条形图 Bar charts

First, make a very general comparison

Second, compare specific numbers

时间跨度区间拆分列举合并

4 paragraphs:

  1. Introduction - paraphrase the question

The bar chart compares the number of mobile phones sold worldwide by the five most popular manufacturers in the years 2009, 2011 and 2013.

  1. Overview - 2 sentences, 2 main points

It is clear that Nokia sold the most mobile phones between 2009 and 2011, but Samsung became the best selling brand in 2013. Samsung and Apple saw the biggest rises in sales over the 5-year period.

  1. Details - 2 paragraphs, compare the bars:comparisons, changes over time

In 2009, Nokia sold close to 450 million mobile phones, which was almost double the number of handsets sold by the second most successful manufacturer, Samsung. Over the following four years, however, Nokia’s sales figures fell by approximately 200 million units, whereas Samsung saw sales rise by a similar amount. By 2013, Samsung had become the market leader with sales reaching 450 million units.

  1. Details: comparisons, changes over time

The other three top selling mobile phone brands between 2009 and 2013 were LG, ZTE and Apple. In 2009, these companies sold around 125 million, 50 million and 25 million mobile handsets respectively, but Apple overtook the other two vendors in 2011. In 2013, purchases of Apple handsets reached 150 million units, while LG saw declining sales and the figures for ZTE rose only slightly.

Vocabulary: paraphrasing, comparing, describing changes

  • sold worldwide

  • sales figures, purchases

  • most popular, best selling brand, top selling

  • second most successful manufacturer

  • market leader

  • mobiles phones, handsets, units

  • brands, manufacturers, companies, vendors

  • saw the biggest rises, saw declining sales

  • close to, almost, approximately, around

  • double the number

  • rise by a similar amount

  • respectively

  • overtook the other two vendors