Writing Task 1 (Academic Test)
WRITING
Model Answer:
The left hand pie chart illustrates the proportions of various energy producing fuels used in the United States in 2011, while the right hand chart shows the IER’s prediction for fuels to be used in 2040. It is noticeable that there are few major changes in fuel use according to this forecast, with the most visible change being the decrease in petroleum use.
In 2011, petroleum was the fuel used in more than a third of energy production in the US. By 2040 this percentage will have decreased by 6%, dropping from 37% of energy made to 31%. This is the most significant change in fuel usage. During these three decades, the use of natural gas will increase slightly from 26% to 28% while the burning of coal will very slightly decrease from 20% to 19% of total energy production.
The use of non-fossil fuel energy sources such as nuclear, biomass and other renewables will mostly go up during this time period, with nuclear increasing from 8% to 9% and other renewables from 2% to 3%. The use of biomass for energy production is predicted to increase more dramatically, and will have increased from 3% to 7% by 2040. Hydro power is expected to remain constant at 3%.
Useful Vocabulary:
according to (preposition): as said or stated by this person/ organisation
biomass (noun [u]): dead plant material used as a fuel
constant (adjective): not changing
decade (noun [c]): a ten year period
fossil fuel (noun [c]): gas, coal or oil
noticeable (adjective): easy to see
nuclear (noun [u]): relating to the power produced by splitting or joining the atom
petroleum (noun [u]): a thick black oil which is taken from underground and used for producing petrol, diesel and other products
prediction (noun [c]): a statement about what will happen in the future
production (noun [u]): the making of something
renewables (noun [pl]): types of energy produced using wind, the sun, or water
source (noun [c]): the place where something is first made
usage (noun [u]): the use of
visible (adjective): something that you can see
13. Pie Charts
The pie charts below show the percentages of different fuels used to produce energy in the United States in 2011 and then in 2040.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.