Nearly everyone agrees that money doesnt 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 ones hands. Inflation eats away at its buying power just as the steady appetite of waves chews at sand cliffs. But what about coins that seem to do very little except wear out your purses and pockets? Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valuable the longer it is held, especially if it is put away where it wont 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 struck 19,570 silver dollars. That is what its records show. Today only six of this original number remain and these are unlikely ever to reach the auction 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 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 . 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.
26. It can be inferred from passage that_______.
A. money buys as much as it did before
B. money does not buy as much as it did before
C. paper money buys more than metal money
D. metal money buys more than paper money
27. Which of the following is TRUE of a coin?
A. The longer it is held, the less valuable it becomes.
B. The more it wears out, the more valuable it becomes.
C. The less it gets scratched, the less it values.
D. The longer it lasts, the more it values.
28. According to this passage, one of the rarest coins in the world is made of A. silver B. gold
C. copper D. paper
29. Coins become more valuable because_______.
A. they wear out your purses and pockets
B. the price of metal goes up
C. they fall more readily into a category for collectors due to their duration
D. both B and C
30. What really happened to some 19,564 large silver coins?
A. They were melted down. B. They were sunk in the Gulf of Mexico.
C. It is still a mystery. D. They were stolen by pirates.
上一篇: 大学英语四六级考试阅读提高的练习(1)
下一篇: 大学英语四六级考试阅读提高的练习(20)
体坛英语资讯:Federers stomach bug gives rivals a lift
体坛英语资讯:Spurs cruise past McGrady-less Rockets
体坛英语资讯:Yao for MVP already?
体坛英语资讯:Nothing guaranteed in group of death
体坛英语资讯:Brazil wins right to host 2014 World Cup
体坛英语资讯:China sweeps womens top three at Xiamen marathon
体坛英语资讯:Bucks finish preseason with loss to Timberwolves
体坛英语资讯:Nalbandian tames Nadal again in Paris final
美国和俄罗斯的关系从重启走向倒退
体坛英语资讯:Hingis dope tests may never be revealed
体坛英语资讯:We are one big happy family
体坛英语资讯:Totti denies considering Italy return
体坛英语资讯:Female Yao a head above the rest
体坛英语资讯:McClaren: Successor will benefit from my flop
体坛英语资讯:England fails to qualify for Euro 2008
体坛英语资讯:Diving champ marries pop singer
体坛英语资讯:China names Frances Elisabeth as coach
体坛英语资讯:China trounces Singapore 7-1 in AFC U-19
体坛英语资讯:Xing Huina Redemption: Marathoner looks to US coach for second chance
体坛英语资讯:Beijing preparing for ATP 500 Series tour in 2009
体坛英语资讯:Nadal reaches Shanghai semis with Ferrers help
体坛英语资讯:McGrady leads Rockets past Jazz 106-95
体坛英语资讯:Nadal eyes Australian Open despite Chennai thrashing
体坛英语资讯:Federer back on track, Roddick into semis
体坛英语资讯:Sampras upstages Federer in exhibition
体坛英语资讯:Gonzalez stuns Federer in round-robin in Shanghai
体坛英语资讯:French drive plus local nous to revive women
体坛英语资讯:Li storms to victory in Aussie hardcourt final
体坛英语资讯:CBA struggling to find TV audience
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Li Na makes strong start to season