Y5L4 - Currencies and barter market - Reading Comprehension

Read the text and choose the correct answer.

1. 1. What's the main idea in this text?

The British Pound

The British pound is the oldest currency that is still in use today. At first, English coins had different values: 12 silver pence made a shilling, and 20 shillings (or 240 silver pence) made a pound. Initially, there wasn’t a pound coin. People called it that because the 240 silver pennies were supposed to weigh a pound of silver. That was clearly a lot of money. Farmers could buy 15 cows with one pound around 980 A.D.

The first pound coin appeared in 1489. This changed very recently, in 1971, when the U.K. started using the decimal system. Since then, coins and bills are counted in multiples of ten.

Today, the pound comes in the form of a coin or a bill. The Bank of England is in charge of making the currency.

• What the British pound looked like in 980 A.D.

• To show a historical outline of the currency.

• To describe the currency options in 1489.

• To inform the reader the currency started in 1971.

• Tell the history of the bank of England.

​ (a)   use the pound all across the UK.

​ (b)   is worth 20 pounds.

​ (c)   made a shilling.

​ (d)   had different values.

​ (e)   appeared in 1489.

• People in Britain
• That bill
• Twelve silver pence
• English coins
• The first pound coin

Read the sentences below (from question 2 here) again and answer the following questions.

Question 1: Would these sentences keep the same meaning if you took away any of the subjects?

1. People in Britain use the pound all across the U.K.
2. That bill is worth 20 pounds.
3. Twelve silver pence made a shilling.
4. English coins had different values.
5. The first pound coin appeared in 1489.

• Yes, because sentences in English don't depend on the subject.

• No, because the English language follows the S.V.O (Subject + verb + object) structure.

Read the sentences below (from question 2 here) again and answer the following questions.

Question 2: Together, do the the subjects in the sentences behave like a noun, a verb, an adjective or a preposition?

1. People in Britain use the pound all across the U.K.
2. That bill is worth 20 pounds.
3. Twelve silver pence made a shilling.
4. English coins had different values.
5. The first pound coin appeared in 1489.

• a noun

• a verb

• an adjective

• a preposition

Read the text “Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination.” Check the ideas that are in the text. More than one is possible.

Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination

Have you ever heard about the Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination, or QUID? It is a new currency invented by a company called Travelex. It is meant to be space money.

Even though no one has ever needed money in space, and we have never seen outer space shopping malls, each QUID is about $11 dollars.

Space scientists say that common money wouldn’t be useful in space. They have never used coins in space because their edges could tear a spacesuit. You might think, “Have they ever thought about using credit cards?”. Yes, of course they have. However, the chips and magnetic strips would be damaged by cosmic radiation.

Have you ever imagined going to a space tourist information center? What kind of information could you ask for?

• Humans have never been to space.

• No one has ever used money outside our planet.

• Travelex created the QUID.

In English, we use words like 'ever' and 'never' to talk about past life experiences. Complete the sentences with 'ever' or 'never'.

Have you ​ (a)   heard about the Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination, or QUID?

We have ​ (b)   seen outer space shopping malls […].

They have ​ (c)   used coins in space because their edges could tear a spacesuit.

Have they ​ (d)   thought about using credit cards?

Have you ​ (e)   imagined going to a space tourist information center?

• ever
• never

Read the text available on p. 51 and asnwer the following question. Who can the initiative of barter markets reach?

• No one

• Some people

• A few people

• Few people

• Many people.

Read the text available on p. 51 and asnwer the following question. What do people trade?

• Something they don't want anymore with something else they need.

• Things they like so much and don't want to give away.

• Things they saw in their neighbour's house and now they want.

Organize these options into the right categories

Groups:

(a) People

,

(b) Places

,

(c) Things

• anybody

• somewhere

• somebody

• anything

• everyone

• everywhere

• anywhere

• everybody

• everything

• someone

• something

• anyone

Determine whether the underlined word in these statements is specific or not specific. Then tell a classmate whether you agree or disagree with the statements.

We can get recycled bottles anywhere. ​ not specific (a)  

Somebody should take us to the Barter Market. ​ (b)  

Everything we find can be useful. ​ ​ (c)  

All cities should have a barter market somewhere. ​ (d)  

Going to the Barter Market to trade products is a great initiative for protecting the environment. ​ (e)  

• not specific
• specific