Literacy Rates: Suggested Answer

Bar Chart: Literacy Rates, 1990 and

2000.
The chart shows literacy rates for men and women in selected countries in 1990 and
2000.

The graph shows changes in literacy rates in different countries between 1990 and 2000,
for men and women. Overall more and more people are able to read, and there have been
significant improvements for women, although they lag behind men in literacy.

The most obvious trend in the graph is that women have lower illiteracy rates in most of
the countries in the graph. For example, in Bangladesh in 1990, 45% of men could read
and write, but only 25% of women. The difference was even bigger in Pakistan, with
50% of men being literate but only 20% of women. Even in Kuwait and China, slightly
more men than women could read and write.

The second biggest trend in the graph is the improvement in literacy between 1990 and
2000. In all countries shown, figures for both men and women improved. The biggest
change was in Pakistan, from 49% of men in 1990 to 57% over the ten year period. Even
in countries with relatively high literacy rates, such as China or Brazil, there were
significant increases for men.
However, the increases in literacy rates for women were much higher. In Egypt, the
percentage of non-illiterate women jumped from 35% to 44%, and in Pakistan from 20%
to 28% over the decade.

In conclusion, almost all the countries in the graph have a long way to go before
achieving 100% literacy rates, and women in particular need support in order to increase
their reading ability. However, all countries improved over the ten years, and women
appear to be catching up even in the lowest countries.
 Age of Marriage, USA: Suggested
Answers

The graph shows changes in the age of marriage in the USA over the last 100 years.
Overall, although there have been big changes in the average age of marriage, and
although the difference has narrowed, men still tend to be older than women when they
make their vows.

The biggest changes were for women. At the start of the century, the average age stood at
just 22, and this dropped slightly to about 21 over the next two decades. Between 1920
and 1950, the age fluctuated slightly, but in 1950, it plunged and reached just over 20 in
1960. Then a major change took place. Between 1960 and 2000 there was a sharp and
continued increase in the age of marriage for women. It rose from just 20 in 1960 to 25 in
2000. This represented a gap of two years between women in men, in contrast to the gap
of four years in 1900.

The trend for men to marry at a later age also increased. At the start of the period, men
got married at 26. One hundred years later the age stood at 27, a slight increase of just
one year. However there were big changes during the century. From 1900 to1930 the age
dropped from 26 to 24. It plunged in 1940 to almost 22 and then remained stable for 20
years. From 1970 to 2000 there was a sharp increase, mirroring the rise in the women’s
age of marriage. It shot up from 20.5 to 27.

In conclusion, there have been big changes in the age of marriage. However, men still get
married later than women, and women tend to get married much later than in the past.
284 words!

Shorter Version: 180 words

The graph shows changes in the average age of marriage for men and women in the USA
between 1900 and 2000. Overall, although both men and women are getting married
later, the difference between them has decreased.

The biggest change was in the age of marriage for women. For the first 50 years it
changed very little, ranging between 21 and 22 years, but by 1960 it had fallen to a low of
just over 20. However, then it shot up dramatically, rising to 22 in 1980 and 25 in 2000,
just two years younger than men, compared to four years in 1900.

The age of marriage for men followed a similar pattern, falling from 26 at the start of the
century to a low of just over 22 between 1950 and 1970. During the last forty years,
however, the age jumped sharply, reaching 27 in 2000, one year older on average than at
the start of the period.

In conclusion, men still tend to be older than their partners at marriage, but the difference
has fallen significantly, and both are marrying later.

Even Shorter Version: 158 words!

The graph shows changes in the ages at which Americans married over the last century.
In general, men are still older than their partners, but the age of marriage for both has
increased.

In 1900, men got married at 26 on average. This fell gradually to 24 in 1930 and then to a
low of about 22.5 between 1950 and 1970. From 1970 to 2000, however, it shot up,
reaching 27 at the turn of the century.

In contrast, women married much earlier 100 years ago. The age of marriage was just 22
and this barely changed before 1950. After a low of 20.5 in 1960, however, the age began
to shoot up and by 2000 the average woman got married at 26 years of age, four years
older than a century earlier, and much closer to the age for men.

In conclusion, women are getting married much later, although men still tend to be two
years older.
Marriages, Divorce, & Remarriage
The graph shows statistics for first marriages, divorces and remarriages in the UK.

