HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · PROFICIENCY (C2)

A CASHLESS
SOCIETY
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D worksheet

Expemo code:
1FTU-Z1L1-397

1 Warm up

Discuss the following questions.

1. How often do you use cash to pay for things?

2. What are the potential disadvantages of only using digital forms of

payment?

3. Do you believe that physical currency will become obsolete in the

future?

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2 Focus on vocabulary
Match the words and phrases with the correct
definitions.

1. digitally marginalized a. referring to individuals or groups who are

(adj.) excluded or disadvantaged in the digital realm
2. personal liberties b. causes or initiates a specific response or action
(n)
3. encryption c. the act of ensuring the security of something or
(n) someone
4. biometrics d. individual freedoms and rights that are
(n) protected by law
5. safeguarding e. the process of changing electronic information into
(n) a secret code
6. gulf f. the use of detailed information about someone’s
(n) body in order to prove who they are
7. triggers g. the state of being susceptible to harm,
(v) damage, or exploitation
8. contingency plans h. an important difference between the ideas,
(n) opinions, or situations
9. vulnerability i. preparations made in advance to respond to
(n) unexpected or
adverse events

3 Listening for specifi c informati on

You will hear a podcast entitled, "The Future of Finance". Match information from the audio to
the corresponding statements provided below.

11% 30% 6%

1. 6% The predicted use of cash by 2031.

2.
30% The increase in contactless payment since 2020.
11%
3. Adults in the US who have stopped using cash.

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4 Listening for comprehension

Listen to the report again and answer the questions true (T) or false
(F).
1. A cashless society will bridge the gap of financial inclusion. F - "...it has the potential to either bridge or widen the gap of
financial inclusion."

2. People who access

T – "Without do not
to thestay up-to-date
necessary technology orwith
digital certain
literacy, theytechnological advancements
risk being left behind risk being forgotten.
in this digital transformation."

3. Financial interactions
F – "...financial transactionsare recorded recorded
are meticulously inattentively by different institutions.
and monitored."

4. There are fears

F – "Ensuring that of
the security financial bodies
personal and will
financial be leftis open
information to concern."
a growing cybercrime.

5. People
T – "Thismight
ease of become inclined
payment might to increase
lead to increased their expenses more than normal.
spending."

6.T –Catastrophic
"Natural disastersevents
or systemmight
failures require
can disruptpeople to revert
digital payment to highlighting
networks, cash. the importance of having contingency plans and backup systems
in place."

5 Scanning for vocabulary

You are going to read an article about groups who might suffer from the move to digital
payment methods (page four). Find the words or phrases which mean the same as the following.

Group 1:

1. ditch
(v, para. 1): get rid of or abandon

2. racked up1): accumulated or gathered something

(v, para.

3. eclipsing
(v, para. 2): surpassing or overshadowing something

4. steadfast
(adj., para. 2): firm and unwavering

5. myriad
(adj., para. 2): countless or innumerable

6. burgeoning
(adj., para. 2): developing quickly

Group 2:

1. vulnerable
(adj., para. 3): susceptible to harm or damage

2. spiral (v, para. 3): gets worse in a way that becomes more and
more difficult to control
3. skeptics
(n, para. 4): individuals who doubt or question something

4. embittered
(adj., para. 4): angry at having been treated unfairly

5. slumped
(v, para. 5): sank or dropped suddenly

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The Digital Payment Revolution

Fears that a cashless society will leave some groups
behind

1. There have long been concerns that older an independent body of experts, wants
people will suffer as we ditch coins and cash and access to cash to be preserved for
notes, but other groups, such as tourists, as long as people need it. "We can see that it
may also be affected. Armando Bordalo e is a vital payment method for people in a
Sá planned ahead before coming to London range of vulnerable situations." A report
for a trip this summer, exchanging euros for last year from the Royal Society of Arts (RSA)
sterling at a good rate to pay for meals, found that more than 10 million people in
tickets to events, and other expenses. But by Britain would struggle to live in a cashless
the end of his short trip, much of it went society, with many losing control of their
unused, because so many places no longer finances and seeing debts spiral.
4. In London, where an increasing number of
accept cash, and he had racked up a series
services no longer take cash, many older
of unwanted charges from his bank.
people feel increasingly embittered. "In
Returning to Portugal, he found his bank
bigger cities, many are falling behind even
had charged him a 4% fee for "international
faster due to the accelerated speed in
services", as well as additional taxes on any
which many businesses are progressing
debit card transactions he had made. Had
toward a cash- free model," says Abigail
he known this beforehand, he might well
2. The convenience of digital transactions has Wood of Age UK London. "Many older people
have made other plans. "It is indeed a fine
become irresistible for consumers and view cash as the most reliable and
way for banks to profit," he says.
businesses and has led to the sector eclipsing straightforward way to pay, as well as
traditional payment methods. The steadfast an effective means of managing their
march of technology has produced myriad weekly budget when money is extremely
innovative platforms, each vying for a piece tight – as it is for the majority now."
of this burgeoning market. Figures from Another group, "cashless skeptics", tend to
banking body UK Finance show that almost 5. The UK is leading the shift towards a cashless
be older and have concerns about fraud and
half of all payments were made with debit society along with some Scandinavian
may find technology difficult to use, says
cards in 2021, with newer ways of paying countries, while Italy and Germany are still
Hall.
set to almost completely overtake cash high cash users, says Graham Mott of Link,
within a decade. "We expect usage to the ATM network. Figures from the
continue to fall, with cash predicted to company show withdrawals in some parts of
account for only 6% of all payments made London slumped by 60% in the four years to
in the UK by 2031," it says. But with the last May. There are limitations to how far
3. Sian Williams, vice-chair of the Financial
shift has come growing concern about cashless payments can stretch, however, as
Inclusion Commission, says that taking
groups who still want to use cash. online payments can fail, he says. "Most
part in activities important to you costs
people will go out with some cash, or at least
more. "And that is another aspect of the
have some at home as a contingency," he
‘poverty premium’ for millions of people Sources: The Guardian, The
says. "It is important that cash access
every day in this country," she says. The Conversation
remains."
commission,

