You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the average monthly salary and the prices of black and white and colour TV in Japanese yen from 1953 to 1973. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Model Answer
The given line graph illustrates the changes in the cost of black and white, and coloured TV over a period of two decades, starting in 1953. A cursory glance at the line graph is enough to make it clear that the TV prices showed a downward trend, whereas average monthly salary showed an upward trend in the given time period.
In 1953, the price of black and white TV stood at 100,000 yen. The price dropped significantly to just half (50,000 yen) by 1963, after which there was a moderate decline in price and it reached approximately 30,000 yen by 1973. Colour TV appeared in the market in the late 1950s, with a cost of about 180,000 yen, but in the next four to five years the cost fell dramatically to about 110,000 yen. After that, there was a steady decline and the price reached 80,000 yen by 1973.
Average monthly salary was a meager 30,000 yen in 1953, but rose considerably and reached 110,000 yen by 1968, after which there was a steep escalation and it reached about 180,000 yen by 1973.
Overall, it is clear that comparing the salary with the cost of TVs, even a black and white TV was a luxury for the common man in 1953. However, after two decades, even the colour TV could be bought within one month’s salary.