You are on page 1of 4

UNIVERSIDAD DEL VALLE SEDE PALMIRA

EVALUACIÓN FINAL DE LECTURA DE TEXTOS ACADÉMICOS EN INGLÉS 2

NOMBRE________________________________________________ CÓDIGO _________________

CASHLESS SOCIETY
Paper money is the most common form of currency (or “cash”) used in the world today. Early in the 20th
century, cash was most often used by people to pay their bills and buy goods. During the 1960s, many North
Americans started using plastic “credit” cards instead of cash. Credit cards allowed people to buy the things
they wanted and pay for them in the future. This growing use of “plastic money” led many money experts to
predict the world would one day become a “cashless society.”
The term “cashless society” does not mean that money will no longer be needed to buy things. However, it
does reflect a change in the way goods and services will be bought and sold in the future.
Many thousands of years ago, there was no cash to worry about. Back in time people did not require money
in order to survive. They simply took what they needed from the land. Later on people discovered that they
could trade what they had with others to get the things they needed. This method of trading was called the
“barter system.” In ancient Egypt and Babylon, bartering was the only way to do business.
As civilization grew, many cultures began using a money system to buy goods. Money is not always made of
metal coins and paper. In fact, money can be any object of value that is exchanged for another thing of value.
Cows, whale teeth, sea-shells, beads, salt, beer, spices, furs and food have all served as money at some
point in history.
In ancient Rome and Greece, coins were most often used for money. Coins were usually made of clay, wood
or metals such as silver, gold, lead, copper and nickel. Today most countries in the world have accepted a
money system that uses coins and bills as cash.
The growing use of plastic cards is slowly changing the modern money system. The first plastic credit card
went into use in California in 1959. Since that time, banks have been the largest suppliers of credit cards. In
North America, billions of credit cards are now in use. No cash is needed when using a credit card to buy
things. Amagnetic strip on the back of a credit card records the cost of goods and services with each purchase.
These things can then be paid for at a later date. Everything from food and clothes to cars and boats can be
bought using credit cards.
In the 1990s, more and more companies have begun making plastic cards available to make paying for things
much easier. Bank cards give customers direct access to the money in their bank accounts; phone cards let
customers call without putting money in the phone; new “smart cards” now make it possible to buy things and
pay directly from a bank account.
It has been said that “money makes the world go around.” Starting now and into the future, however, it
appears “plastic money” will be the choice of a cashless society.
I. THE MAIN IDEA
Circle the letter of the sentence or phrase which best describes the main idea of the article about a
Cashless Society.
A. In the future no one will need money.
B. Plastic money has taken over as the preferred method of payment.
C. Money has changed over the centuries.
D. How money makes the world go around.
II. UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU READ
1. When did many North Americans first start using credit cards?
______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Back in time, why did people not have to worry about cash?
______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. How does a credit card work?
______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. What has been a trend in the 1990s?
______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

III. REMEMBERING DETAILS


Write TRUE or FALSE under each statement. If the statement is false, write the statement correctly.
1. Many money experts predict that the “plastic money” trend will end soon.
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Money can be any object of value that is exchanged for another thing of value.
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Today only a few countries in the world have an accepted money system.
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. With smart cards you pay for your purchases at a later date.
___________________________________________________________________________________

IV. CROSSWORD

ACROSS:
2. to bring into existence by combining material; produce:
3. money in circulation as a medium of exchange in a country:
5. money in the form of coins or banknotes: $5,000 in cash and the rest in traveler's checks.
8. public praise or commendation given for some action, etc.:
9. (adj) a requirement, necessary duty, or obligation:
10. Given in a legal manner (a summons, process, etc.) to (someone):
12. the act or process of buying, selling, or exchanging goods:
DOWN
1. everything that exists; the universe
2. the coins and bills issued by a country to buy something:
3. a person who purchases goods or services from another; buyer (pl)
4. to trade by exchanging goods rather than by money:
6. generally approved:
7. settled (a debt, etc.) by handing over money or goods, or by doing something:
11. to give over (money) (to someone) in exchange for something:

V. PUT THESE WORDS INTO THE SPACES IN THE PARAGRAPH BELOW.


Discovery team metabolism lives replace desk glow vision Nearly perform
substance part idea mature Contain leaves
Scientists have created plants that (1) ____________ in the dark. They are hoping to produce plants that can
light up our (2) ____________. The scientists are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA.
They hope their (3) ____________ could lead to plant lights replacing electric lights. One day, even light that
trees produce could (4) ____________ street lights. Professor Michael Strano, lead author of the research,
explained that his (5) ____________ wants to create sustainable light sources and help the environment. He
said: "The (6) ____________ is to make a plant that will function as a (7) ____________ lamp - a lamp that
you don't have to plug in. The light is ultimately powered by the energy (8) ____________ of the plant itself."
The researchers got the (9) ____________ for their lighting plants from fireflies. They looked at the (10)
____________ in fireflies that makes them glow. They created nanoparticles that (11) ____________ the
substance. They then put the nanoparticles into plant leaves to make them glow. The scientists were able to
make plants that glowed for (12) ____________ four hours. The research team has tested the substance on
salad (13) ____________, including spinach and watercress. Professor Strano said: "Our target is to (14)
____________ one treatment, when the plant is a seedling or a (15) ____________ plant, and have it last for
the lifetime of the plant." He thinks plant lights will be a (16) ____________ of our life in the future. He said:
"We think this is an idea whose time has come."

SECOND PART

I. RE-WRITE THE SENTENCES SO THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS THE ORIGINAL
---CONDITIONALS---

1. It didn't rain yesterday. So I had to water the plants yesterday.


________________________________________________________________________________
2. I went to bed late last Tuesday. So I was very tired the following day
________________________________________________________________________________
3. You won't get a promotion if your work doesn't improve.
________________________________________________________________________________
4. A week ago, I wanted to ring a friend, but I don't know his phone number
.________________________________________________________________________________
5. I want to ring a friend now, but I don't know his phone number.
________________________________________________________________________________

II. REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. ---CONNECTING WORDS---

1. Despite the pain in his leg he completed the marathon. (Although)


_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. We enjoyed our camping holiday although it rained every day. (Despite)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Despite studying very hard, he still didn’t pass the exam. (Even though)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. You still play loud music although I've asked you not to several times. (despite)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. Even though we were in a terrible hotel, we had a great time. (In spite of)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

III. CHANGE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH TO PASSIVE/ACTIVE VOICE

TEENAGERS ARRESTED
A suspicious suitcase was found near a bus station by a kid who was waiting for the bus alone. The suspicious
suitcase wasn't opened by the kid on the first moment. He took it to the police station and when the police
officer opened the suspicious suitcase, it exploded!! The kid survived but the other police officers were killed
by the bomb.

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

You might also like