Task 1: The graph below shows chnages in global food and oil prices bewteen 2000 and 2011

The given line graph illustrates/ compares the differences in the average price of oil and the food price index over a period of 11 years

Overall, it is noticeable that the average global prices of both oil and food rose considerably during the given period. Especially, the food price index appeared to be the one that led the chart at the end of the period.

Looking at the chart more closely, in the year 2000, the average global oil price hovered around $27 per barrel and the food price stood at roughly 88 points. Over the next 4 years, the both prices increased negligibly, before climbing steadily/ gradually between 2004 and 2006. However, by 2007, while the average oil price decreased slightly to $60, the price of food went up gradually to approximately 140 points.

In terms of the data in the remaining years, from 2007 to 2008, the prices of both oil and food witnessed a rapid/ sharp growth, at about just over $120 and 220 points respectively. Nevertheless, a surge in both commodity prices was undergone in 2009. 2 years later, the similar pattern was seen in the figure for the prices of both oil and food and the food price index reached its peak of roughly 238 points at the end of the period.