Daily Reading Practice · Nonfiction passage
Any word, any time — right from this page.
Long before people used coinscoin (noun)A small, round piece of metal money.🇺🇿UZ: tanga🇷🇺RU: монета or paper bills, they tradedtrade (verb)To buy and sell or exchange goods.≈ Synonym: exchange🇺🇿UZ: savdo qilmoq, ayirboshlamoq🇷🇺RU: торговать, обменивать goods directly. This system is called barteringbarter (noun)The activity of exchanging goods or services directly, without using money.≈ Synonym: trading🇺🇿UZ: ayirboshlash, barter qilish🇷🇺RU: бартер, натуральный обмен, and it means exchangingexchange (verb)Giving one thing and receiving another thing in return.≈ Synonym: trading🇺🇿UZ: almashtirish🇷🇺RU: обменивать one item for another without using money. For example, a farmer might trade wheatwheat (noun)A plant whose grain is used to make flour and bread.🇺🇿UZ: bug'doy🇷🇺RU: пшеница for shoes. Bartering worked well in small communities, but it had one big problem: both people needed to want what the other person had. This is known as the double coincidence of wantsdouble coincidence of wants (econ. term)A situation where two people each have exactly what the other one wants, which bartering requires.≈ Synonym: matching needs🇺🇿UZ: istaklarning ikki tomonlama mos kelishi🇷🇺RU: двойное совпадение потребностей, and it made trade slow and difficult.
To solve this problem, ancient societiesancient society (noun)Groups of people who lived a very long time ago.≈ Synonym: early civilizations🇺🇿UZ: qadimgi jamiyatlar🇷🇺RU: древние общества began using objects that everyone valuedvalue (verb)Considered something important or worth a lot.≈ Synonym: prized🇺🇿UZ: qadrlangan🇷🇺RU: ценили, such as shellsshell (noun)The hard outer cover of some sea animals.🇺🇿UZ: chig'anoq🇷🇺RU: ракушка, salt, or precious metalsprecious metal (noun)Rare and valuable metals such as gold and silver.≈ Synonym: valuable metals🇺🇿UZ: qimmatbaho metallar🇷🇺RU: драгоценные металлы. Around 600 BCE, the kingdomkingdom (noun)A country or region ruled by a king or queen.≈ Synonym: realm🇺🇿UZ: podsholik🇷🇺RU: королевство of Lydia created some of the first metal coins. Coins were easy to carry, hard to fakefake (verb)To make a copy of something to trick people.≈ Synonym: copy🇺🇿UZ: soxtalashtirmoq🇷🇺RU: подделывать, and could be divideddivide (verb)To separate into parts.≈ Synonym: split🇺🇿UZ: bo'lmoq🇷🇺RU: делить into smaller amounts. Soon, many civilizationscivilization (noun)Large human societies with their own culture and organization.≈ Synonym: societies🇺🇿UZ: sivilizatsiyalar🇷🇺RU: цивилизации adoptedadopt (verb)Started to use a new method or system.≈ Synonym: embraced🇺🇿UZ: qabul qilingan, joriy qilingan🇷🇺RU: приняли, ввели в использование coins as a standardstandard (adj)Normal; used by everyone.≈ Synonym: usual🇺🇿UZ: standart, odatiy🇷🇺RU: стандартный currencycurrency (noun)The money that is used in a particular country.≈ Synonym: money🇺🇿UZ: valyuta, pul birligi🇷🇺RU: валюта, making buying and selling simpler.
Centuries later, paper money appeared, first in China during the Tang and Song dynastiesdynasty (noun)Series of rulers from the same family who governed over a long period.≈ Synonym: royal families🇺🇿UZ: sulolalar🇷🇺RU: династии. Instead of carrying heavy bags of coins, merchantsmerchant (noun)People who buy and sell goods, often in large amounts.≈ Synonym: traders🇺🇿UZ: savdogarlar🇷🇺RU: торговцы, купцы could use lightweightlightweight (adj)Not heavy; easy to carry.≈ Synonym: light🇺🇿UZ: yengil (og'irlik jihatidan)🇷🇺RU: лёгкий, нетяжёлый paper notes that represented a certaincertain (adj)Particular; specific.≈ Synonym: particular🇺🇿UZ: ma'lum, muayyan🇷🇺RU: определённый value. Governments eventually took control oftake control of (phrase)Started to manage or be responsible for something.≈ Synonym: took charge of🇺🇿UZ: nazoratga oldi🇷🇺RU: взяли под контроль printing money, and paper currency spread tospread to (phrase)Moved to and became common in a new place.≈ Synonym: expanded to🇺🇿UZ: tarqaldi🇷🇺RU: распространилась в Europe and beyond. People had to trusttrust (verb)To believe that something or someone is reliable.≈ Synonym: believe in🇺🇿UZ: ishonish🇷🇺RU: доверять that the paper itself, though not valuable alone, could be exchanged for real goods and services.
