A process undergone by a system is depicted in the figure. During...

The work done by a system during a thermodynamic process is given by the integral $W = \int p \, dV$.

Geometrically, the work done is represented by the area under the $p-V$ curve projected onto the volume ($V$) axis.

In the given $p-V$ diagram, the arrow on the curve indicates that the process proceeds from left to right. This means the volume of the system is continuously increasing throughout the process, so $dV > 0$.

Since the pressure $p$ is always positive and the volume is continuously increasing ($dV > 0$), the differential work done $dW = p \, dV$ is always positive.

Because positive work is continuously being added, the total cumulative work done by the system continuously increases as the process progresses.

Answer: continuously increases