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BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

A CASHLESS
SOCIETY
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1 Warm up

Discuss the following questions.

1. How often do you use cash to pay for things?

2. What are the potential disadvantages of only using digital forms of payment?

3. Do you believe that physical currency will become obsolete in the future?

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2 Focus on vocabulary

Match the words and phrases with the correct definitions.

Group A:

1. digitally marginalised (adj.) a. referring to individuals or groups who are excluded or

disadvantaged in the digital realm
2. track (v) b. the act of ensuring the security of something or someone

3. personal liberties (n) c. the use of detailed information about someone’s body in
order to prove who they are
4. encryption (n) d. monitor or follow the progress or movements of something
or someone
5. biometrics (n) e. individual freedoms and rights that are protected by law

6. safeguarding (n) f. the process of changing electronic information into a secret

code

Group 2:

1. frictionless (adj.) a. accepted standards or behaviours within a society or group

2. triggers (v) b. preparations made in advance to respond to unexpected or

adverse events
3. tipping (n) c. the act of giving extra money as a gratuity or additional payment
for a service
4. norms (n) d. causes or initiates a specific response or action

5. disrupt (v) e. smooth and efficient, without unnecessary difficulties

6. contingency plans (n) f. interrupt or radically change a process or system

3 Listening for specific information

You will hear a podcast entitled, "The future of finance". Match information from the audio to the
corresponding statements provided below.

11% 30% 6%

1. The predicted use of cash by 2031.

2. The increase in contactless payment since 2020.

3. Adults in the US who have stopped using cash.

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4 Listening for comprehension

Listen to the report again and answer the questions true (T) or false (F).

1. A cashless society will bridge the gap of financial inclusion.

2. People who do not stay up-to-date with certain technological advancements risk being forgotten.

3. Financial interactions are recorded inattentively by different institutions.

4. There are fears that financial bodies will be left open to cybercrime.

5. People might become inclined to increase their expenses more than normal.

6. Catastrophic events might require people to revert to cash.

5 Language point: the third conditional

Part A: Look at this sentence in the box, taken from the listening exercise.

If proactive steps had been taken to bring in these ideas sooner, we would have
been well-prepared to address the challenges presented by this shift.

• The third conditional is a type of sentence that is used to talk about hypothetical
situations in the past.

• It is often used to express a situation that did not happen and to speculate about what
might have occurred if the circumstances had been different.

• Third conditional sentences typically follow this structure:

If + past perfect (had + past participle), would/wouldn’t + have + past participle

If I had studied for the test, I would have passed.

• This sentence suggests that in reality, the speaker didn’t study for the test, and as a result,
they didn’t pass.

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Part B: Complete the following sentences using the third conditional. Use the verbs provided.

1. If she (study) harder for the exam, she (pass)

with flying colours.

2. If they (invest) in that startup, they (make)

a fortune.

3. If he (not lose) his job, he (not start)

his own business.

4. If we (take) that earlier flight, we (not

miss) the important meeting.

5. If it (not rain) that day, we (have) a

picnic in the park.

6. If you (not forget) your keys, we

(not be) locked out of the house. ,

7. If they (invite) us to their party, we (go)

and have a great time.

8. If she (not drop) her phone, it (not

break).

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6 Scanning for vocabulary

You are going to read an article about groups who might suffer from the move to digital payment
methods (page six). Find the words or phrases which mean the same as the following.

Group 1:

1. (v, para. 1): get rid of or abandon

2. (v, para. 1): accumulated or gathered something

3. (adj., para. 2): having an appeal that is hard to turn down

4. (v, para. 2): surpassing or overshadowing something

5. (adj., para. 2): continuing without pause or becoming persistent

6. (adj., para. 2): countless or innumerable

Group 2:

1. (adj., para. 2): developing quickly

2. (adj., para. 3): susceptible to harm or damage

3. (v, para. 3): gets worse in a way that becomes more and more difficult to
control
4. (adj., para. 4): clear and uncomplicated

5. (n, para. 4): individuals who doubt or question something

6. (v, para. 5): sank or dropped suddenly

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The digital payment revolution