Today, many transactionstransaction (noun)Acts of buying, selling, or exchanging something.≈ Synonym: deals🇺🇿UZ: operatsiyalar, tranzaksiyalar🇷🇺RU: транзакции, сделки happen without any physicalphysical (adj)Real and able to be touched.≈ Synonym: real🇺🇿UZ: jismoniy, moddiy🇷🇺RU: физический, материальный cash at all. Digital paymentsdigital payment (noun)Payments made electronically instead of with cash.≈ Synonym: electronic payments🇺🇿UZ: raqamli to'lovlar🇷🇺RU: цифровые платежи, such as bank transfersbank transfer (noun)Moving money electronically from one bank account to another.≈ Synonym: wire transfers🇺🇿UZ: bank o'tkazmalari🇷🇺RU: банковские переводы, credit cardscredit card (noun)Plastic cards that let people borrow money to pay for things.≈ Synonym: charge cards🇺🇿UZ: kredit kartalar🇷🇺RU: кредитные карты, and mobile appsmobile app (noun)Software programs used on phones or tablets.≈ Synonym: phone applications🇺🇿UZ: mobil ilovalar🇷🇺RU: мобильные приложения, allow people to send money instantlyinstantly (adv)Immediately, without any delay.≈ Synonym: immediately🇺🇿UZ: darhol, bir zumda🇷🇺RU: мгновенно. This convenienceconvenience (noun)The quality of being easy and useful.≈ Synonym: ease🇺🇿UZ: qulaylik🇷🇺RU: удобство has changed how businesses operateoperate (verb)Work or function in a particular way.≈ Synonym: function🇺🇿UZ: ishlash, faoliyat yuritish🇷🇺RU: функционировать, работать and how people manage their daily expensesexpense (noun)The money that a person spends on something.≈ Synonym: costs🇺🇿UZ: xarajatlar🇷🇺RU: расходы. However, digital money also brings new challenges, including the risk of cybercrimecybercrime (noun)Crime committed using computers or the internet.≈ Synonym: online crime🇺🇿UZ: kiberjinoyat🇷🇺RU: киберпреступность and the need for reliablereliable (adj)Able to be trusted to work well.≈ Synonym: dependable🇺🇿UZ: ishonchli🇷🇺RU: надёжный internet access.
Despite these changes, the basic purposepurpose (noun)The reason why something exists or is done.≈ Synonym: aim🇺🇿UZ: maqsad🇷🇺RU: цель, назначение of money has stayed the same throughout history. It gives people a simple, trusted way to measure valuemeasure value (phrase)To judge or calculate how much something is worth.≈ Synonym: assess worth🇺🇿UZ: qiymatni o'lchash🇷🇺RU: измерять ценность and exchange goods without needing a direct match of wants. From shells and coins to paper bills and digital walletswallet (noun)A small case for money and cards.≈ Synonym: purse🇺🇿UZ: hamyon🇷🇺RU: кошелёк, each new form of money has made trade faster and more convenientconvenient (adj)Easy to use or do; not causing problems.≈ Synonym: easy🇺🇿UZ: qulay🇷🇺RU: удобный.
In your own words, write a short summary of what you just read (70–100 words). Don't copy sentences — explain the main ideas.
