People in the UK are using paper money more now than they did before. This is because things cost more and they want to be careful with how much they spend. Before, people used less paper money because they were buying things without touching them, like on the internet, especially when people were sick and stayed home. But stores have to pay more now when people buy things with cards, and they don’t like it.

A group that watches over banks in the UK wants to make new rules. These rules will make sure people can get paper money when they need it. Some places where you can get money are closing, and this is a problem for people who live far away from cities. The group wants to make sure that people don’t have to spend a lot to get their own money and that they can still get money even if some places close.

Even though more people are using paper money right now, in the future, they might use it less. Last year, a lot of people didn’t use paper money much. But it’s still important that people can get paper money because some places to get money are going away. The new rules are trying to help make sure that people who really need paper money can still get it.

Original news source: Shopping with cash rises for first time in a decade (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team will take turns choosing a word or phrase related to the article and acting it out without speaking. The other team will have to guess what the word or phrase is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article. They should try to include the most important information in their summary and present it to the rest of the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of questions related to the article and have students answer them individually. Then, divide the class into small groups and have them discuss their answers. Finally, have each group share their opinions with the rest of the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a vocabulary word from the article. Without using any words, they should draw a picture that represents the word. The rest of the class will try to guess the word based on the drawing. This activity can be done individually or in small groups.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. One team will discuss the pros (advantages) of using paper money, while the other team will discuss the cons (disadvantages). Each team should come up with at least three points to support their argument. After the discussion, have a class debate where each team presents their points and tries to convince the rest of the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are people in the UK using more paper money now?
2. Why did people use less paper money before?
3. Why do stores have to pay more when people buy things with cards?
4. What does the group that watches over banks in the UK want to do?
5. Why is it a problem for people who live far away from cities if places to get money close?
6. Will people use paper money less in the future?
7. Why is it important for people to still be able to get paper money, even if they don’t use it as much?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

People in the UK are using (1)______ money more now than they did before. This is because things cost more and they want to be careful with how much they spend. Before, (2)______ used less paper money because they were buying things without (3)______ them, like on the internet, especially when people were sick and stayed home. But stores have to pay more now when people buy (4)______ with cards, and they don’t (5)______ it.

A group that watches over banks in the UK wants to (6)______ new rules. These rules will make sure people can get paper money when they need it. Some places where you can get money are closing, and this is a problem for people who (7)______ far away from (8)______. The group wants to make sure that people don’t have to spend a lot to get their own (9)______ and that they can still get money even if some places close.

Even though more people are using paper money right now, in the future, they might use it less. Last year, a lot of people didn’t use paper money much. But it’s still (10)______ that people can get paper money because some places to get money are (11)______ away. The new rules are trying to help make sure that people who really (12)______ paper money can still get it.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is paper money and why do people use it?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t get paper money when you needed it?
3. Do you like using paper money or do you prefer using cards? Why?
4. Do you think it’s important for people to have easy access to paper money? Why or why not?
5. What are some reasons why people might use paper money less in the future?
6. How do you think the new rules will help people who need paper money?
7. Have you ever had trouble getting paper money from a bank or ATM? What happened?
8. What would you do if all the places to get paper money in your town closed down?
9. Do you think it’s fair that stores have to pay more when people use cards to buy things? Why or why not?
10. How do you think people can be careful with how much money they spend?
11. Have you ever bought something online? How was your experience?
12. What do you think is the most convenient way to pay for things: paper money, cards, or something else? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. paper money
2. cost
3. careful
4. touch
5. internet
6. sick
7. stores
8. cards
9. rules
10. closing
11. future
12. important

Meanings:
(A) Not feeling well or being healthy
(B) Small plastic cards that you can use to buy things instead of paper money
(C) Something that is very necessary or needed
(D) Special pieces of paper that people use to buy things
(E) Being very cautious and not wasting money
(F) Places where you can buy things in person
(G) How much something costs, or how much money you need to buy it
(H) The time that will come after now
(I) When a place or store is no longer open for business
(J) To feel or hold something with your hands
(K) A place where you can buy things online and talk to people far away
(L) Instructions that tell you what you can and can’t do
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are people in the UK using more paper money now?
(a) Things cost more and they want to be careful with how much they spend.
(b) They prefer using paper money over cards.
(c) They want to support the banks in the UK.
(d) They want to buy things without touching them.

2. Why did people in the UK use less paper money before?
(a) They wanted to save money.
(b) They were buying things without touching them, like on the internet.
(c) They didn’t trust paper money.
(d) They preferred using cards.

3. Why do stores have to pay more when people buy things with cards?
(a) The stores want to encourage people to use paper money.
(b) The government taxes stores for card transactions.
(c) The banks charge stores a fee for each card transaction.
(d) The stores want to discourage people from buying things.

4. What does the group that watches over banks in the UK want to do?
(a) Encourage people to use cards instead of paper money.
(b) Close all the places where people can get money.
(c) Make new rules to ensure people can get paper money when they need it.
(d) Make sure people spend a lot to get their own money.

5. Why is the closing of places where people can get money a problem?
(a) People prefer to use cards instead of getting paper money.
(b) The group that watches over banks wants to save money.
(c) People don’t want to spend money to get their own money.
(d) Some people live far away from cities and can’t easily access these places.

