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Money

The ancestor of the monetary system is of course the barter system. A farmer could trade his produce for the fish obtained by a fisherman or the cloth produced by a weaver. Even today the barter system tends to come back into style in places suffering from social breakdown, or as an informal sideline activity in more harmonious lands. However, trying to reach agreement over the relative value of different things tends to be time-consuming and vexing, and so societies tended to converge towards a common medium of exchange. Pacific islanders used shells; Aztecs used cacao beans, the main ingredient of chocolate. Livestock was common among herding cultures; slaves were sometimes used, too, but they were much harder to control than cattle and so not as popular; and many cultures used salt, including the Romans for a time- hence, the modern term "salary". Incidentally, after World War II cigarettes were used as a medium of exchange in many countries then in very poor condition, and it is said that in Italy “penny candy” was commonly used as “small change” even into the 1970s.

The medium that gradually gained widespread acceptance was precious metals such as gold and silver. Coins are said to have been invented by the Lydians, a people of Asia Minor, sometime after 640 BC. They used stamped ingots of "electrum", a naturally occurring amalgam of silver and gold. The scheme was refined by King Croesus, ruler of Lydia from 560 to 546 BCE, who introduced coins of true gold. He is still identified with wealth in the expression "rich as Croesus". The introduction of coinage was a great boon for traders, simplifying transactions and allowing them to be conducted more smoothly over long distances.

[1] Coinage also helped support far-flung empires; the Roman Empire was built on silver and gold coins, as well as military victories. As the empire expanded, the expenditures of the state led to the debasement of the coins, beginning with an act of the Emperor Nero in 64 A.D. By the end of his reign, the silver content of Roman coins had shrunk by 10%. [2] Other emperors followed his example, and over 200 years from the start of the process, the content shrank to 5%. The coins’ buying power fell accordingly.

[3] Coins are still with us, though they are now little more than tokens made of non-precious metals. [4] Few countries still use silver or gold coins as anything other than collector's items.

The word vexing in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to_______

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If I had gone to the party last night, I ________tired now.

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In some countries, octopuses (A) and snail are considered(B) being(C) great delicacies to eat.(D)

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The skin receives nearly (A) the (B) third of the blood pumped(C) out by(D) the heart.

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I love that _______ antique car that always parked at the end of the street.

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Graduate students often spend their weekends_______data for their research.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blank from 52 to 61. Fill in the appropriate word in question 60

Tomatoes – the whole truth

Leading scientists have (52)_________ that tomatoes can be of great benefit to our health. A lot of research has been (53)________ out in recent years. It’s the whole tomato (54)_________  may lower cancer risks, not individual compounds, (55)___________ to new research. Experts have discovered that taking the antioxidant lycopene – (56)________ is found in tomatoes, but is increasingly popular (57)_________ a health food suppplement because of its link to a reduced risk of cancer – did not work as (58)_________ as eating whole tomatoes. Scientists believe people (59)________ eat them in pastas, salads, tomato juice and pizza. Recent finding suggests that the risks (60)_________ poor eating habits cannot be reserved with a pill. We shouldn’t (61)________ easy solutions to a complex problem.

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Coral reefs(A) are limestone formations(B) composed of tiny sea organisms(C) and the remains.(D)

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It is likely(A) that everyone in Vietnam has(B) his own(C) house and car by(D) 2050.

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What a beautiful skirt you are wearing! It matches your blouse. James: __________. My sister bought it for me last month

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A customs union is an organization of autonomous country that agree that international trade between member states is free of restrictions.

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The point at which pain becomes intolerable is known as the pain perception threshold.

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The government has_______a lot of criticism over the decision.

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The raw materials present in sugar beet________make sugar.

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Foods of animal origin(A) generally supply greatest (B) amounts(C) of iron to the diet than do foods of(D) plant origin.

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Nondurable goods________immediate use and are often less expensive than durable goods.