TASK 1 (Line graph): Immigrants 

The line graph shows the number of immigrants to 3 different countries (USA,Canada, Australia) from 1991 to 2001. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. 

Sample Answer 

The provided line graph illustrates immigration totals to three distinct countries — namely the USA, Canada, and Australia — during the period from 1991 to 2001. 

What is immediately striking upon observing the data is the waning prevalence of Australia as a destination for immigrants, plunging from the most appealing to the least attractive migratory destination in a decade. This stood in stark contrast to the USA and Canada, which saw immigrant population expansion to differing magnitudes, with the former leading all surveyed countries from 1996 onwards. 

Australia and the United States of America followed broadly contrasting trajectories, with their relative rankings largely reversed by the end of the period. Australia commenced the period drawing the largest immigrant body, logging over 2,500 immigrants, markedly surpassing the corresponding numbers for the USA, which stood at just above 1,000 people. As those migrating to the former saw a sharp contraction in scale, the reverse could be said for the latter, with both countries converging at 1,500 immigrants in 1994. Thereafter, a consistent growth persisted as far as America is concerned, emboldened by a rapid and sustained rise to a peak of 2,500 immigrants, after which the figure held steady around the 2,500 mark until the end of the timeframe. An opposing trend was, however, observed in Australia, wherein the country’s presence diminished sharply in the eyes of immigrants, plummeting down and eventually bottoming out at 500 immigrants by 1995. Henceforth, the immigrant population in this country largely stabilised, hovering around this mark, ending the period as the least prevalent country following around a fivefold decline. 

Shifting attention to the remaining country, Canada saw an early rise from the lowest base, undercutting the other two countries and leaping to a high of approximately 2,400 immigrants in 1995. This early expansion was, nevertheless, rather short-lived, as the immigrant headcount dipped to a low of just over 1,000 people, followed by a levelling-off, largely resembling the stability seen in Australia during the same period. Notwithstanding this period of stagnation, the number of immigrants to Canada picked up pace again, evident by a brief recovery to just over 1,500 people — marking an ascent to the second highest position. 

Vocabulary