GMAT新黄金80题及范文(一)c

8. “For hundreds of years, the monetary¹ system of most countries has been based on the exchange of metal coins and printed pieces of paper. However, because of recent developments in technology, the international community should consider replacing the entire system of coins and paper with a system of electronic accounts of credits and debits².”
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
“几百年来，大多数国家的货币制度建立在金属硬币和打印的纸币的交换的基础之上。但是，因为最近技术的发展，国际共同体应该考虑将整个硬币和纸币的系统用存款和贷款的电子帐目系统取代。” 
1.         Intangible currencies are more convenient than its predecessor⁴. 
2.         Tangible³ currencies are safer than its counterparts. 
3.         It is too extreme to let the electronic system replace the tangible system entirely⁵. We can let they two coexist. 
 
Optional words: 
Thesis sentence: while electronic currencies enjoy their own merits, it still can not replace the entire system of tangible currencies.
View1: convenient, efficient and easy to carry are the exclusive advantages of electronic currencies.
Evidence:
View2:tangible currencies such as coin and paper has its own merits and special functions that could not be replaced by electronic currencies.
Evidence: merits: more reliable, more efficient in small sum transaction, more systematically⁶ safe; function: collection  
 
The prospect⁷ of converting the world’s monetary system of metal coins and printed paper into a computerized system of credits and debits is intriguing⁸. Opponents of the idea regard a digital economy as a dangerous step toward a totalitarian society in which an elite⁹ class dominates an information-starved lower class. My view, however, is that conversion¹⁰ to a digital economy has far-reaching economic and social virtues¹² that outweigh¹³ the potential risk of misuse¹⁴ by a political elite.
Supporters of the idea of “digital cash” view the move to a digital economy as the next logical step toward a global system of free trade and competition. Herein (adv. 于此, 在这里) lies the main virtue¹¹ of a digital economy. In facilitating trade among nations, consumers worldwide would enjoy a broader range of goods at more competitive prices.
In addition, a digital economy would afford customers added convenience, while at the same time saving money for businesses. Making purchases with electronic currency would be simple, fast, and secure. There would be no need to carry cash and no need for cashiers to collect it. A good example of the convenience and savings¹⁵ afforded by such a system is the “pay and go” gasoline pump used at many service stations today. Using these pumps saves time for the customer and saves money for the business.
A third benefit of such a system is its potential to eliminate illegal monetary transactions. Traffickers of illegal arms and drugs, dealers¹⁶ in black-market contraband¹⁷, and counterfeiters all rely on tangible currency to conduct their activities. By eliminating hard currency, illegal transactions such as these would be much easier to track and record. As a result, illegal monetary transactions could be virtually eliminated. A related benefit would be the ability to thwart¹⁸ tax evasion¹⁹ by collecting tax revenues on transactions that otherwise would not be recorded.
To sum up, I think it would be a good idea to convert current monetary systems into a system of electronic accounts. The economic benefits, convenience and savings afforded by such a system, along with the potential to reduce crime, far outweigh the remote loss of a significant social or political shift toward totalitarianism.