2023届高考英语三轮复习·冲刺押题·外刊阅读理解训练 (62)

2023届高考英语三轮复习·冲刺押题 外刊阅读理解训练62 ——改编自The cashless economy 【文章】 A recent development in the world of mobile payments shows that even street-food markets are now embracing digital payment options. According to a report, customers who pay with Apple Pay at one market can receive discounts on their purchases as Apple pays for the transaction fee charged by traders. This indicates a shift towards mobile payments from cash transactions, which still make up 77% of all transactions worldwide and was at 89% in 2013. The trend is led mainly by rich countries with high financial inclusion and small informal economies. Moreover, more-digitized societies tend to lean towards fewer cash transactions. Encouraging the use of contactless payments by installing infrastructure bears fast fruit for merchants and banks. In rich countries, once contactless technology becomes widespread, the number of transactions per card increases by 20-30% within three years. Banks can also accelerate this process by building fast, low-cost systems that enable direct transfers between accounts. Public policies can likewise influence payment habits significantly. For instance, some cities like London and Amsterdam have banned on-board cash payments on public buses. Estonia is a pioneer in digitizing public services. Its residents are comfortable using new technology and sharing data, leading them to favor digital payments over cash. Japan, on the other hand, uses more cash than expected compared to its internet usage due to its credit-card monopoly which discouraged foreign investment in the past. Although many countries have made advances in digital payments, cash is still proving difficult to eradicate entirely. Even in Sweden, where digital payments lead, cash transactions still make up 25%. However, handling cash is expensive, with studies estimating its cost to society at 0.5% of GDP. As more payments become digital, this burden will fall increasingly on fewer stores, shoppers, and banks. If cash-w