Дидактический материал по английскому языку для студентов экономических специальностей

Money : to Be or Not to Be

What are the pros and cons of these? Complete the table with your partner(s)

Pros

Cons

Cash

Credit card

Prepaid cards

Cheques

Online

Bartering

Sweden is destined to become the first country in the world to switch from banknotes and coins to a cashless economy. Only three per cent of transactions in Sweden are made using cash; the rest is credit cards or mobile phone payments. This compares with 7 per cent in the USA and 9 per cent in other Eurozone countries. Canada's Chronicle Herald newspaper reported on the extent of Sweden's move away from cash. It wrote: "In most Swedish cities, public buses don't accept cash; tickets are prepaid or purchased with a cellphone text message. A small but growing number of businesses only take cards." It also said churches are only accepting digital donations and not hard currency.

Sweden was the first European country to introduce banknotes in 1661. Today, the Swedish Bankers' Association is just one group in favour of a cashless society. Its security expert Par Karlsson said: "Less cash in circulation makes things safer, both for the staff that handle cash, but also of course for the public." Bank robberies have gone down from 110 in 2008 to just 16 in 2011. Political corruption has also decreased because of the digital trail generated by electronic transactions. Not everyone supports getting rid of cash. Small business owners see it as another way for banks to make bigger profits. Banks charge from 5 Swedish kronor ($0.80) for every payment made by credit card.

TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

Sweden will be the third European country to become cashless.

T / F

b.

Only 3% of purchases in Sweden are made cashless.

T / F

c.

Most private buses in Sweden still accept cash only.

T / F

d.

Churches in Sweden are asking people not to donate digitally.

T / F

e.

Canada was the first European country to use banknotes.

T / F

f.

Bank robberies in Sweden have decreased in recent years.

T / F

g.

Corruption among politicians in Sweden has gone up.

T / F

h.

Banks in Sweden are to not charge for processing credit card payments.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

destined

a.

range

1. deal

2

transactions

b.

present

2. medium of exchange

3.

extent

c.

bought

3. proficient

4.

purchased

d.

appointed beforehand

4. number

5.

currency

e.

path

5. touch

6.

introduce

f.

remove

6. got

7.

expert

g.

master

7. trace

8.

handle

h.

bargain

8. expanse

9.

trail

i.

carry

9. banish

10.

getting rid of

j.

money

10. making persons acquainted

3. Answer the questions:

1. Do you mainly use cash?

2. What do you think of a cashless society?

3. Do you prefer cash or digital payments?

4. Would you miss having banknotes and coins in your pocket?

5. Is cybercrime more serious than physical robbery?

6. Will politicians still find ways to be corrupt?

7. Are you comfortable with paying for things online?

8. Will the hobby of coin and banknote collecting disappear with the emergence of a cashless economy?