APIEDigital Currencies and the Future of Money
Digital currencies and the future of money
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Digital Currencies and the Future of Money 💳
Explore modern financial terms, examine how digital transactions operate, and practice speaking with interactive shadowing.
💡 How to use this lesson
👨🏫 For the teacher:
Guide students through the word table first, then allow 10 minutes for practice exercises.
Check answers together using the provided keys and give oral feedback on pronunciation.
🧑🎓 For the learner:
Read the word list and memory tips carefully before starting the activities.
Complete the 16 practice questions, then record yourself repeating the sentences in the shadowing section.
Sentence Pattern Example
"Some people regard digital money as the future, while others see it as a passing fashion."
Why this works: It contrasts two opposing viewpoints smoothly in a single balanced sentence using "while".
Section 1: Word Table
Study these 10 core C1 words organized under three practical themes.
Theme 1: Money and how it works
| Word | Meaning | Common collocations | Word forms | Example sentence | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| blockchain | A shared digital ledger that securely records transactions across a network | public blockchain, blockchain network | – | Every transaction is recorded on a secure public blockchain. | Picture a chain made of digital blocks, each one linked to the one before. |
| token | A digital unit of value issued on a system representing an asset or access right | crypto token, utility token, issue tokens | – | Visitors paid with a utility token to enter the online game. | Think of a plastic subway token converted into digital code. |
| banknote | A piece of official paper money issued by a central bank | paper banknote, issue banknotes | – | She paid for her coffee with a ten-pound banknote. | Bank + Note = A paper note directly from the bank. |
| denomination | The face value or stated amount on a currency bill or coin | new denomination, currency denomination | – | A central bank can issue a new denomination of money. | Nominate means name; denomination is the named value of money. |
Theme 2: Risk and value
| Word | Meaning | Common collocations | Word forms | Example sentence | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| volatile | Likely to change suddenly and unpredictably | volatile market, highly volatile | volatility (n) | Crypto prices operate in a volatile market that shifts fast. | Sounds like 'volcano' — likely to explode at any moment! |
| speculation | Buying assets hoping for quick profit while risking financial loss | financial speculation, market speculation | speculate (v) | Experts said the sudden rise in prices was caused by speculation, not by real demand. | Speculate comes from 'spectate' — watching for quick gains. |
| inflation | A general rise in prices that lowers the buying power of money | high inflation, curb inflation | inflate (v) | High inflation can reduce the value of paper money over time. | Think of inflating a balloon until prices get bigger and bigger. |
Theme 3: Trust and control
| Word | Meaning | Common collocations | Word forms | Example sentence | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tamper | To alter or interfere with data without permission | tamper with, tamper-proof | – | It is very hard to tamper with records on a safe digital ledger. | Tamper rhymes with "scamper": someone sneaks in and changes things. |
| hoard | To store up and hide away large amounts of money or goods | hoard cash, hoard assets | hoarder (n) | Some people hoard cash when they fear economic trouble ahead. | Rhymes with 'board' — hiding money under floorboards! |
| custody | The legal protective care and safekeeping of financial assets | asset custody, take custody | – | Banks offer custody services to keep digital assets safe from loss. | Custody is what a custodian does: keeping valuables safe. |
Section 2: Practice Exercises
Complete these 16 practice tasks progressing from basic collocations to advanced word formation.
🧩 Items 1–4: Collocation Matrix
Match each action verb on the left to its most natural noun partner on the right.
Verb 1 of 4
Verb 2 of 4
Verb 3 of 4
Verb 4 of 4
✏️ Items 5–8: Context Gap-fills
Fill in each blank using one exact word from the word bank below.
Item 5
Person A: "Did you pay with cash?"
Person B: "No, I spent a digital
____
to access the platform."
Item 6
Person A: "Why did the driver refuse my $100 bill?"
Person B: "They only accept notes with a small
____
for minor fares."
Item 7
In times of financial panic, anxious citizens tend to ____ physical assets rather than spend them.
Item 8
The investor chose a regulated service to guarantee safe ____ of her digital holdings.
🎯 Items 9–12: Choose the Word
Select the single option that fits the exact meaning of the sentence. All three options are words from this unit.
Item 9
Analysts warn that new market prices remain exceptionally ___, undergoing rapid swings within hours.
Item 10
Observers noted that the price surge was driven mainly by market ___, rather than genuine adoption.
Item 11
Engineers updated the database structure so that outside intruders cannot ___ with transaction logs.
Item 12
Central banks monitor rising rates of ___ to prevent traditional cash from losing purchasing power.
🔤 Items 13–16: Word Formation
Complete each sentence by transforming the base word into its correct form (write one word).
High market ____ makes conservative investors hesitant to hold digital assets.
Active traders often ____ on short-term movements to make quick returns.
If central banks create excessive money, they may inadvertently ____ the money supply.
The collector was known as a private ____ who accumulated gold without spending it.
Section 3: Shadowing Practice
Listen to the audio prompt, click record, and repeat out loud to improve your rhythm and pronunciation.
🎙️ Part A: Key Collocations (4 items)
volatile market
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____crypto token
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____paper banknote
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____asset custody
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____🗣️ Part B: Natural Sentences (6 items)
"High inflation can reduce the value of paper money over time."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"It is very hard to tamper with records on a safe digital ledger."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"Some people hoard cash when they fear economic trouble ahead."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"Banks offer custody services to keep digital assets safe from loss."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"A central bank can issue a new denomination of money."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____"Every transaction is recorded on a secure public blockchain."
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____📢 Part C: Focus Pronunciation Words (2 items)
volatile
IPA: /ˈvɒlətaɪl/ (US: /ˈvɑːlətl/)
[Bài tập luyện nói]
____speculation
IPA: /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃn/
[Bài tập luyện nói]
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