The correct form of the verb (IELTS writing task 1)

The line graph ___ the amount of fast food consumed by teenagers in Australia between 1975 and 2000, a period of 25 years.

• illustrates

• illustrated

• is illustrating

• has illustrated

Overall, the consumption of fish and chips ___ over the period, whereas the amount of pizza and hamburgers that were eaten increased.

• declined

• declines

• was declining

• has declined

In 1975, the most popular fast food with Australian teenagers ___ fish and chips, being eaten 100 times a year.

• was

• were

• has been

• is

This ___ far higher than pizza and hamburgers, which were consumed approximately 5 times a year.

• was

• is

• has been

• had been

However, apart from a brief rise again from 1980 to 1985, the consumption of fish and chips gradually ___ over the 25-year timescale to finish at just under 40 times per year.

• declined

• declines

• is declining

• has declined

In sharp contrast to this, teenagers ___ the other two fast foods at much higher levels.

• ate

• eat

• have eaten

• are eating

Pizza consumption ___ gradually until it overtook the consumption of fish and chips in 1990.

• increased

• is increasing

• has increased

• was increasing

It then ___ from 1995 to 2000.

• levelled off

• is levelling off

• has levelled off

• levels

The biggest rise ___ in hamburgers, increasing sharply throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

• was seen

• is seen

• has been seen

• had been seen

Hamburgers ___ fish and chips consumption in 1985.

• exceeded

• exceed

• have exceeded

• are exceeding