The two maps describe a number of changes which took place in Islip town during a
10-year period starting from 2005.
Overall, the town has been completely transformed after the constructions of several
facilities.
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In 2005, the main road running from east to west was lined with shops. There were
two housing areas to the south of this road while the northern side remained a rural
area. A school was located to the west of the residential areas and there was a park
to the east of the accommodations. Both the school and the park were connected to
the main road by minor roads.
As can be seen from the second picture, the most notable change that took place in
Islip in 2010 was the construction of a dual carriageway surrounding the town.
Besides, the main road was converted into a pedestrian precinct and the shops on
the north side of it were demolished. A bus stop and a car park were built and in the
middle of these areas, a shopping mall was established. In addition, there was also a
new housing area which can be accessed via a minor road connecting with the divided
highway. Finally, more accommodations were also built on the south side of the
pedestrian zone and the park was made smaller to make way for this development.
III. Process
There are two types of processes candidates need to tackle, natural process and
manufacturing process requiring the use of active voice and passive voice respectively.
In attempt to successfully deal with this question, candidates should fully understand the
process, even have certain knowledge about it to expand their ideas.
1. Languages
Languages used to describe process, also known as sequencing languages are rather
simple as it is mainly are connectors specifying the relations between stages.
Consequences
• First(ly) – Then – Next -....- Final(ly)
➢ At the first stage of the paper-recycling process, recycled paper is collected.
➢ Then, some water is added and the mixture is left for an hour.
...............
➢ Finally, the new paper is left to dry in a warm place for at least 24 hours.
• After/Before
➢ Some water is added and the mixture is soaked for an hour. After that, the
mixture is beaten for about 45 seconds until a pulp is formed.
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➢ After being soaked for an hour, the mixture is beaten for about 45 seconds
until a pulp is formed.
➢ Before being beaten for about 45 seconds to form a pulp, the mixture is left
for an hour.
➢ The mixture is beaten for about 45 seconds and a pulp is formed afterwards.
• Following/Followed by:
➢ The mixture is beaten for about 45 seconds and a pulp is formed afterwards.
At the following stage, the pulp is poured into a shallow tray and some water
is also added. It is then mixed by hand.
➢ At the following stage, the pulp is poured into a shallow tray and some water
is also added. This is followed by a hand-mixing process.
• Once:
➢ The mixture is beaten for about 45 seconds and a pulp is formed afterwards.
Once it is ready, the pulp is poured into a shallow tray.
• Subsequent/Subsequently:
➢ The mixture is soaked for an hour. Subsequently, the mixture is beaten for
about 45 seconds until a pulp is formed.
➢ The mixture is soaked for an hour and is subsequently beaten for about 45
seconds until a pulp is formed.
➢ At the subsequent stage of the process, the mixture is soaked for an hour.
• ‘Having + Verb participle’:
➢ Having been poured into a shallow tray with some water, the pulp is then
mixed by hand.
Simultaneous actions
• During:
✓ During its entire life cycle, salmon have lived in both freshwater and
saltwater.
• Thereby:
✓ The rolling pin is used to flatten the pulp, thereby forcing out any excessive
water.
• While/at the same time:
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✓ While the mixture of sand and soda is being heated, some other chemicals
are added to create various colors.
✓ The mixture of sand and soda is heated. At the same time, some other
chemicals are added to create various colors.
✓ Sand and soda are mixed and heated at the same time.
2. Manufacturing process
Sample
The diagram below shows the stages and equipment used in the cement-making
process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes.
The diagrams illustrate the production of cement, and how to use cement to make
concrete.
It is clear from the diagrams that there are five stages in the process of making
cement. Meanwhile, only two steps are required to produce concrete.
At the first stage of producing cement, limestone and clay are put through a machine
called crusher and become powder. This powder is then mixed and is brought into a
rotating heater where it is heated in high temperature. The process continues with
grinding the material, and then cement is produced. At the final stage, cement is
packaged into bags and is ready for the production of concrete.
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The first step of making concrete is combining different materials. Cement is mixed
with water, sand and small stones in the proportions of 10%, 25% and 50%
respectively. This mixture is then put into a concrete mixer, where it becomes final
concrete which can be used for building purposes.
3. Natural Process
Sample
The diagram shows the life cycle of the honeybee.
moult = shed or lose old feathers, hair or skin to allow for new growth
The diagram illustrates the various stages in the life of a honey bee.
It is clear that the complete life cycle lasts between 34 and 36 days and there are five
main stages in the development of the honey bee, from egg to mature adult insect.
The life cycle of the honey bee begins when the female adult lays an egg; the female
typically lays one or two eggs every 3 days. Between 9 and 10 days later, each egg hatches
and the immature insect, or nymph, appears.
During the third stage of the life cycle, the nymph grows in size and sheds its skin three
times. This moulting first takes place 5 days after the egg hatches, then 7 days later, and
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