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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Use of Graphics and References for Business Communication

A report compares the sales of Rs 40 lakh, Rs 60 lakh and Rs 50 lakh of three branches of Bharat Traders in one year. The writer starts the vertical axis of the bar chart at Rs 38 lakh instead of zero. What is the main communication risk?

The main risk is that the differences between branches appear exaggerated, because starting the axis at Rs 38 lakh shrinks the lowest bar disproportionately. Bar lengths should be proportional to values, so the axis should normally begin at zero.

  1. ADifferences between branches will look exaggerated, misleading readersCorrect
  2. BThe chart will become a pie chart
  3. CThe bars will show percentages instead of amounts
  4. DThe branch names will disappear from the chart

Explanation

A truncated axis makes bar heights disproportionate: the Rs 40 lakh bar would look tiny against the Rs 60 lakh bar, though the real ratio is 2:3 not about 1:11. This distorts comparison. The other options do not follow from changing the axis start.

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