Jarden Zinc (锌) Products, a large zinc plant a few miles outside Greeneville, Tennessee, has a special claim. Since 1982, it has been the only supplier of penny blanks for the U. S. Mint (铸币厂). It's a good business for Jarden—since 2000, the company has earned more than $ 800 million. But it may not be a good deal for the U. S.
The value of the penny has been dropping for years.
In 2006, it began to cost more than a penny to make a penny. It now costs 2 ¢ to produce a 1 ¢coin. Many countries have stopped using pennies. Is it time for the U. S. to do the same?
Jarden and the zinc industry are fighting to keep the penny. Since 2006, Jarden has given $1.2 million to Americans for Common Cents (ACC). The group' s mission is to keep the penny in use. Mark Weller is ACC' s executive director. He argues that there are three main reasons for keeping the penny: Without it, we would become more reliant on the five-cent coin, which also has problems: charities(慈善机构)that depend on penny drives would not be able to raise as much money: and a 2012 survey shows that 67% of Americans want to keep the penny.
Many people surveyed said they feared they would end up paying more for products.
Many experts disagree with ACC. They point to the dozens of countries that have gotten rid of their lowest-value coins without raising prices for consumers. And charities don' t seem too concerned either.
President Barack Obama says the mint could explore using cheaper metals to make pennies. Steel is less expensive than zinc. Pennies are 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. But no matter what it is made of, the penny's days may be numbered. Most in-store purchases are now made with credit cards, not cash. Is it time for a change?
【答案解析】解析:由第三段第三句“The group’s mission is to keep the penny in use.”可知该组织 的任务就是维护1分硬币的流通。故选D。
单选题
The penny coin is mainly made of______
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析:由最后一段第三句“Pennies are 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.”可看出1分硬 币由97.5%的锌和2.5%的铜制成。故选D。
单选题
What does the sentence "the penny' s days may be numbered" in the last paragraph probably mean?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析:最后一段第四句讲到“But no matter what it is made of,the penny’s days may be numbered.”,number作为动词,意为“给……编号”,此处为被动语态,意思是使用1分硬币的日子 是可以数得过来的,即“快要到来”的意思。故选A。
单选题
According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析:A项意为“贾登公司是美国铸币厂铸造美分材料的唯一供货商”,表述正确;B 项意为“大多数美国人同意继续使用1分硬币”,文中调查报告显示67%的美国人支持,表述正确; C项意为“许多美国人害怕禁止1分硬币流通的结果是需要花更多的钱去购买商品”,表述正确;D 项意为“美国铸币厂花费2.4美分去铸造一枚1分硬币”,但第二段第三句讲到“It now costs 2 ¢ to produce a 1 ¢ coin.”说的是铸造1美分硬币的成本为2美分,故表述错误,答案选D。