Lesson 19

Change

tiny very small

increase getting bigger

huge very big

fall going down

slight small

decrease getting smaller

dramatic large and sudden

shift movement, change

gradual slow, over a period of time

rise going up

Between 2000 and 2003 there was a gradual decrease in the number of hotel guests and then at the beginning of 2004 there was a huge fall. This was caused by the opening of the new Salalah Hotel in that year, because their prices were so low. At the end of the year there was a slight increase in numbers when we reduced our prices also, but in total last year there was a dramatic shift for the hotel from profit to loss. Numbers went down in the period from July to October last year but since that time we have seen a gradual increase so that now we should have a total of 6,000 guests over the next year.

Lesson 19 homework

Look at the graph below and write a short article about immigration (people moving from one country to another) into Bellonia (fictitious country).

Information collocations

Information is a key business word and it has many collocations. Here are some of the most common business uses. Match the word to its meaning.

Verb + information to…access give out informationconceal put information into something (eg a computer)distribute be given informationfeed in get hold of informationreceive hide information

Adjective + informationaccurate extra informationadditional secret informationconfidential information which you really need for somethingimportant the newest informationup-to-date information which is correct

Information + nountechnology where some information comes fromsource too much informationoverload knowledge of computer hardware, software and programming