朗阁海外考试研究中心  袁敏敏

 

雅思官方出题的目的并不是一味地为难考生，更多的是考察考生的语言运用和表达能力，所以官方出题的时候，会根据考生已掌握的难度做一定的变化，但只要考生们善于梳理和总结一系列图之间的关系，就会比较容易地解开其中的奥秘。

 

线图、柱图、饼图和表格，是雅思小作文中最主流的四类题型，每年考题占比达到70%,甚至更多。而动态图占了很大一部分，其考题形式千变万化，让考生头疼不已，往往不知道如何下笔。刚对线图有了一定的了解，对柱图似乎又摸不着头脑，再看饼图和表格，完全云山雾水。这种混乱主要源于考生自己割裂了这四类图形之间的关系，他们仅仅独立地去理解每一类图自身的解题方法，而忽视了图与图之间的联系。在本文中，朗阁海外考试研究中心的老师将对这四类图形之间的联系做完整的梳理，让考生们能更容易地应对多变的考题。

 

一、图与图之间的联系

我们可以对动态图作统一而简单的定义，即指所有涉及时间跨度的图。有时间就意味着有动态变化，所以我们可以进一步把这一系列的图归纳为趋势变化图，或者可以简单地都想象成折线图。从这个层面上思考，就可以用一样的方法去解所有的图。下面笔者将从两个方面去探讨动态图之间的联系：

 

1. 写作思路的一致

看到一个动态图，首先需要思考该如何下笔，因为时间的紧迫不容许考生反复犹豫。总的来说，动态图的解题可以从两个方面入手：

1）以对象为定点；

2）以时间为定点；

 

▶以对象为定点的解题方法对大部分考生来说比较容易理解和掌握。简单地说，有几条线就有几个对象，所以在图1中，根据时间的变化，可以连出这样的5条线，继而根据趋势的分组，逐一进行描述。

图1：

 

Take Samsung and Apple for example:

In 2009, 240 million units of Samsung were sold. The figure rose significantly in the next four years and reaching 450 million units. The increasing trend was also found in the sales of Apple units, but the same period saw a smaller growth, rising from only 20 million in 2009 to 150 million units by the end of 2013.

 

▶以时间为定点要求确定某个固定的时间，进而对不同对象的大小和趋势变化同时进行比较。作为动态图，首先确定的时间一定是起点，即2009年（如图1所示），我们通过比较它们的大小可以把它们的关系结合在一起。

图1：

 

For example:

In 2009, Nokia was the most popular mobile phone, with sales up to 430 million units, nearly double the quantity of Samsung. The sales of LG was just over 110 million while ZTE and Apple were relatively the least choices among the five brands and no more than 50 million units were sold.

 

▶两种方法的具体应用：

以对象为写作方向和以时间作为写作起点并没有绝对的优劣，在不同的图中会显现出各自相对的优势。

 

例如：The line graph shows the percentage of different age groups of cinema visitors in a particular country. (2015.09.26)

 

学生范文解析：（只摘录主体部分）

From 1978 to 2008, three groups (14-24, 25-34, 35-49) had a tendency for decline. The young people aged 14-24 liked to watch movies in a cinema, reaching 90% in 1978. This group aged between 14 and 24 kept unchanged during the period of 1998 and 2003 in comparison with that in 1978 (90%), when there was a decrease to 75% in 1988. Finally, it ended at nearly 82% in 2008. （写完起点后，直接跳到了1998-2003, 然后又回到1988, 最后再写终点，思路有点混乱）For people aged 25-34, the percentage of visitors has a significant decline from 80% in 1978 to 60% in 1988, following a moderate increase in 1998. From then on, it was stable and fell to 65% in 2008 at last. （对于25-34年龄段的描述相对较好）The proportion of visitors between 35 and 49 has a similar trend in comparison with the first group.（学生把第三个年龄段和第一个年龄段做比较）The percentage of old visitors was always below 40% from 1978 to 2003. （对第三个年龄段的描述过于简单，忽略了一些重要的点的描述） However, more old people preferred to watch movies in cinema after 2003. The proportion rose gradually to 50% in 2008. （对最后一个年龄段的描写过于简单）

 

分析：

从范文可以看出，学生对本题的解题思路是把每个对象单独分开描述，并且为了避免在文中出现过多重复的表达，比如时间段的重复，趋势变化的重复，学生对其中几条线的描述过于简单，而且显得有些乱，没有很清晰的条理。其实仔细观察发现，本题的特点在于几条线之间有着很大的相似性，从1978年到1988年都是下降，并且都下降至最低值，1988-1998又同时上升，1998-2003都保持不变，2003-2008对前三条线都是下降，最后一条线是上升；另外一个重要的方面在于四个年龄段之间缺乏必要的比较，人为地割裂了它们之间的关系，失去了题目出题的本意，也没有达到题目中‘make comparisons where relevant’的要求。

