Model Answer
The bar chart compares the average monthly rainfall in Australia for the last year, while the line graph shows the long-term monthly average over the past 40 years.
Overall, rainfall followed a clear seasonal pattern, with higher levels at the beginning and end of the year and significantly lower figures in the middle months. In addition, rainfall last year was generally lower than the 40-year average, particularly during winter.
At the start of the year, rainfall was relatively high. In January, the figure for last year stood at around 70 mm, slightly below the long-term average of approximately 80 mm. A similar pattern was seen in February and March, where rainfall remained moderate but consistently under the historical average. From April onwards, precipitation declined sharply, reaching a low point in August, at just over 10 mm, compared with around 15 mm for the 40-year average.
Towards the end of the year, rainfall increased again. In November and December, last year recorded approximately 40 mm, although this still fell short of the long-term average, which rose to nearly 60 mm in December.