Money Around the World: questions and answers
Study every question with its correct answer and explanation.
1. What is the currency of the United Kingdom?
- A. Euro
- B. Pound sterling
- C. Franc
- D. Krona
Answer: Pound sterling
The pound sterling is one of the oldest currencies still in use, and its '£' sign comes from 'libra', an ancient Roman unit of weight.
2. What is the currency of China?
- A. Won
- B. Yen
- C. Yuan (renminbi)
- D. Baht
Answer: Yuan (renminbi)
China's currency is officially called the renminbi, meaning 'the people's currency', and its main unit is the yuan.
3. What is the currency of South Korea?
- A. Won
- B. Ringgit
- C. Dong
- D. Peso
Answer: Won
The names won, yuan and yen all come from the same old Chinese character meaning 'round' — a nod to round coins.
4. What is the currency of Thailand?
- A. Rupiah
- B. Ringgit
- C. Kyat
- D. Baht
Answer: Baht
The baht was originally a unit of weight for silver in Thailand before it became the name of the money itself.
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5. What is the currency of South Africa?
- A. Dollar
- B. Shilling
- C. Rand
- D. Naira
Answer: Rand
The rand is named after the Witwatersrand, the ridge around Johannesburg where huge gold deposits were discovered in the 1880s.
6. What is the currency of Mexico?
- A. Peso
- B. Real
- C. Sol
- D. Bolívar
Answer: Peso
The Mexican peso also uses the '$' sign — and the symbol is widely believed to have started out as a shorthand for the peso.
7. Switzerland is surrounded by euro countries but keeps its own money. What is it called?
- A. Euro
- B. Swiss franc
- C. Krone
- D. Lira
Answer: Swiss franc
The Swiss franc's code, CHF, stands for 'Confoederatio Helvetica Franc', using Switzerland's official Latin name.
8. Denmark is in the European Union but does not use the euro. What is its currency?
- A. Euro
- B. Mark
- C. Guilder
- D. Krone
Answer: Krone
Krone means 'crown', and Denmark chose to keep it rather than switch to the euro.
9. What is the currency of Russia?
- A. Zloty
- B. Ruble
- C. Lev
- D. Forint
Answer: Ruble
One Russian ruble is divided into 100 smaller units called kopecks.
10. Which of these countries does NOT use a currency called the rupee?
- A. Nepal
- B. Sri Lanka
- C. Bangladesh
- D. Pakistan
Answer: Bangladesh
Bangladesh uses the taka (৳), while Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan each have their own rupee.