 

基于以上几个问题，本题如果以时间为定点的方式去解题，就可以大大避免了它们的重合和重复。

 

原创范文改写：

In 1978, the young people aged 14 to 24 enjoyed watching movies in cinema the most, reaching 90%, followed by 80% for 25-to 34-year-olds. The percentages for other two age groups (aged 35 to 49 and over 50) were lower, at 60% and 40% respectively. In the next 20-year period, there was a small drop of 10% in the figure of those cinema goers aged 25 to 34 while other three age groups kept unchanged. However, the year 1988 saw all the smallest proportion of people go to cinemas, with the figures touching the lowest point for the four groups. From 1998 to 2003, all the percentages leveled out, but by 2008, less people aged below 50 went to cinemas, a drop of around 10%. It is surprising to find that the oldest group showed more interest in watching movies in cinema, rising to roughly 50% and nearly matching the level of people between 35 and 49.

 

当然在有些图中，两种方法不分伯仲，所以考生们只要掌握这两种方法，就能轻松应对所有的动态图。下面笔者将把这两种方法具体应用于不同类型的图中，并对它们的优劣进行分析。

 

例1：

The graph below shows the average number of UK commuters travelling each day by car, bus or train between 1970 and 2030.

 

方法一：以对象为定点

原创范文：

In 1970, around 5 million UK commuters travelled by car on a daily basis. The number of those driving to work rose to 7 million in 2000 and is expected to reach almost 9 million by 2030. （对driving car的人的描述）A similar trend can be found in train passengers, but the same period witnesses a smaller growth, rising from only 2 million in 1970 to 5 million by 2030. （对乘坐train的乘客的描述，同时对两者的上升幅度做了比较）

 

By contrast, bus became less popular among daily commuters, dropping slightly from about 4 million in 1970 to 3.5 million in 2000 and is predicted to have a further decrease in bus users, to only 3 million by 2030. （对乘坐bus的乘客做单独的描述）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

考官范文：

In 1970, around 5 million UK commuters travelled by car on a daily basis, while the bus and train were used by about 4 million and 2 million people respectively. （在起点，不同交通工具的使用者之间的比较）In the year 2000, the number of those driving to work rose to 7 million and the number of commuting rail passengers reached 3 million. However, there was a small drop of approximately 0.5 million in the number of bus users. （从1970至2000年期间，三者的变化）

 

By 2030, the number of people who commute by car is expected to reach almost 9 million, and the number of train users is also predicted to rise, to nearly 5 million. By contrast, buses are predicted to become a less popular choice, with only 3 million daily users. （到2030年，三者又将发生的变化）

 

分析：就本图来说，以对象分组描写和以时间写作都不难，但细看范文会发现，以对象为定点的写作中会反复出现相同的时间，另外经过分组后，相对缺少了三者之间的比较和联系；而后者不仅在确定时间上对三者大小进行比较，并且对三者的趋势描写也有了更直观的对比，所以后一种方法相对更胜一筹。

 

例2：

 

方法一：以对象为定点

原创范文：

In 1900, 60% of people lived in Asia. However, the figure declined slightly to 54% a century later. The same period also witnessed a dramatic decrease in the percentage of population to 14% from 25% in Europe. The two regions combined accounted for more than half of the total population. （两个主要部分相加和整体做比较）

 

On the contrary, the percentages of population in Africa and Latin America （人口比例上升的两个地区）more than doubled until 2000, from 4.5% to 10% and from 3% to 8% respectively. It is also worth mentioning that Middle East and North Africa emerged as a new area to a small proportion of 6%. （2000年新出现的地区）

 

The percentage of population in North America remained unchanged in the one century. （人口比例保持不变的地区）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

原创范文：

In 1900, 60% of people lived in Asia while Europeans accounted for 25%. The remaining 15% went to North America, Africa, Latin America and other areas. （不同地区之间，人口比例的大小比较）

 

By 2000, there was a small decline in the figure for Asian population, to 54% and the percentage of people in Europe was nearly halved. （下降的两个地区）However, the figures in Africa and Latin America more than doubled, to 10% and 8% respectively. （上升的两个地区）It is also worth mentioning that Middle East and North Africa emerged as a new area to a small proportion of 6%. （2000年新出现的地区）

