New York City bans cashless stores

New York City bans cashless stores The advance of technology in our lives has been halted somewhat in New York City. Lawmakers have passed a bill to ban cashless businesses. With many parts of the world in a seemingly relentless drive to replace cash with plastic or digital payments, New York City officials have decided cash still has a valuable part to play in our lives. The officials have approved legislation that prohibits stores, restaurants and other retail outlets from refusing to accept cash. They want to provide the ability for people who prefer to pay via traditional means, through notes and coins. This means businesses in the city will no longer be able to insist that customers make use of cashless payments in any transactions.Businesses that violate the new regulation could face hefty fines of up to $1,500 for each offense. Critics of cashless businesses say they discriminate against the poorer sections of society, many of whom do not have bank accounts or credit cards. One city resident said: "I worry about the real-world discriminatory effect that cashless business can have on New Yorkers, especially in communities of color." Another said: "I think it's incredibly discriminatory not to accept cash because some people can't get credit." An opponent of the bill said it was a sign of government interference: He said: "We are inserting ourselves in the business of business in a way that we don't have the right to." Read the text. Group the sentences true or false. True The article says NYC officials believe cash is still important. Businesses in New York City will not be able to refuse cash. Businesses could get a $1,500 fine for not following the new law. A resident said cashless hurt people who cannot get credit. An opponent of the bill said government has no right to interfere False The article says technology has enhanced people's lives in New York. The article says people use plastic and digital payments when they drive Critics say the new law will hurt the poorer sections of society. Synonym match Match the following synonyms. The words on the left are from the article. advance progress ban outlaw valuable crucial relentless constant prefer would rather violate contravene hefty large critics detractors resident citizen interference intusion Put these words into the spaces. The advance of technology in our lives has been halted somewhat in New York City. Lawmakers have passed a bill to ban cashless businesses. With many parts of the world in a seemingly relentless drive to replace cash with plastic or digital payments, New York City officials have decided cash still has a valuable part to play in our lives. The officials have approved legislation that prohibits stores, restaurants and other retail outlets from refusing to accept cash. They want to provide the ability for people who prefer to pay via traditional means, through notes and coins. This means businesses in the city will no longer be able to insist that customers make use of cashless payments in any transactions. Put the words into the spaces. Businesses that violate the new regulation could face hefty fines of up to $1,500 for each offense. Critics of cashless businesses say they discriminate against the poorer sections of society, many of whom do not have bank accounts or credit cards. One city resident said: "I worry about the real-world discriminatory effect that cashless business can have on New Yorkers, especially in communities of color." Another said: "I think it's incredibly discriminatory not to accept cash because some people can't get credit." An opponent of the bill said it was a sign of government interference: He said: "We are inserting ourselves in the business of business in a way that we don't have the right to." Matching: Paragraph 1 Match the words with their definitions. advance A development or improvement halted Brought or came to a sudden stop. relentless Constant; non-stop; incessant. legislation Laws, considered collectively. retail The sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption rather than for resale. means An action or system by which a result is brought about; a method. transaction An instance of buying or selling something; a business deal. Matching: Paragraph 2 Match the words with their definitions. violate Break or fail to follow a rule or formal agreement. hefty Of a number or amount; impressively large. resident A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis. discrimination The unfair or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. opponent A person who disagrees with or resists a proposal or practice. interference The action of getting in the way of or trying to stop other people's actions. inserting Putting, placing or fitting something into another thing.