Text Interpretation: Colonial Money

Activity of text interpretation, aimed at students in the sixth year of elementary school, about colonial money. According to the text, for many historians, the first coin to circulate in Brazil was sweet. Are we going to know more about this very curious subject? To do so, read the text “Did you know that colonial money barely fit in your wallet?”. Then answer the various interpretative questions proposed!

This reading comprehension activity is available for download in an editable Word template, ready to print in PDF, as well as the completed activity.

Download this text interpretation exercise at:

• Word: Text Interpretation: Colonial Money – 6th year – Editable template
• PDF: Text Interpretation: Colonial Money – 6th Grade – Printable
• Template: Text Interpretation: Colonial Money – 6th Grade – With Answers
• Images: Page 1 – page 2

SCHOOL: DATE:

PROF: CLASS:

NAME:

Read:

Did you know that colonial money barely fits in your wallet?

Money was not always the way we know it today. At the time when Brazil was a colony of Portugal – which began in the 16th century and lasted until the beginning of the 19th century – agricultural products and metals were worth money. Over time, money changed, being standardized until, say, it fit in the wallet.

Look at this curious: for many historians, the first coin to circulate in Brazil was sweet, because as the The main export item of Colonial Brazil was sugar, it became the main currency of exchange in the negotiations. If you're thinking that instead of carrying bills and coins in their wallets, people would carry bags and bags of sugar when they wanted to buy something, you're right on target! Likewise, tobacco, gold and silver were also exchange elements.

Alongside these products, there were some coins similar to those we know today, but they were rare! In a population formed mostly by slaves and very poor people, this type of money was restricted to the noblest. These first coins to circulate in Colonia Brazil were pressed in the Captaincy of São Vicente – the region where the city of Santos is located today, in the state of São Paulo. They were made of gold and called Saint Vincent and Half Saint Vincent.

With the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family, in 1808, the demand for coins increased. This is because the entire Court came to the colony, mainly to Rio de Janeiro, which became the seat of the Portuguese government. D. João VI, the king, authorized the making of royal money – made of gold, silver and copper, circular in shape and in different sizes. The most valuable coins were those of gold and silver; copper ones, of lesser value, were used in the purchase of offal.

Later, the currency was also issued, which resulted in the foundation of Banco do Brasil, which still exists today and is the first bank in the country. The paper money was actually a kind of note on which you could write the amount and sign it, like your current check sheet. And that's how the money started to fit in the wallet…

Carlos Gabriel Guimarães. “Ciência Hoje das Crianças” magazine. Edition 190. Available in: .

Questions

Question 1 - Identify the purpose of the text:

A:

Question 2 - In the passage “[…] the people carried bags and bags of sugar when they wanted to buy something […]”, the underlined verb expresses:

( ) an ephemeral action in Colonial Brazil.

( ) a continuous action in Colonial Brazil.

( ) a sporadic action in Colonial Brazil.

Question 3 - According to the text, some coins similar to those of today were rare in Colonial Brazil, because they:

( ) were used only by the noblest people.

( ) were used mainly by the noblest people.

( ) were occasionally used by the noblest people.

Question 4 – In the segment "They they were made of gold and called Saint Vincent and Half Saint Vincent.”, the underlined pronoun:

( ) explains “the first coins to circulate in Brazil Colony”.

( ) takes up “the first coins to circulate in Brazil Colony”.

( ) presents “the first coins to circulate in Brazil Colony”.

Question 5 - In the period "With the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family, in 1808, the demand for coins increased.”, the highlighted excerpt expresses:

( ) the timing of the increase in demand for coins.

( ) the reason for the increased demand for coins.

( ) the consequence of the increased demand for coins.

Question 6 – According to the text, "were used in the purchase of offal", the coins:

( ) of gold.

( ) silver.

( ) copper.

Question 7 – In “[…] a kind of note on which the amount could be written and signed, as in the current check sheet.”, the word “how” indicates:

( ) cause.

( ) example.

( ) Comparation.

By Denyse Lage Fonseca

Graduated in Languages ​​and specialist in distance education.

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