Question

In modern society, people use money every day. It seems that it is very important in our life. That’s because without money you can’t buy any goods(商品) you want. But I think few people know the history of money.

Long ago, people did not need money. They lived on wild animals, fruits and other plants. As time passed, people learned to raise animals and crops. Sometimes, families produced more than they needed, so they started to trade with other families. Later, people began to use money as a means of exchange. However, it was not the kind of money we use today. They used shells, rice, salt, large stones, etc.

During the 600s BC, people began using coins as money. They soon found that coins were easier to carry than goods and lasted a long time. Later, countries began to make their own coins.

The Chinese were the first to use paper money, probably as early as the 11^th century. The Italian traveler Marco Polo saw the Chinese using money when he visited China in the 1200s. However, European countries did not start using paper money until 1600s.

Today, we have many ways to pay for things. We do not use coins or paper money. Often, people prefer to pay for things by card. Paying with a card is easier and safer than carrying around a lot of “real” money.

1.  People used ________ as a means of exchange before the 7^th century BC.

A. paper money       B. card          

C. large stone         D. coins

2.From the passage, we know that European countries used paper money in the ________.

A. 11^th century        B. 12^th century    

C. 16^th century        D. 17^th century

3.Which of the following is TRUE in this article?

A. Marco Polo was from Canada.

B. Chinese used paper money earlier than Italy.

C. Today people often prefer to pay for things by salt.

D. Carrying around much “real” money is easier and safer than Paying with a card.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了钱的发展史。钱的出现伴随着交易的进行。有很多东西曾经作为交换的货币使用过。如贝壳、大米、盐、大石头等。后来用硬币、纸币。今天我们更喜欢用信用卡消费，因为它携带起来更方便和安全。

1.细节理解题。根据During the 600s BC, people began using coins as money. They soon found that coins were easier to carry than goods and lasted a long time.可知，在公元7世纪，人们开始用硬币当钱用。他们发现硬币比货物更容易携带，保持的时间长。large stone属于a kind of goods。纸币最早在中国的11th century被使用；用信用卡是许多人的事。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据However, European countries did not start using paper money until 1600s.可知，欧洲国家直到17th century才开始用纸币。故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据The Italian traveler Marco Polo saw the Chinese using money…可知，马可波罗是意大利旅行家，所以A错；根据The Italian traveler Marco Polo saw the Chinese using money when he visited China in the 1200s.可知，意大利旅行家在13th世纪来访中国时看到中国人在用纸币，所以B对；用盐交换物品是物物交换时代，现代的人用纸币、更喜欢用信用卡，所以C对；根据Paying with a card is easier and safer than carrying around a lot of “real” money可知，现代信用卡比代大量的真钱更安全和容易，所以D错。本题要求选出正确的陈述，故选B。

考点：社科类短文阅读。