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6 Reading comprehension

Complete the following sentences with ONE to THREE words from the
article.

1. Armando Bordalo e Sá accumulated a string ofunwanted charges on his

bank card.

2. Consumers and businesses find the allure of digital transactions impossible to resist
convenience
due to their
growing .concerns

3. The shift has sparked about groupsaccess to cash

who still prefer to
use cash.

4. The Financial Inclusion Commission advocates for the preservation of

effective means
leading the shift
for as long as there is a need.

5. Many elderly people see cash as an of managing their

spending.

7 6. Alongside
Language some
point: other European
inverted countries,
third conditi onalthe UK is
towards a digital economy.
Part A: Look at this sentence, taken from the reading
exercise.

Had he known this beforehand, he might well have made other plans.

• In the third conditional, you typically have the following structure:

If + past perfect (had + past participle), would have + past participle

• In the inverted third conditional, you get rid of "if" and invert the order of
"had" and the subject. Here is how to form it:

Had + subject + past participle, would have + past participle

Regular Third Conditional →If I had studied harder, I would have passed the

exam. Inverted Third Conditional→Had I studied harder, I would have passed the

exam.

• The inverted third conditional can be especially useful when you want to
emphasize the result or the hypothetical outcome first before
stating the condition that didn’t happen. It is more formal than its
traditional counterpart.

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Part B: Now, change these conditional sentences so that they are

inverted.

1. He would have been on time if he hadn’t missed the

train.he not missed the train, he would have been on time.
Had

2. Had
Theythey
would have enjoyed
bought the concert
tickets, they if theyenjoyed
would have had bought
the concert.
tickets.

Had she known about it, she would have visited the museum.
3. She would have visited the museum if she had known
about it.
Had you travelled to Italy, you would have tried the local cuisine.
4. You would have tried the local cuisine if you had
travelled
Had to Italy.up all night, we would have seen the sunrise
we stayed

5. We would have seen the sunrise if we had stayed up all

8 Speaking:
night. roleplay

Part A:. In pairs or groups of three, read through the conversation.

A: You know, I really think this shift to a cashless society is great. It’s so much easier –
no need to carry cash
anymore.
B:Well, I understand the convenience, but I worry about the older generation, like me.
We’re not all so tech-savvy.
A: True, but there are apps and digital wallets that make it easy. And you can track
your spending more efficiently.
B: That’s true, but what if the power goes out or there’s a glitch? Cash never lets you
down, even in an emergency.
A: But with the rise in online shopping, digital payments are essential. It’s efficient –
you can’t fight the future.
B: Efficiency is great, but I cherish the physicality of money. It’s tangible, and it helps
me keep a close eye on my
expenses.
A: I get it, but the world’s evolving. It’s time for us to embrace the digital age and enjoy
the ease it brings.
B: I’ll try, but I just hope we don’t leave behind those who still rely on cash, especially
the older folks.
A:We should ensure there’s a balance, catering to everyone’s needs. But let’s not deny
the simplicity that digital
payments offer.
B: I agree; there has to be a balance. We can’t forget the value of cash, even in this
digital era.
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Part B: Using the conversation above as a reference, practise the conversation below in pairs.
After completing the conversation, switch roles.

Student A is a citizen’s rights advocate. You are a passionate champion of

citizens’ rights and privacy. You believe that the move towards a cashless society
could infringe on people’s privacy, especially those who are not technologically
proficient. You think the government should prioritize protecting individuals’
financial data. You need to express your concerns to Student B.

Student B is a high-ranking government official, responsible for the country’s

financial policies. You are a proponent of the move towards a cashless
society, believing it will enhance transparency, reduce tax evasion, and
modernize the economy. You hope to convince Student A that the move will
benefit everyone by making payments quicker and easier.

9 Opti onal extension: taboo

Read the instructions and then play the game. Players are divided into two teams. Each team
takes turns being the ‘clue-giving’ team and the ‘guessing’ team. The game involves a set of cards,
with each card having one main word or phrase that needs to be guessed and a list of taboo
words that cannot be used when giving clues.

For example, the main word might be ‘tiger,’ and the words you are not allowed to use are
‘animal’ and ‘stripes.’

tiger

anim

al

stripe

s
On a team’s turn, one player is the clue-giver. They draw a card and try to get their teammates
to guess the main word or phrase without using any of the taboo words listed on the card. They
have a limited amount of time to do this.

If the guessing team correctly guesses the main word, they earn a point. If they use a taboo
word or phrase, the opposing team receives a point. Teams take turns being the clue-givers, and
the game continues until a set number of rounds have been completed or until all the words on
the cards have been guessed.

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