Road to 5**﹕Two types of questions about statistics

[2019.02.25] 發表

【明報專訊】Introduction﹕

Questions about statistics can be divided into two types:

those asking about the distinguishing features and those asking about the patterns.

Principles﹕

．Questions about the distinguishing features of statistics (See table)

．Questions about the patterns (See table)

◆An example from Paper 1

◆Source A：

New monthly cases of hay fever in 2017 and 2018 in City A

．Hay fever cases in 2017 and 2018 in City A (See picture)

◆Questions

(a) Refer to source A and describe the distinguishing features of the statistics on cases in 2017 and 2018 in City A.

(b) Refer to source A and describe the pattern of hay fever cases in 2017 and 2018 in City A.

■Answering guidelines

◆About distinguishing features

Describe the noteworthy aspects

?When answering question (a), focus on the noteworthy aspects and describe them. For example, in both 2017 and 2018, hay fever cases occurred mostly between February and April with as many as 3,900 cases in peak seasons.

◆About patterns

Focus on patterns and factors

?When answering question (b), candidates have to think about whether there is a certain degree of repetition or a pattern concerning the cases of hay fever. If such a pattern exists, what factors is it related to?

First, in the year of 2017, the peak season for hay fever in City A was between February and April. Second, this pattern was repeated almost in the same way in 2018. Third, the period between February and April is when winter is coming to an end and spring is beginning. It is also when pollination occurs.

We can thus give our response: “In 2017 and 2018, most of the cases of hay fever occurred between February and April, i.e. between winter and spring. There were as many as 3,900 cases in the peak season. In the other months, especially in summer and autumn, there are much fewer cases. It can thus be deduced that the number of hay fever cases and how they spread are vary with the season.”

Text: 張兆聰, liberal studies teacher at Queen Elizabeth School Old Students' Association Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School

Translation: Terence Yip

[通通識第566期]