![](https://lstatic.shangxueba.com/jiandati/pc/images/pc_jdt_tittleico.png)
he gold standard created a free exchange rate system as each country pegged the value
![](https://lstatic.shangxueba.com/jiandati/pc/images/jdt_panel_vip.png)
Not only is gold beautiful, but it is virtually indestructible. It will not rust or corrode; gold coins and products fabricated from the metal have survived undamaged for centuries. Gold is extremely easy to work with; one ounce, which is about the size a cube of sugar, can be beaten into a sheet nearly 100 square feet in size, and becomes so thin that light passes through it , an ounce of gold can also be stretched into a wire 50 miles long. Gold conducts electricity better than any other substance except copper and silver, and it is particularly important in the modern electronics industry.
People have always longed to possess gold. Unfortunately, this longing has also brought out the worst in the human character. The Spanish conquistadors robbed palaces, temples, and graves and killed thousands of Indians in their ruthless search for gold. Often the only rule in young California during the days of the gold rush was exercised by the mob with a rope. Even today, the economic running of South Africa's gold mines depends largely on the employment of black laborers who are paid about-40 a month, plus room and board and who must work in conditions that can only be described as cruel. About 400 miners are killed in mine accidents in South Africa each year, or one for every two tons of gold produced.
Great Britain was the first country to adopt the gold standard, when the Master of the Mint, Sir Isaac Newton. established a fixed price for gold in 1717. But until the big discoveries of gold in the last half of the nineteenth century-starting in California in 1848 and later in Australia and South Africa-there simply wasn't enough gold around for all the trading nations to link their currencies to the precious metal.
Historically, the desire to hoard gold at home has been primarily an occupation of the working and peasant classes, I who have no faith in paper money. George Bernard Shaw defended their instincts eloquently:" You have to choose between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the government," he said, "and with due respect to these gentlemen, I advise you.., to vote for gold."
Until the big gold discoveries in the late nineteenth century ______.
A.most nations adopted the gold standard
B.the trading nations were unable to get enough gold
C.gold coins were used by most nations
D.gold ceased to be an important metal
People have always longed to possess gold. Unfortunately, this longing has also brought out the worst in the human character. The Spanish conquistadores robbed palaces, temples and graves, and killed thousands of Indians in their ruthless search for gold. Often the only rule in young California during the days of the gold rush was exercised by the mob with a rope. Even today, the economic running of South Africa's gold mines depends largely on the employment of black labourens who are paid about 40 a month, plus room and board, and who must work in conditions that can only be described as cruel. About 400 miners are killed in mine accidents in South Africa each year, or one for every two tons of gold produced.
Much of gold's value lies in its scarcity. Only about 80,000 tons have been mined in the history of the world. All of it could be stored in a vault 60 feet square, or a supertanker.
Great Britain was the first country to adopt the gold standard, when the Master of Mint, Sir Isaac Newton, established a fixed price for gold in 1717. But until the big discoveries of gold in the last half of the nineteenth century — starting in California in 1848 and later in Australia and South Africa — there simply wasn't enough gold around for all the trading nations to link their currencies to the precious metal.
An out-of-work prospector named George Harrison launched South Africa into the gold age in 1886 when he discovered the metal on a farm near what is now Johannesburg. Harrison was given a 12 reward by the farmer. He then disappeared and reportedly was eaten by a lion.
Historically, the desire to hoard gold at home has been primarily an occupation of the working and peasant classes, who have no faith in paper money. George Bernard Shaw defended their instincts eloquently: "You have to choose between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the government", he said, "and with due respect to these gentlemen, I advise you to vote for gold."
It can be inferred from the passage that during the days of the gold-rush in California ______ .
A.people had to mark out their gold claims with a rope
B.people carried ropes instead of guns
C.hanging was a common form. of punishment
D.the rope was the symbol of law and order
United States adopted gold standard in 1867.
A.Y
B.N
C.NG
The gold exchange standard differs from the gold standard in that ______.
A.it does not establish a generally accepted international medium of exchange
B.it establishes no relationship between the value of a given currency and the value of gold
C.the relationship it established between the value of any currency and the value of gold is indirect rather than direct
D.it is a two-tiered rather than a single-tiered system
The gold standard is ______.
A.the average price of gold on the world market
B.a basis for determining the value of currency
C.the amount of gold required by a nation before its currency can be made convertible
D.a means of determining the quality of gold
The abolition of the gold standard in U.S.was resulted from______。
A.the decline of the purchasing power of the U.S.dollar
B.policy of deflation
C.the decreased value of gold
D.the Depression
为了保护您的账号安全,请在“简答题”公众号进行验证,点击“官网服务”-“账号验证”后输入验证码“”完成验证,验证成功后方可继续查看答案!