[People ★★★]
(P1) An amateur archaeologist struck gold when he came across a hoard of old coins in northern Germany. Florian Bautsch uncovered 10 gold coins last October using a metal detector and on examination of the scene, professionals found 117 more.
(P2) The coins are of French, Belgian, Italian and Austro-Hungarian origin and date from 1831 to 1910. They’re believed to have been buried during the Nazi era or shortly after the Second World War.
(P3) Two aluminum seals featuring swastika crosses, eagles, and the words “Reichsbank Berlin 244” were also in discovered in the same field. Researchers think the coins were part of the German central bank’s gold reserves and were probably stolen.
(P4) The hoard has been valued at around 45,000 euro, but unfortunately for Florian Bautsch, it’s not finders keepers. He reportedly receives a relatively modest finder’s fee of 2.5 thousand euro, and the coins will go on display at the local museum next week.
WORDS: 153
SOURCE: http://www.newsinlevels.com/products/man-finds-gold-coins-level-3/?utm_source=old
VOCABULARY: archaeologist, hoard, swastika, crosses, finders keepers, modest
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.
- Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.
- Do you think he should be able to keep the gold coins? Why or why not?
- Do you think the finders fee he received was acceptable? Why or why not?
- If you were an archaeologist, where would you try to find artifacts? Why?
READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
- The person who found the gold coins is a professional treasure finder. (T or F)
- When did Mr. Bautsch discover the money?
- How old are the coins?
- What else was discovered?
- Where are the coins now?
EXPRESSIONS or PHRASES:
What do the following expressions or phrases mean?
- struck gold (P1)
- Nazi era (P2)
- valued at around 45,000 euro (P4)
- finder’s fee (P4)
Image source: Photo JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images http://www.ibtimes.com/nazi-era-gold-coins-germany-worth-45000-euros-found-novice-archaeologist-2009437