New 12-sided pound coin to enter circulation in March

            The round £1 will be legal alongside the new, more-secure coin until 15 October. The public are being urged to use their current £1 coins or bank them before they lose their legal tender status.The government estimates around a third of the £1.3 billion worth of coins stored in piggy banks or saving jars around the UK are the current £1 style. Some of those returned by the public will be melted down and used to make the 12-sided version.

            The new style was announced in the 2014 budget and has been named by the Royal Mint as "the most secure coin in the world".

            Why the new coin is harder to counterfeit?

• 12-sided - its distinctive shape means it stands out by sight and by touch
• Bimetallic - The outer ring is gold coloured and the inner ring is silver coloured .
• Latent image - it has an image like a hologram that changes from a '£' symbol to the number '1' when the coin is seen from different angles
• Micro-lettering - around the rim on the heads side of the coin tiny lettering reads: ONE POUND. On the tails side you can find the year the coin was produced
• Milled edges - it has grooves on alternate sides
• Hidden high security feature - an additional security feature is built into the coin to protect it from counterfeiting but details have not been revealed

            Its introduction will come as a new set of coin designs are also brought into circulation, celebrating the achievements of Jane Austen and Sir Isaac Newton. The Royal Mint said the new designs have a "strong pioneering theme" and will start appearing this spring.

            A Jane Austen £2 coin will celebrate the author 200 years after her death, while another £2 version will remember the Royal Flying Corps. A 50p coin will mark the achievements of mathematician Sir Isaac Newton, a one-time Master of the Royal Mint.

            Dr Kevin Clancy, director of the Royal Mint Museum, said: "This is a particularly significant year in Royal Mint history as we welcome in the new 12-sided £1 coin, with its innovative security features. This year we also mark the achievements of Jane Austen, Sir Isaac Newton and the Royal Flying Corps - all pioneers in their own field."

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a)     The Royal Mint will use old coins to manufacture the new ones.

b)    People will be able to know when the coin was made.

c)     All the security features will be known by the public.

d)    The Royal Mint will introduce the new coin as part of a collection.

e)     Sir Isaac Newton once belonged to the Royal Mint.

Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

     a)    to encourage (par.1)

     b)    to be distinctive (par. 2)

     c)    edge (par. 2)

     d)    characteristic (par. 5)

     e)     to point out (par. 5)

Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text.

      1.  People can use the old coins...

a)      ...no longer than 15 October.

b)     ...until the new coin is released.

c)      ...even after 15 October.

       2. People are encouraged to...

a)     ...keep their coins stored.

b)    ...use their coins as soon as possible.

c)     ...ask the bank what to do.

       3. People will be able to recognise the new £1 coin because...

a)      ...the rings will have different sizes.

b)     ...both sides will have different patterns.

c)      ...of its weight.

4     4. The new coins...

a)      ...will add new security features.

b)     ...might add new security features.

c)      ...needn't add new security features.

Question 4: [4 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:

                        Advantages and disadvantages of shopping on-line

KEY

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a.  TRUE “Some of those returned by the public will be melted down and used to make the 12-sided version.”

b. TRUE “On the tails side you can find the year the coin was produced”

c. FALSE “an additional security feature is built into the coin to protect it from counterfeiting but details have not been revealed”

d. TRUE “ Its introduction will come as a new set of coin designs are also brought into circulation”

e. TRUE “Sir Isaac Newton, a one-time Master of the Royal Mint.”

Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.

a) (are being) urged / (to) urge

b) (to) stand(s) out

c) rim

d) feature

e) (to) mark

                     

Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text.

1.- a) ...no longer than 15 October.

2.- b)...use their coins as soon as possible.

3.- b)...both sides will have different patterns.

4.- a)...will add new security features.