The Mbuti people of Congo live deep in an African forest. The forest takes care of most of their needs. The men hunt for game there is different from what you would find in American forests, including such animals as elephants and monkeys. The women gather plants and nuts and also catch insects and fish.
The Mbuti also need things that they cannot find in the forest. To get these things, they trade with farmers who live in villages just beyond the forest. They give the farmers meat, and in exchange the farmers give the Mbuti crops, tools, and cloth.
Before the invention of money, people received goods and services by trading in this way. Such trading is called barter. Even though we have money, we still sometimes use barter. When you trade baseball cards with a friend, you are bartering. You are also bartering if you offer to let your brother play your CDs, if he takes your turn washing the dishes. Of course, we mostly use money to get the things we need. The Mbuti, on the other hand, must barter for things they cannot find in their forest.
1. The Mbuti trade with farmers to get _________.
A. barter B. monkeys C. cloth
2. The story does not say so, but it makes you think that _________.
A. the Mbuti don't have money
B. the Mbuti hunt for deer
C. the Mbuti don't get along with their neighbors
3. People who trade baseball cards _________.
A. don't have any money
B. live like the Mbuti
C. are bartering
4. On the whole, this story is about _________.
A. how the Mbuti get the things they need
B. the animals that live in the African forest
C. everyday life in the Congo
5. Why do the Mbuti barter with farmers?
A. They cannot get everything they need in the forest.
B. The farmers don't know how to hunt.
C. They like to have a reason to get together with their neighbors.
Note:barter 物物交换;易货贸易
参考答案:1—5 CACAA