Coins - the first form of money
Read Coins - the first form of money and check the IELTS Reading answers. Few people pay much attention to coins; we take them for granted. Since the advent of paper currency and the abandonment of a monetary system based on intrinsic of actual value, they have been demoted to the status of 'change…
Passage preview
Few people pay much attention to coins; we take them for granted. Since the advent of paper currency and the abandonment of a monetary system based on intrinsic of actual value, they have been demoted to the status of 'change: what is left when you have paid for something with 'paper' money. There is even a belief that they will one day be obsolete, as will paper or plastic notes, and money will at last have achieved the pure status of a mathematical formulation, a system of electronic credits and debits.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- advent noun
The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event; the beginning or introduction of a significant period
Since the advent of paper currency, the status of metal coins has changed significantly in modern society.
- anonymous adjective
Not identified by name; of unknown authorship or origin; lacking individual characteristics or a recognizable identity
Although coins were the work of anonymous craftsmen, they reflected the unique character of their city.
- commodity noun
A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as grain or coffee
Before the invention of coins, trade was primarily based on the direct exchange of various commodities.
- craftsmanship noun
The quality of design and work shown in something made by hand; the skill of a master artisan
Ancient coins are rich sources of evidence, frequently produced with exquisite craftsmanship and detail.
- decentralised adjective
Controlled by several local offices or authorities rather than one single central government or organization
The ancient Greek civilisation was highly decentralised, being composed of dozens of independent city-states.
- distinguished adjective
Successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect; marked by excellence or a high position in a field
Republics often use the features of a distinguished past head of state on their national currency.
- inflation noun
A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money within an economy over time
The massive influx of gold from the New World resulted in serious inflation for the Spanish economy.
- integrity noun
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; the state of being whole and undivided
The uniform design of Athenian currency was intended to imply the integrity and trustworthiness of the city.
- intrinsic value noun
The inherent worth of an object or asset, independent of its market price or external circumstances
Ancient monetary systems were typically based on the intrinsic value of the metal used in coins.
- obsolete adjective
No longer produced or used because it has been replaced by something newer, more efficient, or advanced
Some believe that physical money will eventually become obsolete, replaced by electronic credits and debits.
- scrutinise verb
To examine or inspect something with great care and attention to detail to find information or errors
Future archaeologists will scrutinise ancient coins to learn about the cultural attitudes of our distant ancestors.
Answers with explanations
- 14. vii
Paragraph A discusses the possibility that coins will one day become **obsolete**, replaced entirely by electronic systems and mathematical formulations. This prediction of them fading from use perfectly matches the heading 'An uncertain future'. Other headings do not capture the paragraph's theme of the long-term viability of physical money.
- 15. xi
Paragraph B explains how future archaeologists will study coins to learn about their distant ancestors and emphasizes that ancient coins act as **documentary evidence** regarding the **events and cultural attitudes** of the past. This makes 'Significant records of past societies' the most appropriate heading for the paragraph.
- 16. v
Paragraph C compares the ancient **barter** system, which required physical goods that could spoil, with the invention of **metal coins**. It notes that coins were **far more portable** and meant traders no longer had to carry heavy or perishable goods. This represents 'A simpler, more efficient way of trading'.
- 17. iv
Paragraph D focuses on how the **intrinsic value** of the metal in the coins was established. It describes how coins were **weighed** or immersed in water (Archimedes' principle) to test their purity and determine their true worth. Therefore, 'Calculating what a coin was worth' correctly summarizes the main idea.
- 18. ii
Paragraph E discusses how Greek city-states used coins not just as money, but as a **symbol of identity**. Because the coins circulated widely, they served as a method for **advertising the qualities** of the city that issued them. 'A form of regional promotion' is the ideal heading to match this concept of marketing a specific region.
- 19. ix
Paragraph F notes that Athenian coins featured designs that were repeated **virtually unaltered** because a **uniform design implied integrity** for an international currency standard. The words 'unaltered' and 'uniform' link to 'Unchanging', while 'integrity' matches 'trustworthiness', making heading ix the correct choice.
- 20. vi
Paragraph G explains that ancient coins started featuring the **portrait** of the reigning monarch or historical leaders. Because of this practice, the facial **features** of many **great Romans have survived** and are known today. This directly aligns with the heading 'Putting a face to famous historical names'.
- 21-22: AC
21: The text states that ancient coins were made by **anonymous craftsmen**. The word 'anonymous' means their names are unknown or unrecorded. This directly supports option A, which states that 'There is no record of the names of the coin makers.'
22: The text explicitly mentions the **endless variety** found in coins that technically shared the **same designs**, attributing this to the fact that new handmade moulds had to be created constantly. This confirms option C, which notes that 'Coins with the same design often looked quite different.'
- 23. civilisation
The summary needs a noun representing what the Greeks formed that was made up of **many city-states**. The passage refers directly to 'Their **civilisation**, which was composed of dozens of city-states'. Therefore, 'civilisation' is the correct one-word answer to fill the gap.
- 24. barter
The text states that **before coins**, the method used for trading was **barter**, which involved directly exchanging physical commodities. The question asks what they had to do trade through before coins, making 'barter' the precise factual and grammatical fit.
- 25. silver
The summary asks what material the Greeks had a plentiful supply of, which they **mined themselves**. The passage states they discovered **silver mines on Greek territory**, giving them the metal they needed to produce money. Thus, 'silver' is the correct completion word.
- 26. inflation
The text mentions that a massive influx of gold later caused the **Spanish** to suffer from serious **inflation**. The summary says the Greeks were able to avoid this specific **problem** that the Spanish encountered. The term defining that economic problem is 'inflation'.