Anatomy of a Feature Article

“Pull-Quote”
And what about the 7 percent of Excerpt pulled from the article
According to a Federal Reserve Bank
study, cash payments now make up
Americans—about 24 million people, to attract reader’s attention
most of them poor—who don’t have
only one-quarter of all transactions in
bank accounts at all? Without accounts
the U.S.—down from 36 percent five
that can be linked to digital forms of Subheads
years ago.
payment, these people would have To separate the sections of the
Going cashless has some obvious a tough time surviving in a cashless article and guide the reader
benefits. It’s more convenient to use economy.
an app to pay for something than to go
to an ATM to withdraw A Future for Cash?
money, notes Minneso- “Within 10 years, Despite such concerns, some
Image ta college student Alex countries are moving toward
Useful image (with caption if Johnson, 20. “I don’t cash will seem

© Shutterstock/myboston
eliminating cash. In China,
image is not self-explanatory) want to have to pay old-fashioned,” an estimated 70 percent of
ATM fees or drive to the people no longer carry cash.
Susan Crawford,
bank,” he says.
technology expert South Korea’s national bank
And when it comes to plans to go cashless by 2020.
expensive purchases, a password- In Sweden, five of the six biggest banks
protected cell phone is safer to carry don’t use paper money—and 90 percent
around than a wad of cash. . . . of all purchases are made electronically.
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, But experts point out that embracing a

Headline
Catchy but meaningful he EndOF
THE TEND CASH?
of C ash?
is testing an app that—once linked to
a credit card or bank account—allows
digital economy doesn’t require an all-
or-nothing approach. Harvard University
economist Kenneth Rogoff thinks the
Close
customers to scan and pay for items as
Many businesses—and even some countries—are moving toward eliminating thethey shop, skipping checkout lines U.S. should phase out $100 bills, then To drive home the controlling
use of cash.
Many This trend worries
businesses—and even somesome economists moving
countries—are and privacy
towardadvocates.
eliminating altogether. That, experts say, is an $50 bills, then $20 bills, leaving smaller idea and make a lasting
the use of cash. This trend worries some economists and privacy advocates. effort to get shoppers used to leaving bills in circulation. This, he says, would impression
BY CARL STOFFERS
Secondary headline their cash at home. It also may even- stimulate spending, while still giving
Controlling idea of the article DURING LUNCHTIME in New York City, theBY CARL STOFFERS “Within 10 years, cash will seem old- tually mean being able to hire fewer Americans privacy for smaller
line at the salad chain Sweetgreen stretches fashioned,” predicts Susan Crawford, a cashiers, which would save Walmart purchases.
out the door. DURING
It movesLUNCHTIME
quickly, though.
in New Instead
York City, technology expertcash
“Within 10 years, at Harvard
will seemUniversity.
old- “Every
money. “I want to have a less-cash society,”
of opening their
the wallets, counting
line at the out their
salad chain Sweetgreen advanced
fashioned,” society on Susan
predicts earth is exiting cash,
Crawford, a so Rogoff says, “not a cashless society.”
Lead money, and waiting
stretches forout
change,
the door.customers
It moves quickly, we in the United
technology States
expert need to
at Harvard catch up.” The Cost to Consumers
University.
Introduction to hook the swipe an app on their phones. They can’t pay
though. Instead of opening their wallets, “Every
But
advanced
the cashless
society
trend
on earth
is also
is
sparking But there are problems with ditching
debate.
counting out their
with cash even if they want to becausemoney, and waiting exiting cash, so we in the United States Money Through the Ages
reader and set the scene Some experts cash. Security experts worry that
Sweetgreen no forlonger
change, customers
accepts it. swipe an app on need to catch say
up.” eliminating paper money hackers may be able to access our bank How we pay for what we need has
their phones. They can’t pay with cash could leave Americans with less privacy and
changed over time.
“It took someeven
getting used
if they to, but
want I don’t mind
to because Sweetgreen make
But the cashless
them more trend
vulnerable fraud, amongaccounts and wipe out our savings
is alsotosparking Sidebar
debate. Some experts say eliminating with a few clicks. Privacy advocates,
now,” says Lori McGuire, a 22-year-old
no longer accepts it. college other concerns. COWRIE SHELLS used as currency in To present pertinent information
student. “The line moves much faster, and I'm paper money could leave Americans with meanwhile, fear that a cashless society parts of Asia and Africa from about
An Easier Way to Pay that does not fit in the main
“Quotation” “It took some getting used to, but I don’t less privacy and make them more
in and out quicker.”
would let businesses and governments 1200 BC
vulnerable to fraud, among other track our every move. That’s because structure of the article or that
From an expert, a stakeholder, mind now,” says Lori McGuire, a 22-year- At one time, credit cards were the only GOLD COINS first exchanged as
Is cash going the way of gold coins and other concerns. each digital transaction creates a would weigh down the article
an eyewitness or another outdated forms
old college student. “The line moves
of currency (see sidebar, p.
alternative to cash. Today, though, shoppersrecord of where you are and what payment in Lydia (now western
much faster, and I’m in and out quicker.” have many other
concerned individual 13)? Some experts say yes. Increasingly, An Easier Way options,
to Pay including debit cards,
you’re doing. Turkey) in the 500s BC
Is cash going the way of gold coins mobile apps like Venmo, and digital-only PAPER BILLS came into use in China in
people and companies are turning to apps and At one time, credit cards were the only Going cashless could also lead to higher
and other outdatedEven
forms of currency currencies such as Bitcoin. about the year 1000
other digital types of payment. entire alternative to cash. Today, though, prices overall, some experts say. That’s
countries are(see sidebar)?
moving Some
toward experts
going say yes.
cashless. shoppers have many other options, because merchants are charged fees PLASTIC CARDS accepted in place of
Increasingly, people and companies are including debit cards, mobile apps like when customers swipe a card or app cash in the U.S. starting in about 1960
turning to apps and other digital types Venmo, and digital-only currencies such instead of paying with cash. Businesses
of payment. Even entire countries are DIGITAL CURRENCY allows
as Bitcoin. often make that money back by raising 21st‑century consumers to pay
moving toward going cashless.
their prices. without handling cards or cash

From “The End of Cash?” by Carl Stoffers. Published in JUNIOR SCHOLASTIC/CURRENT EVENTS, December 11, 2017.
Copyright © 2017 by Scholastic Inc. Reproduced by permission.

Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur n Anglais, langue seconde, programme enrichi n Mai 2018