文字稿

英國(guó)財(cái)政部正在征求各界人士對(duì)現(xiàn)金未來(lái)的看法，此舉可能是為取消1便士（100便士相當(dāng)于1英鎊，1便士約為人民幣8分）及2便士的小面值硬幣鋪平道路。該部門(mén)邀請(qǐng)了相關(guān)人士就目前流通的各類(lèi)小面值硬幣給予置評(píng)，因?yàn)殡S著消費(fèi)者轉(zhuǎn)向非現(xiàn)金支付，如非接觸式付款和數(shù)字消費(fèi)，現(xiàn)金的使用越來(lái)越少。

The Treasury says that six out of ten copper coins are used only once before being stashed away or even chucked in the bin. The Royal Mint has been issuing hundreds of millions of the coins every year, only for them to disappear into jars or the back of drawers, which the government believes isn't cost-effective.

There's been a sharp drop in cash transactions under five pounds since the introduction of contactless card payments. As yet, the Treasury says it has no plans to get rid of the coins but many see this as the beginning of the end.

英國(guó)財(cái)政部稱(chēng)，每十枚銅幣（即便士）中就會(huì)有六枚硬幣僅在一次使用后就被人存置一旁，甚至被扔進(jìn)垃圾箱。英國(guó)皇家鑄幣局（The Royal Mint）每年都在發(fā)行數(shù)以千萬(wàn)枚的硬幣，而這些硬幣最后卻只能被藏到存錢(qián)罐里或是抽屜的深處，英國(guó)政府認(rèn)為這是不劃算的。

自英國(guó)引進(jìn)非接觸式銀行卡支付以來(lái)，小于五鎊的現(xiàn)金交易數(shù)量急劇下降。到目前為止，財(cái)政部說(shuō)還沒(méi)有制定廢除小額硬幣的相關(guān)計(jì)劃，但很多人把政府征求置評(píng)一事看作小額硬幣最終退出流通市場(chǎng)的開(kāi)始。

1. 詞匯表

stashed 被存放，被藏匿起來(lái)
chucked 被扔掉
cost-effective 劃算的，成本效益高的
transactions （金錢(qián)上的）交易，這里是復(fù)數(shù)，指多筆交易
contactless card payments 非接觸式銀行卡付款，略稱(chēng)“contactless”
the beginning of the end 事物走向結(jié)束的開(kāi)端

2. 閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題 。

1. What type of metal are the British 1p and 2p coins made of?

2. True or false? The Royal Mint issued more than a million pounds worth of these small coins last year.

3. According to the report, why are fewer small coins being used?

4. Which phrase used in the report, implies that these small coins may eventually be phased out?

3. 答案

1. What type of metal are the British 1p and 2p coins made of?
They are made of copper. They are sometimes informally referred to as 'coppers'.

2. True or false? The Royal Mint issued more than a million pounds worth of these small coins last year.
False. The Royal Mint has been issuing hundreds of millions of the coins every year – this is the number of coins but not the value in sterling.

3. According to the report, why are fewer small coins being used?
More people are using contactless cards to make small payments with.

4. Which phrase used in the report, implies that these small coins may eventually be phased out?
'The beginning of the end'.