 

The percentage of population in North America remained unchanged in the one century. （人口比例保持不变的地区）

 

分析：饼图的特点是有总数的概念，所有百分比相加永远是100%, 所以除了个体之间的比较之外，还可以是个体和整体的比较。当用对象分组的方法解题的时候，可以把图中的两个主要数据相加，做这样的比较：The two regions combined accounted for more than half of the total population. 而选择以时间为定点的写作方法时，从本题的数据可以看出，虽然1900年含有60%, 25%, 5%, 4.5%, 3%和2.5%六个大小不一的百分数，但是我们可以对数据进行整合归纳为60%, 25%和remaining 15%, 这样就可以很容易地把三者进行比较。因此就本题来说，除了第一个方法中有时间的重复，两种方法都可以很好地去解题，并无很明显的优劣之分。

 

例3：

The chart below shows the percentage of the whole world population in four countries from 1950-2002, with projections to 2050. (2015.01.31)

 

方法一：以对象为定点

原创范文：

In 1950, 26% of people lived in China. The figure declined slightly and is likely to have a further drop to below 20%. （对中国人口变化的描述）Americans accounted for 10% in 1950, but a fall occurred in the next 52 years, to 16%. However, it is predicted that the population will remain unchanged by 2050. （美国人口的趋势变化）Japan had the smallest percentage of population, with the figure no more than 5% in the given period. （日本人口的描述）

 

By contrast, the percentage of population in India was on a rise, from 15% in 1950 to 19% in 2002, and is expected to see the figure continue to increase to over 20%, exceeding that in China and becoming a country with the largest population among the three. （印度人口的变化）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

原创范文：

In 1950, 26% of people lived in China, nearly double the percentage of people in India. The figures for Americans and Japanese were much lower, with 10% and 5% respectively. （在1950年，四个不同国家的人口比较）By 2002, the dropping trend could be found in China, the USA and Japan, with a small decrease of less than 5%. However, India saw the population increase to 19%. （2002年四个国家的变化和比较）

 

In 2050, China and Japan will experience another drop in the percentage of population, more massive in China where the figure is expected to fall below 20%, but the population in the USA is predicted to remain unchanged. By contrast, there will be more population in India and is likely to exceed the level in China, to 21%. （2050年四个国家将发生的变化和比较）

 

分析：在本题中，仔细看图会发现时间的跨度是1950年，2002年以及2050年。如果以对象进行写作，会反复在过去时态和将来时态中转换，而考生往往会忽略时态的变化导致错误。而如果以时间为写作方法，在每个年份可以很明确地知道应该用过去式还是将来时，很好地避免了这个问题。

 

例4：

The table below shows the amount of waste production (in million tonnes) in six different countries over twenty-year period.

 

方法一：以对象为定点

考官范文：

Between 1980 and 2000, waste production in the US rose from 131 to 192 million tonnes, （美国垃圾产量的描述）and rising trends were also seen in Japan, Poland and Portugal. Japan’s waste output increased from 28 to 53 million tonnes, while Poland and Portugal saw waste totals increase from 4 to 6.6 and from 2 to 5 million tonnes respectively.

 

The trends for Ireland and Korea were noticeably different from those described above. In Ireland, waste production increased more than eightfold, from only 0.6 million tonnes in 1980 to 5 million tonnes in 2000. Korea, by contrast, cut its waste output by 12 million tonnes between 1990 and 2000. （另外两个非完整数据的描述）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

原创范文：

In 1980, waste production in the US was 131 million tonnes, nearly four times the amount in Japan while Poland and Portugal produced a small amount, with 4 and 2 million tonnes respectively. （在1980年，每个国家垃圾产量的比较）Increasingly more waste was produced in the US in the next two decades, rising to 192 million tonnes and the waste output in Japan almost doubled, with 53 million tonnes in total. Poland and Portugal, however, saw smaller growth in waste totals, to 6.6 and 5 million tonnes respectively. （到2000年，四个国家的变化和比较）

 

The patterns in Ireland and Korea were noticeably different. In Ireland, waste production surged to 5 million tonnes in 2000, more than eight times the amount in 1980. The amount of waste in Korea, however, was nearly halved between 1990 and 2000. （对于非完整数据来说，可以进行自身的比较）

 

分析：这是一个相对简单的动态表格，用对象的方法解题依然存在时间的重复以及趋势变化表达的累赘，而用时间的方式多了较多的比较。

 

