Dollars and cents are the basic units of American money. The back of all dollar bills are green (hence "greenbacks"). The commonly used coins are: one cent (penny), five cents (nickel), 10 cents (dime), and 25 cents (quarter). 50 pieces (half dollar) and silver dollars (not really silver anymore) are gaining in usage, while there has been talk of phasing out the penny that"s inflation for you. "Always carry plenty of quarters when travelling. Very useful for phones, soda machines, laundry machines, etc."
There is generally no problem in using US dollars in Canada, but this is never possible in reverse.
It"s useful always to carry small change for things like exact fare buses, but do not carry large sums of cash. Instead keep the bulk of your money in travellers" cheques which can be purchased both in the US and abroad and should be in dollar denominations. The best known cheques are those of American Express, so you will have the least difficulty cashing these, even in out of the way places. Thomas Cook travellers" cheques are also acceptable, especially as lost ones can be reclaimed at some car rental companies. Dollar denomination cheques can be used like regular money. There"s no need to cash them at a bank: use them instead to pay for meals, supermarket purchases or whatever. Ten or twenty dollar cheques are accepted like this almost always and you"ll be given change just as though you"d presented the cashier with dollar bills. Be prepared to show I. D. when you cash your cheques.
Credit cards can be even more valuable than travellers" cheques, as they are often used to guarantee room reservations over the phone and are accepted in lieu of deposit when renting a car—indeed without a credit card you may be considered so untrustworthy that not only a deposit but your passport will be held as security too. The major credit cards are VISA, Master Charge and Access, Diners Club and American Express. If you hold a bank card, it could well be worthwhile to increase your credit limit for travel purposes—you should ask your bank manager.
单选题 Why is it useful to carry enough 25-cent coins with you?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查细节关于25美分的用途。根据文章第一段末句“Always carry plenty of quarters when travelling. Very useful for phones, soda machines, laundry machines, etc. ”可以看出D项“它们方便用来打电话和洗衣服”正确。
单选题 It is not necessary to carry cash instead of dollar travellers" cheques because the latter can be ______.
A. used for phones, bus fares and hotel reservations
B. used to pay in restaurants and big stores
C. used like credit cards, even in remote areas
D: exchanged easily, even at ear rental companies
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 根据上下文可以得知文章第三段倒数第三句“There"s no need to cash them at a bank: use them instead to pay for meals, supermarket purchases or whatever. ”中的them是指代cheques,支票可以用以支付旅馆和商店的费用等,所以选B项。
单选题 The phrase "in lieu of" (line 2, paragraph 4 most probably means ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 根据本句破折号后面的内容“indeed without a credit card you may be considered so untrustworthy that not only a deposit but your passport will be held as security too”得知如果没有信用卡出租公司不仅会收取定金还会扣留护照,那么推断出有信用卡的话出租公司就不会另收定金,所以信用卡的作用是代替定金,故选D项。
单选题 Which of the following statements is TRUE?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 根据文章最后一段第一句“Credit cards can be even more valuable than travellers" cheques, as they are often used to...”,可知信用卡比旅行支票更具价值,与A项“信用卡比旅行支票的优势更多”表述一致。
单选题 This passage is most probably taken from ______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查推理能力,从整体来看,文章介绍了货币、支票和信用卡的用途。A项和C项均断章取义;D项强调的是货币,比较片面;只有B项最合适。