Question

B

   Nearly everyone agrees that money doesn't buy as much as it used to， no matter where you want to spend it. This is certainly true of the paper money that passes so quickly through one's hands. Inflation steadily eats away at its buying power. But what about coins that seem to do very little except wearing out your purses and pockets? Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valua?ble the longer it is held, especially if it is put away where it won't get scratched or worn. Why is this? One reason is that coins, being more durable? fall more readily into a category for collectors. Naturally, the rarer gold pieces must become more valuable as the price of this metal goes up.

   But, curiously, one of the rarest coins in the world is not made of gold, but of the relatively cheaper silver. In 1804， the United States mint(造币厂) struck 19,570 silver dollars. That is what its records show. Today only six of this original number remain and these six are unlikely ever to reach the auction (拍卖)market. So what happened to some 19,564 large silver coins, not the easiest sort of things to lose? One of the more romantic theories is that they were part of the payment to Napoleon(拿破仑)for the American territory then known as Louisiana. But they never reached France. Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship transporting them was sunk, either by a storm or by pirates(海盗).The probable answer to the mystery is that they were melted down since the silver value„was greater than the actual value of the coin. What really happened to the rest will probably always remain a mystery. What is known is that whoever can come up with one will find himself instantly rich.

6.People agree that paper money buys __ •

A. as much as it used to B.  less than it used to

C. more than it used to D.  nearly as much as it used to

7.The value of coins ___                    .

A.increases with time

B.increases when they are worn out

C.never changes

D.decreases with time

8.One of the rarest coins in the world is made of _____        .

A. gold               B.  silver       C. nickel    D. alloy

9.Something happened to the other silver dollars. Which of the following an?swers is TRUE?

A.They went to France.

B.They went down with a ship in bad weather.

C.They were melted down.

D.Nobody knows the truth.

10.The best title of the passage should be •

A. The value of money   B. Paper money

C. Metal money       D, Coin collecting

Answer 1

 6. B

7. A 细节理解题。由第一段中的"Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valuable the longer it is held, espe?cially if it is put away where it won't get scratched or worn."可知，答案为A项。

  8. B

9. D 细节理解题。由第二段的倒数第二句"What really happened to the rest will probably always remain a mys-tery."可知，答案为D项。

10. C主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章主要讲述的是金属货币，特别是银币。