Every highlighted word from this story with its meaning in Uzbek 🇺🇿 and Russian 🇷🇺, and an example. Tap 🇬🇧 or 🇺🇸 to hear the word or the sentence in a British or American accent.
| # | 🇬🇧 | 🇺🇿 | 🇷🇺 | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | coinnoun | tanga | монета | I found some old coins in the drawer. |
| 2 | tradeverb | savdo qilmoq, ayirboshlamoq | торговать, обменивать | The two countries trade cotton and machines. |
| 3 | barternoun | ayirboshlash, barter qilish | бартер, натуральный обмен | In the village, people still barter eggs for bread. |
| 4 | exchangeverb | almashtirish | обменивать | Can I exchange this shirt for a bigger size? |
| 5 | wheatnoun | bug'doy | пшеница | Farmers in Kashkadarya grow a lot of wheat. |
| 6 | double coincidence of wants (econ. term) | istaklarning ikki tomonlama mos kelishi | двойное совпадение потребностей | Without a double coincidence of wants, barter is impossible. |
| 7 | ancient societynoun | qadimgi jamiyatlar | древние общества | In many ancient societies, salt was very valuable. |
| 8 | valueverb | qadrlangan | ценили | I value your advice more than anyone's. |
| 9 | shellnoun | chig'anoq | ракушка | The children collected shells on the beach. |
| 10 | precious metalnoun | qimmatbaho metallar | драгоценные металлы | Gold and silver are precious metals. |
| 11 | kingdomnoun | podsholik | королевство | The kingdom was ruled by a young king. |
| 12 | fakeverb | soxtalashtirmoq | подделывать | It is a crime to fake money. |
| 13 | divideverb | bo'lmoq | делить | The teacher divided the class into four groups. |
| 14 | civilizationnoun | sivilizatsiyalar | цивилизации | The Maya were an advanced civilization. |
| 15 | adoptverb | qabul qilingan, joriy qilingan | приняли, ввели в использование | The school has adopted a new uniform. |
| 16 | standardadjective | standart, odatiy | стандартный | This is the standard size for a passport photo. |
| 17 | currencynoun | valyuta, pul birligi | валюта | The som is the currency of Uzbekistan. |
| 18 | dynastynoun | sulolalar | династии | The Timurid dynasty ruled for more than a century. |
| 19 | merchantnoun | savdogarlar | торговцы, купцы | The merchant sold silk and spices at the bazaar. |
| 20 | lightweightadjective | yengil (og'irlik jihatidan) | лёгкий, нетяжёлый | This lightweight jacket is perfect for spring. |
| 21 | certainadjective | ma'lum, muayyan | определённый | The shop is only open at certain times. |
| 22 | take control ofphrase | nazoratga oldi | взяли под контроль | The new manager quickly took control of the team. |
| 23 | spread tophrase | tarqaldi | распространилась в | The fire spread to the house next door. |
| 24 | trustverb | ishonish | доверять | I trust my best friend completely. |
| 25 | transactionnoun | operatsiyalar, tranzaksiyalar | транзакции, сделки | Every transaction is recorded by the bank. |
| 26 | physicaladjective | jismoniy, moddiy | физический, материальный | I prefer physical books to e-books. |
| 27 | digital paymentnoun | raqamli to'lovlar | цифровые платежи | Most shops in Tashkent accept digital payments. |
| 28 | bank transfernoun | bank o'tkazmalari | банковские переводы | I paid the rent by bank transfer. |
| 29 | credit cardnoun | kredit kartalar | кредитные карты | Can I pay by credit card? |
| 30 | mobile appnoun | mobil ilovalar | мобильные приложения | You can order a taxi with a mobile app. |
| 31 | instantlyadverb | darhol, bir zumda | мгновенно | The message was delivered instantly. |
| 32 | conveniencenoun | qulaylik | удобство | I shop online for convenience. |
| 33 | operateverb | ishlash, faoliyat yuritish | функционировать, работать | The shop operates seven days a week. |
| 34 | expensenoun | xarajatlar | расходы | Rent is our biggest monthly expense. |
| 35 | cybercrimenoun | kiberjinoyat | киберпреступность | Banks spend millions to fight cybercrime. |
| 36 | reliableadjective | ishonchli | надёжный | The bus service here isn't very reliable. |
| 37 | purposenoun | maqsad | цель, назначение | The purpose of this meeting is to plan the trip. |
| 38 | measure valuephrase | qiymatni o'lchash | измерять ценность | Money is a simple way to measure value. |
| 39 | walletnoun | hamyon | кошелёк | I left my wallet at home. |
| 40 | convenientadjective | qulay | удобный | Is Monday morning convenient for you? |