What is money? Anything which performs the functions of money is monoy. Money’s essential characteristic is that it is generally acceptable. When people generally refuse to accept something as money, it is not money. 　　
　　什么是货币?任何有货币功能的商品就是货币。货币的基本特征是它被普遍接受。当人们普遍拒绝接受某种商品作为货币时，它就不是货币。
　　We can identify four important functions by money.
　　First, money serves as a medium of exchange. Money simplifies the exchange of goods by providing a mutually acceptable item for exchange. Second, money provides a measure of value. Money provides a convenient yardstick by which to express the value of other goods. Third, money acts as a store of value. Money provides a neat, orderly form of wealth that may be temporarily held before it is spent on services or consumption goods.
　　Fourth, money as a standard of deferred payments performs the function of establishing a future value or obligation in definitive terms.
　　货币有四大职能。第一，货币充当一种交易双方都愿意接受的媒介物，简化了商品交换，执行流通手段职能。第二，货币作为一种价值标准，可用来表现商品的价值，并能够衡量商品价值量的大小，执行价值尺度职能。第三，货币在支付劳务或消费品之前，被当作一般财富储藏起来，执行储藏手段职能。第四，货币用来表现商品的未来价值，或明确债权债务关系，执行支付手段职能。
　　The ideal money is something universally acceptable, easily stored and transported, and highly divisible. Precious metals have commonly been used as money for
　　these reasons. The intrinsic value of gold and silver, the ease with which they can be carried, and the simplicity of weighing out any desired amount have promoted the use of these commodities. 　　
　　理想的货币是被普遍接受的一般等价物，便于储藏和携带，而且易于分割。贵金属由于具备了这些条件，所以一直在充当货币。金银本身的内在价值，携带方便、计量简捷，使之从众多商品中分离出来成为货币。
　　New Words
　　function n.
　　perform vt.
　　essential adj.
　　characteristic adj.
　　acceptable adj.
　　identify vt.
　　medium n.
　　simplify vt.
　　mutually adv.
　　item n.
　　measure n.
　　value n.
　　convenient adj.
　　yardstick n.
　　express adj. vt.
　　act vi.
　　neat adj.
　　orderly adj.
　　wealth n.
　　temporarily adv.
　　consumption n.
　　standard n.
　　defer vi. vt.
　　establish vt.
　　obligation n.
　　ideal adj.
　　universally adv.
　　easily adv.
　　transport n.
　　divisible adj.
　　precious adj.
　　metal n.
　　intrinsic adj.
　　ease n.
　　simplicity n.
　　weigh vt.
　　desire vt.
　　amount n.
　　promote vt.
　　commodity n.
　　service n.
　　definitive adj. 单词
　　作用，功能；职务，职责
　　履行, 执行
　　本质的, 实质的, 基本的
　　特有的, 表示特性的, 典型的
　　可接受的, 合意的
　　识别, 鉴别
　　媒体, 方法, 媒介
　　单一化, 简单化
　　互相地, 互助
　　(可分类或列举的)项目, 条款, (消息、情报等的)一则, 一条
　　尺寸, 量度标准, 方法, 措施
　　价值, 估价, 价格 vt. 估价
　　便利的, 方便的
　　码尺, 准绳
　　表达, 表示
　　行动, 担当, 表演vt. 扮演, 装作
　　整洁的, 灵巧的
　　有秩序的, 整齐的, 整洁的
　　财富, 财产
　　临时
　　消费, 消费量
　　标准, 规格 adj. 标准的, 第一流的
　　使推迟, 使延期
　　建立, 设立, 确定
　　义务, 职责, 债务
　　完美的, 想象的, 观念的
　　普通地, 一般地
　　容易地, 不费力地
　　运输 vt. 传送, 运输
　　可分的
　　宝贵的, 贵重的
　　金属
　　(指价值、性质)固有的, 内在的, 本质的
　　安心, 不费力
　　简单, 简易
　　称...重量, 称 vi. 重(若干)
　　想望, 期望, 希望 v. 要求
　　数量 vi. (to) 总计, 等于
　　促进, 推销, 提升
　　日用品, 商品, 货物
　　服务, 劳务
　　最后的, 确定的
　　Phrases and Expressions
　　essential characteristic
　　medium of exchange
　　measure of value
　　store of value
　　standard of deferred payments
　　in definitive terms 短语与词组
　　最重要的特征
　　交换的媒介
　　价值的尺度
　　价值的储蓄或贮藏
　　支付的手段（递延支付的标准）
　　用特定的计算单位来表示
　　Notes
　　 1.Anything which performs the functions of money is money. 
　　 (1)Which…引导定语从句
　　(2)function n. action for which one is particularly fitted or
　　 employed.作用，功能：特别适合某人或某人所从事的行为
　　 2. When people generally refuse to accept something as money,
　　 it is not money.
　　as prep.（介词）in the role, capacity, or function of:
　　 以…的身份，作为：充当角色、身份或功能的：
　　例：acting as a mediator.
　　充当调解人
　　 3.Money simplifies the exchange of goods by providing a
　　 mutually acceptable item for exchange. 
　　 (1)by providing…作状语
　　(2)a mutually acceptable item for exchange:一种用于交换的,双方都愿意接受的商品
　　item n. a single article or unit in a collection, an
　　 enumeration, or a series 项目，细目
　　 4.Money provides a neat, orderly form of wealth that may be
　　 temporarily held before it is spent on services or consumption
　　 goods.
　　(1)a neat, orderly form of wealth 一种简单划一的财富形式
　　neat adj. orderly and precise in procedure; systematic
　　 简洁的：步骤有序的和精确的；系统的
　　orderly adj. free from disorder; neat 整洁的：避免无秩序的；干净的：
　　(2)that may be temporarily
　　 held是由关系代词that引导的定语从句，意思是“被暂时持有（储藏）”
　　(3)before it is spent on services or consumption
　　 goods是由连词before引导时间状语从句，意思是“货币在支付劳务或消费品之前”
　　it指wealth或money
　　spend (money on sth) vt. to pay out (money) 花钱；付款
　　例：How much money do you spend each week?
　　你每星期花多少钱？
　　 5.Fourth, money as a standard of deferred payments performs
　　 the function of establishing a future value or obligation in
　　 definitive terms. 
　　 (1)介词短语as a standard of deferred payments作定语，修饰money
　　(2)establishing a future
　　value是动名词短语，做介词of的宾语，意思是“确立（商品的）未来价值”
　　 6.The ideal money is something universally acceptable, easily
　　 stored and transported, and highly divisible. 
　　 (1)…acceptable,…stored and transported,
　　 and…divisible等形容词修饰前面的不定代词something。因为不定代词被形容词修饰时，形容词须放在它的后面 
　　 (2)highly divisible 可以高度分割的
　　 7.The intrinsic value of gold and silver, the ease with which
　　 they can be carried, and the simplicity of weighing out any
　　 desired amount have promoted the use of these commodities. 
　　 (1)(the ease) with which they can be carried是由（介词with）+
　　 which引导的定语从句。
　　(2)weigh out any desired amount: 称出任何（想要称的）重量；分发任何)数量
　　weigh out vt. ①to determine the weight of by or as if by
　　using a scale or balance.称…重量：用或好象用天平或秤来决定…的重量 ②to measure or
　　apportion (a certain quantity) by or as if by weight. Often
　　used with out: 称出或按重量分发：用或好象用重量来测量或分发（一定的数量）。常与out 连用：
　　例：weighed out a pound of cheese.
　　称出一磅乳酪