总的来说在这两个方法中，以时间为定点的写作方法能更好解决时间重复和相同趋势变化的重复表达，但难度相对较大，需要考生们纵观不同对象，从整体考虑；而以对象为出发点的写作思路更清晰明了。所以考生们需要很好地理解这两种不同的解题方法，熟能生巧，在考场上就能快速地完成写作了。

 

2. 图与图之间的本质

除了在解题方法上的一致，考生们还应该善于找到图与图之间的一致性。雅思官方出题为了避免题目的重复，往往会把已经考过的，比如，线图转换成柱图，或者把表格转换成饼图，所以考生利用写作机经练习的时候，不能一味地以练速度为目的，而应该找到其中的规律，做到胸有成竹，以不变应万变。

 

例1：

 

这是剑桥5 Test 1的一个比较旧的动态线图，考前刷题的考生应该会练到这道题目，而且此题也是老师上课经常讲解的真题之一。

 

方法一：以对象为定点

原创范文：

In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 or over and the elderly population in Sweden accounted for nearly 7%. The figures rose gradually over the next 50 years, reaching just under 15% in 1990 and are likely to have further increase to about 25% and 23% respectively by the end of 2040. （USA和Sweden的变化很相似，可以看成一条线，同时进行描述）

 

Japan had only a small percentage of population aged 65 and more from 1940 until the early 2000, with the figure below 5%. However, in 2040, a surge will occur in the elderly population and there will be 27% of population aged 65 and over. （Japan虽然也是一条上升的线，但是相比USA和Sweden, 它的变化比较幅度最大，所以单独描写）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

考官范文：

In 1940, around 9% of Americans were aged 65 or over, compared to about 7% of Swedish people and 5% of Japanese people. （对三个国家的老龄人口比例进行大小比较）The proportions of elderly people in the USA and Sweden rose gradually over the next 50 years, reaching just under 15% in 1990. By contrast, the figures for Japan remained below 5% until the early 2000s. （变化描述及比较）

 

By 2040, there will be a sharp increase in the percentage of elderly people in Japan, and it is thought that around 27% of the Japanese population will be 65 years old or more, while the figures for Sweden and the USA will be slightly lower, at about 25% and 23% respectively. （到终点的变化和比较）

 

完全理解和熟悉了这个折线图的写作方法和思路后，再来看2014年7月26日的考题，如下图所示：

 

这是一个动态表格，数据简单，思路清晰明了。但如果仔细观察数据，就会惊喜地发现这个表格图和上面的折线图之间的相似性。1. 同样是三个国家；2. 时间跨度都是从过去到将来；3. 表格图中France和Japan的动态变化很一致，而折线图中的USA和Sweden的变化也很接近；4. 在表格图中China的变化是从最小上升到最大，就如折线图中Japan, 从最低上升到最高。所以从这几个方面来看，这两幅图几乎是一样的，也就意味着考生们可以完全参照折线图的方法进行写作，或者如果考生们练过折线图的话，就相当于带着范文进考场。

 

方法一：以对象为定点

原创范文：

In 1990, 1200 kilometers of high speed tram track were constructed in Japan, nearly double the length in France. The next twenty years saw the length rise steadily in both countries, up to 2500 kilometers and more. By 2020, it is likely that there will be a continuous growth in the construction of tram tracks in both France and Japan, with figures rising to 3900 and 3600 kilometers respectively. （Japan和France的变化相似，同时描写）

 

China, by contrast, did not develop high speed tram tracks in 1990. However, the country paid greater attention to building the tracks and its length surged to 5800 kilometers in the following two decades. By 2020, China is expected to have a further construction and the length is predicted to more than double, to over 13 thousand. （China的变化最剧烈，单独描写，突出其变化的不同）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

原创范文：

In 1990, Japan had the longest length of high speed tram tracks, with 1200 kilometers, nearly double the figure in France. However, China did not develop tracks then. （1990年，三个国家之间的比较）In the next two decades, the length in Japan and France rose gradually to 2500 kilometers and over while the same period saw a surge in the construction of tram tracks in China, to 5800 kilometers. （2010年，三个国家发生的变化及比较）

 

In 2020, there will be a further sharp increase in the length of tracks in China, with the figure surging to over 13 thousand kilometers while the lengths in Japan and France will be lower, at 3900 and 3600 kilometers respectively. （2020年，又将出现的变化和比较）

 

例2：The charts below give information on the ages of the population of Yemen and Italy in 2000 and projections for 2050.