Fears that a cashless society will leave some groups behind

1. There have long been concerns that older people will access to cash to be preserved for as long as people
suffer as we ditch coins and notes, but other groups, need it. "We can see that it is a vital payment method
such as tourists, may also be affected. Armando for people in a range of vulnerable situations." A
Bordalo e Sá planned ahead before coming to London report last year from the Royal Society of Arts (RSA)
for a trip this summer, exchanging euros for sterling found that more than 10 million people in Britain
at a good rate to pay for meals, tickets to events, would struggle to live in a cashless society, with
and other expenses. But by the end of his short trip, many losing control of their finances and seeing debts
much of it went unused, because so many places no spiral.
longer accept cash, and he had racked up a series
4. In London, where an increasing number of services no
of unwanted charges from his bank. Returning to
longer take cash, many older people are frustrated.
Portugal, he found his bank had charged him a 4%
"In bigger cities, many are falling behind even
fee for "international services", as well as additional
faster due to the accelerated speed in which
taxes on any debit card transactions he had made. "It
many businesses are progressing toward a cash-
is indeed a fine way for banks to profit," he says.
free model," says Abigail Wood of Age UK London.
2. The convenience of digital transactions has become "Many older people view cash as the most reliable
irresistible for consumers and businesses and has led and straightforward way to pay, as well as an
to the sector eclipsing traditional payment methods. effective means of managing their weekly budget
The relentless march of technology has produced when money is extremely tight – as it is for the
myriad innovative platforms, each vying for a piece of majority now." Another group, "cashless sceptics",
this burgeoning market. Figures from banking body tend to be older and have concerns about fraud and
UK Finance show that almost half of all payments may find technology difficult to use, says Hall.
were made with debit cards in 2021, with newer
ways of paying set to almost completely overtake 5. The UK is leading the shift towards a cashless society
cash within a decade. "We expect usage to continue along with some Scandinavian countries, while Italy
to fall, with cash predicted to account for only 6% and Germany are still high cash users, says Graham
of all payments made in the UK by 2031," it says. Mott of Link, the ATM network. Figures from the
But with the shift has come growing concern about company show withdrawals in some parts of London
groups who still want to use cash. slumped by 60% in the four years to last May. There
are limitations to how far cashless payments can
3. Sian Williams, vice-chair of the Financial Inclusion
stretch, however, as online payments can fail, he says.
Commission, says that taking part in activities
"Most people will go out with some cash, or at least
important to you costs more. "And that is another
have some at home as a contingency," he says. "It is
aspect of the ‘poverty premium’ for millions of people
important that cash access remains."
every day in this country," she says. The commission,
an independent body of experts, wants cash and Sources: The Guardian, The Conversation

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7 Reading comprehension

Complete the following sentences with ONE to THREE words from the article.

1. Armando Bordalo e Sá accumulated a string of on his bank card.

2. Consumers and businesses find the allure of digital transactions impossible to resist due to their
.

3. The shift has sparked about groups who still prefer to use cash.

4. The Financial Inclusion Commission advocates for the preservation of

for as long as there is a need.

5. Many elderly people see cash as an of managing their spending.

6. Alongside some other European countries, the UK is towards a

digital economy.

8 Speaking: roleplay

Part A: The conversation below has been reorganised. In pairs or groups of three, read through the
conversation, and put each part of the dialogue in the correct order.

B: That’s true, but what if the power goes out or there’s a glitch? Cash never lets you down,
even in an emergency.
A: But with the rise in online shopping, digital payments are essential. It’s efficient – you can’t
fight the future.
B: Efficiency is great, but I cherish the physicality of money. It’s tangible, and it helps me keep
a close eye on my expenses.
B: I agree; there has to be a balance. We can’t forget the value of cash, even in this digital era.

1 A: You know, I really think this shift to a cashless society is great. It’s so much easier – no need
to carry cash anymore.
A: We should ensure there’s a balance, catering to everyone’s needs. But let’s not deny the
simplicity that digital payments offer.
A: True, but there are apps and digital wallets that make it easy. And you can track your spending
more efficiently.
A: I get it, but the world’s evolving. It’s time for us to embrace the digital age and enjoy the ease
it brings.
B: Well, I understand the convenience, but I worry about the older generation, like me. We’re
not all so tech-savvy.
B: I’ll try, but I just hope we don’t leave behind those who still rely on cash, especially the older
folks.

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Part B: Using the conversation above as a reference, practise the conversation below in pairs. After
completing the conversation, switch roles.

Student A is a citizen’s rights advocate. You are a passionate champion of

citizens’ rights and privacy. You believe that the move towards a cashless society
could infringe on people’s privacy, especially those who are not technologically
proficient. You think the government should prioritise protecting individuals’
financial data. You need to express your concerns to Student B.

Student B is a high-ranking government official, responsible for the country’s

financial policies. You are a proponent of the move towards a cashless society,
believing it will enhance transparency, reduce tax evasion, and modernise the
economy. You hope to convince A that the move will benefit everyone by making
payments quicker and easier.

9 Optional extension: taboo

Read the instructions and then play the game. Players are divided into two teams. Each team takes
turns being the ‘clue-giving’ team and the ‘guessing’ team. The game involves a set of cards, with each
card having one main word or phrase that needs to be guessed and a list of taboo words that cannot
be used when giving clues.

For example, the main word might be ‘tiger,’ and the words you are not allowed to use are ‘animal’
and ‘stripes.’

tiger

animal

stripes

On a team’s turn, one player is the clue-giver. They draw a card and try to get their teammates to
guess the main word or phrase without using any of the taboo words listed on the card. They have a
limited amount of time to do this.

If the guessing team correctly guesses the main word, they earn a point. If they use a taboo word
or phrase, the opposing team receives a point. Teams take turns being the clue-givers, and the game
continues until a set number of rounds have been completed or until all the words on the cards have
been guessed.

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