Write a short description of the chart.

From: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/xsdataset.asp?vlnk=120&More=Y

Download in Excel (Right-click, save to your desktop)

More detail

Here is a more detailed version of the information above:

Here is the official description of the graph above, from the UK National Statistics office.

Changes in household and family patterns reflect changes in the partnering and marital
status of the population over time. Marriage is still the usual form of partnership between
men and women. However, the total number of marriages in the United Kingdom has
fallen from a peak in 1972. In 1997 there were 310 thousand marriages, among the lowest
figures recorded during the twentieth century.

The number of first marriages has decreased substantially since its peak in 1970. In 1997
there were 181 thousand first marriages for both partners, less than half the number in
1970.

Slightly over two-fifths of marriages in 1997 were remarriages for either or both partners.
Early in the twentieth century remarriage was relatively uncommon, but since the 1960s
the number of remarriages has increased. While most of the few remarriages at the turn of
the century in England and Wales involved a widow or widower, more recently at least
one partner remarrying has usually been divorced. These trends were notably accentuated
following the implementation of the Divorce Reform Act 1969 in 1971
Bar Graph: Women, number of babies,
and education: Suggested Answer 2

The bar chart gives information on fertility rates, or average number of births per women
in different countries in the 1990s, AND the educational level of the women. Overall, it is
very clear that the more educated women are, the smaller the family size.

In all countries in the graph, the highest fertility rate is for women without education.
There are huge differences between countries. Niger has the highest fertility rate, at
almost eight births per woman. This is almost double the rate in Jordan, at 4.6 births.
Guatemala and Yemen are second and third in the number of births per woman, at 7.1
and 6.9 respectively, while Kenya and Pakistan have just under 6 births per woman.

In almost all countries in the graph, the birthrate drops sharply after the completion of
primary education. Women who have a basic education have much fewer children in
Guatemala, at only 5.1 compared to 7.1 for uneducated women, and in Yemen, at 4.6
compared to 6.9 for women without education. In some countries, the difference is not so
noticeable. For example, in the Philippines, the birth rate is the same for women without
primary education as for women who have finished primary school, at exactly 5.0. A
similar pattern is seen in Jordan.

However, the difference is most obvious among secondary school graduates. Women
with a high school education have only 2.6 children in Guatemala, compared to almost
three times that number for uneducated women. In Haiti, the figure for secondary school
graduates is only 2.5, compared to 6.1 for women without primary schooling. Even in
Jordan, which has the smallest differences in the graph, there is a difference of one child
between women with no education and secondary education.
In conclusion, although there are huge differences between countries, it is clear that
women’s education is directly related to family size.
Bar Graph: Women, number of babies,
and education: Suggested Answer 2

The bar chart gives information on fertility rates, or average number of births per women
in different countries in the 1990s, AND the educational level of the women. Overall, it is
very clear that the more educated women are, the smaller the family size.

In all countries in the graph, the highest fertility rate is for women without education.
There are huge differences between countries. Niger has the highest fertility rate, at
almost eight births per woman. This is almost double the rate in Jordan, at 4.6 births.
Guatemala and Yemen are second and third in the number of births per woman, at 7.1
and 6.9 respectively, while Kenya and Pakistan have just under 6 births per woman.

In almost all countries in the graph, the birthrate drops sharply after the completion of
primary education. Women who have a basic education have much fewer children in
Guatemala, at only 5.1 compared to 7.1 for uneducated women, and in Yemen, at 4.6
compared to 6.9 for women without education. In some countries, the difference is not so
noticeable. For example, in the Philippines, the birth rate is the same for women without
primary education as for women who have finished primary school, at exactly 5.0. A
similar pattern is seen in Jordan.

However, the difference is most obvious among secondary school graduates. Women
with a high school education have only 2.6 children in Guatemala, compared to almost
three times that number for uneducated women. In Haiti, the figure for secondary school
graduates is only 2.5, compared to 6.1 for women without primary schooling. Even in
Jordan, which has the smallest differences in the graph, there is a difference of one child
between women with no education and secondary education.
In conclusion, although there are huge differences between countries, it is clear that
women’s education is directly related to family size.