 

再如这个饼图，剑桥9 Test 3的真题，很经典的一个动态图。考生看到图就会不假思索地把Yemen和Italy分开，当成两幅折线图分开描写。如果这样写的话，肯定不能得到高分，因为完全失去了题目出题的本意，两个国家之间的联系何在？所以思路依然是两个，但是必须把两个图结合起来。

 

方法一：以对象为定点

原创范文：

In 2000, just over half of the population in Yemen was aged 14 or under, but the figure is expected to have a massive fall by 13.1% fifty years later. （在Yemen, 0-14年龄段的变化描写）In the same year, children under 15 years only accounted for 14.3% of the total Italian population. The next five decades will also witness a decline in the percentage, but less significant to 11.5%. （在Italy, 依然是0-14岁的变化描述，体现两个国家之间的关系）

 

In 2000, there were 46.3% of population in Yemen falling into those aged 15 to 59 and it is likely to have more, up to 57.3% by 2050. By contrast, Italian population is expected to have fewer 15-59 year olds, to 46.2%, over 15% less than the figure in 2000. （15-59岁的人在Yemen和Italy的变化描写）

 

It is surprisingly to see that an increase in the elderly population aged 60 and over will happen to both countries in five decades, a smaller one in Yemen, by 2.1% from 3.6% while a more dramatic in Italy, by 18.2% from 24.1%. （60岁以上的人的变化趋势）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

考官范文：

In the year 2000, just over half of the population of Yemen was aged 14 or under, while most Italians (61.6%) fell into the 15 to 59 age group, and only 14.3% were children under 15 years of age. People aged 60 or over accounted for almost a quarter of the Italian population, but only 3.6% of the inhabitants of Yemen. （2000年，三个年龄段在Yemen和Italy的比较）

 

By 2050, the proportion of children under 15 is predicted to drop in both countries, most noticeably in Yemen where the figure is expected to fall by 13.1%. On the other hand, the figures for elderly people are expected to rise, by 2.1% in Yemen and a massive 18.2% in Italy. Finally, it is anticipated that the 15 to 59 age group will grow by around 10% in Yemen, but shrink by around 15% in Italy. （2050年，三个年龄段在两个国家发生的变化和比较）

 

练完这个动态图，如果考生们真正理解的话，那么考到如下图所示的动态柱图，相信也会迎刃而解。

 

这是2016年2月13日的考题，难度中等偏上。但是仔细观察会发现有点似曾相识。1). Males和Females的分类相当于Yemen和Italy；2). 同样是三个年龄段（点）；3). 也有时间的跨度。所以完全可以参照饼图的写作方法进行写作。

 

方法一：以对象为定点

原创范文：

The given period from 1994 to 2005 saw a rise of roughly 8% in the male smokers aged 16 and the figure peaked over 40% in 2000. The percentage of females of the same age addicted to smoking also rose, but much smaller, 5% in the years. （16岁抽烟男孩和女孩在1994年至2005年之间的变化）

 

The similar increasing trend occurred in those who were 15 years old, growing from 21% in 1994 to 31% in 2000, but falling to 28% by 2005 for boys and rising from 17% in 1994 to 25% in 2005 for girls respectively. （15岁的抽烟男女的变化）

 

In addition, increasingly more 14-year-old boys and girls smoked, with figures up from 17% to 27% and from 12% to 17% respectively in those years. （14岁抽烟男女的变化）

 

方法二：以时间为定点

In 1994, 27% of boys aged 16 smoked while the figure for 16-year-old girls was 22%. The percentage of smoking boys aged 15 was 21%, but the year saw fewer females aged 15 smoke, at 17%. The fewest boys and girls who were 14 years old were addicted to smoking, with 17% and 12% respectively. （在1994年，三个年龄段抽烟男女的比较）Six years later, a rise of around 5% occurred in all smoking boys and girls in three different ages. （仔细观察，从1994年至2000年的变化很单一，可以简单地一笔带过）

 

In 2005, there was a drop in older male addicts, more massive for the 16-year-olds who witnessed the figure fall by 6%. However, a mounting number of females of the age smoked, rising steadily to 25% and 27% respectively. The percentage of 14-year-old smoking boys increased again to 28% while the figure for girls kept relatively unchanged. （2005年男女的变化和比较）

 

考题一直在变，但也一直有重复。完全一模一样的考题很少，但是相似的考题很多。结合以上的例子可以看出，考生不要一味地埋头刷题，而忽略了寻找解题的规律和发现其中的本质。希望本文中朗阁海外考试研究中心老师的总结和归纳能给众多考生在备考的过程中有一定的帮助，起到事半功倍的效果。