6. What is the group trying to ensure with the new rules?
(a) People don’t have to spend a lot to get their own money and can still get money even if some places close.
(b) People have to spend a lot to get their own money and can’t get money if some places close.
(c) People can only get money if they live in cities.
(d) People can only use cards to buy things.

7. What might happen in the future regarding the use of paper money?
(a) People might use it more.
(b) People might stop using it completely.
(c) People might start using it only in cities.
(d) People might use it less.

8. Why is it still important for people to be able to get paper money?
(a) People prefer using cards over paper money.
(b) Some places to get money are going away.
(c) The government wants to save money.
(d) People want to buy things without touching them.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. It is still important for people to be able to get paper money because some places to get money are disappearing, and the new rules are trying to help those who really need it.
2. Although more people are using paper money now, in the future they might use it more.
3. In the UK, people are using more paper money now than before because things are more expensive and they want to be careful with their spending.
4. The group wants to make sure that people cannot get their own money without spending a lot and even if some places close.
5. A group that watches over banks in the UK does not want to make new rules to ensure that people can get paper money when they need it.
6. Before, people used less paper money because they could buy things online without touching them, especially when they were sick and stayed home.
7. Stores have to pay more when people use cards to buy things, and they don’t like it.
8. Some places where people can get money are closing, which is not a problem for those who live far away from cities.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why are people in the UK using more paper money now?
2. How did people buy things before without using paper money?
3. Why don’t stores like it when people buy things with cards?
4. What problem are people facing if they live far away from cities?
5. Why is it important for people to still be able to get paper money, even if they don’t use it as much in the future?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are people in the UK using more paper money now?
Because things cost more and they want to be careful with how much they spend.

2. Why did people use less paper money before?
Because they were buying things without touching them, like on the internet, especially when people were sick and stayed home.

3. Why do stores have to pay more when people buy things with cards?
Because the stores have to pay fees to the companies that process the card payments.

4. What does the group that watches over banks in the UK want to do?
They want to make new rules to make sure people can get paper money when they need it.

5. Why is it a problem for people who live far away from cities if places to get money close?
Because they would have to travel a long way to get money if the places close, and it would cost them a lot of money and time.

6. Will people use paper money less in the future?
Maybe, because last year a lot of people didn’t use paper money much.

7. Why is it important for people to still be able to get paper money, even if they don’t use it as much?
Because some places to get money are going away, so it’s important that people can still get paper money when they need it.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) paper
(2) people
(3) touching
(4) things
(5) like
(6) make
(7) live
(8) cities
(9) money
(10) important
(11) going
(12) need
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. paper money
Answer: (D) Special pieces of paper that people use to buy things

2. cost
Answer: (G) How much something costs, or how much money you need to buy it

3. careful
Answer: (E) Being very cautious and not wasting money

4. touch
Answer: (J) To feel or hold something with your hands

5. internet
Answer: (K) A place where you can buy things online and talk to people far away

6. sick
Answer: (A) Not feeling well or being healthy

7. stores
Answer: (F) Places where you can buy things in person

8. cards
Answer: (B) Small plastic cards that you can use to buy things instead of paper money

9. rules
Answer: (L) Instructions that tell you what you can and can’t do

10. closing
Answer: (I) When a place or store is no longer open for business

11. future
Answer: (H) The time that will come after now

12. important
Answer: (C) Something that is very necessary or needed
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are people in the UK using more paper money now?
Answer: (a) Things cost more and they want to be careful with how much they spend.

2. Why did people in the UK use less paper money before?
Answer: (b) They were buying things without touching them, like on the internet.

3. Why do stores have to pay more when people buy things with cards?
Answer: (c) The banks charge stores a fee for each card transaction.

4. What does the group that watches over banks in the UK want to do?
Answer: (c) Make new rules to ensure people can get paper money when they need it.

5. Why is the closing of places where people can get money a problem?
Answer: (d) Some people live far away from cities and can’t easily access these places.

6. What is the group trying to ensure with the new rules?
Answer: (a) People don’t have to spend a lot to get their own money and can still get money even if some places close.

7. What might happen in the future regarding the use of paper money?
Answer: (d) People might use it less.

8. Why is it still important for people to be able to get paper money?
Answer: (b) Some places to get money are going away.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. It is still important for people to be able to get paper money because some places to get money are disappearing, and the new rules are trying to help those who really need it. (Answer: True)
2. Although more people are using paper money now, in the future they might use it more. (Answer: False)
3. In the UK, people are using more paper money now than before because things are more expensive and they want to be careful with their spending. (Answer: True)
4. The group wants to make sure that people cannot get their own money without spending a lot and even if some places close. (Answer: False)
5. A group that watches over banks in the UK does not want to make new rules to ensure that people can get paper money when they need it. (Answer: False)
6. Before, people used less paper money because they could buy things online without touching them, especially when they were sick and stayed home. (Answer: True)
7. Stores have to pay more when people use cards to buy things, and they don’t like it. (Answer: True)
8. Some places where people can get money are closing, which is not a problem for those who live far away from cities. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