TASK 1 (Table): Medical care statistics
The graph below shows the information about medical care in three European countries between 1980 and 2000. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
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Sample Answer:
The table presents healthcare statistics for Austria, France, and Sweden between 1980 and 2000, covering the number of physicians, hospital beds, and average hospital stays.
Overall, Sweden consistently outperformed the other countries across all three measures, while France remained at the lower end of the scale. Austria showed steady improvements in physicians and hospital beds but displayed volatility in hospital stay duration. A key trend is that hospital stays declined progressively in France and Sweden, whereas Austria’s figures fluctuated markedly.
Regarding physicians per 1,000 people, Sweden maintained the highest ratios, beginning at 3.6 in 1980, dipping to 3.0 in 1990, and then recovering to a peak of 3.8 in 2000. France, in contrast, experienced a continuous decline, falling from 2.4 to 1.3 over the period. Austria, though starting from a much lower base, registered gradual growth, rising from 0.8 to 1.0.
Hospital bed provision highlighted the sharpest disparities. Sweden retained a dominant position, with figures edging up from 6.4 to 6.9 beds per 1,000 people. Austria also recorded substantial growth, more than doubling from 1.4 to 3.7. France, however, lagged significantly behind, though its numbers rose steadily from 0.2 to 1.6.
Average hospital stays exhibited contrasting trajectories. Sweden again reported the longest durations, though these shortened slightly from 23 to 21 days. France saw a consistent reduction, dropping from 9 to 5 days, thereby recording the shortest stays by 2000. Austria’s figures were highly erratic: after plummeting sharply from 18 to 6 days in 1990, they rebounded to the original level of 18 days by 2000.
Vocabulary
| presents healthcare statistics | trình bày số liệu y tế |
| consistently outperformed the other countries | liên tục vượt trội hơn các quốc gia khác |
| remained at the lower end of the scale | duy trì ở mức thấp nhất |
| showed steady improvements | cho thấy sự cải thiện ổn định |
| displayed volatility | thể hiện sự biến động |
| declined progressively | giảm dần đều |
| fluctuated markedly | dao động rõ rệt |
| maintained the highest ratios | duy trì tỷ lệ cao nhất |
| recovering to a peak | phục hồi lên mức đỉnh |
| experienced a continuous decline | trải qua sự suy giảm liên tục |
| registered gradual growth | ghi nhận sự tăng trưởng từ từ |
| highlighted the sharpest disparities | làm nổi bật sự chênh lệch rõ nhất |
| retained a dominant position | giữ vị trí thống trị |
| edging up | nhích lên |
| recorded substantial growth | ghi nhận sự tăng trưởng đáng kể |
| lagged significantly behind | tụt lại đáng kể phía sau |
| rose steadily | tăng đều đặn |
| exhibited contrasting trajectories | thể hiện xu hướng trái ngược |
| reported the longest durations | báo cáo thời gian dài nhất |
| shortened slightly | rút ngắn nhẹ |
| saw a consistent reduction | chứng kiến sự giảm liên tục |
| recording the shortest stays | ghi nhận thời gian nằm viện ngắn nhất |
| highly erratic | rất thất thường |
