We use money every day to pay for things we buy. We pay with either coins or paper notes. This sort of money is known as cash.
Almost anything can be used as money. In the past people have used shells, beads, cocoa beans, salt, grain and even cattle. Coins have become popular because they are easy to carry around and they last for a long time.
Coins were first used in China. Ancient Greeks also used them as early as 600BC. They were stamped with the mark of the country for which they were made. The stamp also showed how much each coin was worth.
Early coins were made of silver and gold and were worth a lot of money. Later coins were made of cheaper metals but people agreed they were worth the amount (金额) stamped on them. Later, people began to use paper money as well as coins. The value of the paper was not high but banks agreed they were worth the amount written on them.
The earliest form of trade was when people simply swapped things. This was called bartering. |
Money has been made in all sorts of shapes and sizes, especially in ancient China. |
American Indians used beads and shells made into decorative patters as money. |
Coins have been used for centuries. They are easy to make and last a long time. |
Banknotes are a written promise to pay a certain amount of money. |
Credit cards and cheques are sometimes used instead of money. |
【小题2】Chinese people used coins before 600BC.
【小题3】Stamps are a kind of money as well.
【小题4】If you travelled to ancient China, knife-shaped money might be seen.
【小题5】One advantage of coins is that they are long lasting.
