For many years, Europe kept its gold in America. Now it is bringing the gold back. Why?
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Ten words, three short games. Say your answers out loud before you check.
Match each word (1–5) to its meaning (A–E). Say it out loud — "I think 1 is B" — then check.
1 = C (a vault) · 2 = E (gold bars) · 3 = B (to store)
4 = D (a crisis) · 5 = A (to trust)
Read the sentence. Guess the meaning of the bold word from the situation. Then check.
Read each part. Then answer the questions from memory, and talk about the question at the end.
Many countries have gold. They keep it as gold bars in big, strong rooms called vaults. The gold is for a very bad day — a crisis — when a country needs money quickly.
Here is a surprising thing. For many years, a lot of Europe's gold was not in Europe. It was in America. Germany's gold was in New York. The Netherlands kept a lot of its gold in America too. Why?
The first reason was fear. After the Second World War, Europe was afraid of a new war. Germany was next to the border, and soldiers always take a country's gold. So countries sent their gold far away, across the sea. It was safer there.
The second reason was money. In New York and London, you can sell gold very fast. If your gold is in a small city, you must wait. If it is in a big market, you can sell it in a few hours. So the gold stayed abroad — because it was safe, and because it was easy to sell.
1. Why do countries keep gold?
2. What were the two reasons for keeping the gold in America?
1. For a crisis — a very bad day when the country needs money quickly.
2. First, fear: Europe was afraid of a new war, and soldiers take a country's gold, so far away was safer. Second, money: in a big market like New York you can sell gold very fast.
Then something changed. Germany decided to bring its gold home. From 2013 to 2017, it moved 674 tonnes of gold back to the city of Frankfurt — about 300 tonnes from New York and about 374 tonnes from Paris. It finished three years early.
This year, France also brought gold back from America. And then the Netherlands moved 86 tonnes of its gold out of America and Canada. The Dutch bank said it did this because the world is not calm now, and because it wants the gold ready if there is a crisis.
The boss of the Dutch bank, Olaf Sleijpen, said something interesting: "We expect that we will never need to use them, but we do need to strengthen our resilience and preparedness." In simple words: we hope we will never need this gold — but we must be ready.
But look at one detail. The Dutch gold did not go home to Amsterdam. It went to London! Why? Because London is a big gold market. If you must sell fast in a crisis, London is a very good place to be.
1. How much gold did Germany bring back, and to which city?
2. Where did the Dutch gold go? Why is this a surprise?
1. 674 tonnes, back to Frankfurt — about 300 tonnes from New York and about 374 tonnes from Paris, between 2013 and 2017.
2. It went to London, not to Amsterdam. It is a surprise because "bringing gold home" usually means to your own country — but London is a big market where you can sell gold quickly.
Now, close your eyes and imagine this: big lorries, guards with guns, a ship crossing the sea with gold. Exciting! But that is not what happened.
Most of the Dutch gold did not travel. The bank sold about 59 tonnes of gold in New York, and on the same day it bought the same quantity of gold in London. The gold in New York stayed in New York. The gold in London was already in London. Only about 27 tonnes travelled in a real lorry.
So why is this happening? Some people say it is fear: countries do not trust other countries now. But other people say no. Joseph Cavatoni works for the World Gold Council. He said: "I don't get a sense that there's an impending doom" — in simple words, "I don't think something terrible is coming." He says banks are just getting better at looking after their money. It is also expensive to keep gold at home, because you must pay for guards and insurance.
And why gold, and not money? Because money is a promise. A bank can say no. A government can print more paper. But gold is only gold. Nobody must promise anything. That is why, when people are worried, the price of gold goes up — and this year it went up to a record.
1. How did most of the Dutch gold "move"? How much really travelled?
2. Give one reason for this story that is not about fear.
1. The bank sold about 59 tonnes in New York and bought the same quantity in London on the same day, so it did not travel. Only about 27 tonnes travelled for real.
2. Either: banks are getting better at looking after their money (Joseph Cavatoni); or it is expensive to keep gold at home, because you pay for guards and insurance.
This story is full of reasons. Why did they move the gold? English gives you three easy ways to answer.
Look at the words after the gap. Then choose.
1. They sent the gold to New York they were afraid of a war.
2. Many people are buying gold the bad news.
3. The bank chose London you can sell gold quickly there.
4. She could not sleep the noise outside.
1. because ("they were afraid" — subject + verb)
2. because of ("the bad news" — only a thing)
3. because ("you can sell" — subject + verb)
4. because of ("the noise" — only a thing)
Answer each question with to and one verb. Say the full sentence out loud.
1. Why did countries send their gold far away? → it safe.
2. Why did the Dutch bank choose London? → the gold quickly.
3. Why do people put money in a bank? → it from thieves.
1. to keep — "to keep it safe"
2. to sell — "to sell the gold quickly"
3. to protect — "to protect it from thieves". (to keep it safe is also fine)
After to we always use the simple verb: to keep, to sell, to protect. Never "to keeping".
Write because, because of or to in each gap. Then read the whole paragraph out loud.
After the war, Europe was frightened. Countries sent their gold to America keep it safe. They did this they did not feel safe at home. Today, some countries are bringing the gold back the problems in the world.
to (+ verb "keep" — the purpose) · because ("they did not feel" — subject + verb) · because of ("the problems" — only a thing)
Keep these ready — in the Speak tab you will explain a lot of reasons.
This story is not old history. It is happening now! So you can read the real news about it, in real English.
The BBC report about the Dutch, French and German gold. This is where the numbers and the quotations in this lesson come from.
Read the BBC article →This is the most important part. Say everything out loud. Use the timer to help you keep talking.
Tell the story in your own words. Follow this order: countries keep gold for a crisis → Europe sent its gold to America (two reasons) → Germany brought 674 tonnes home → the Netherlands moved 86 tonnes to London → but most of the gold did not travel → why gold is special.
Use because, because of and to + verb, and use at least four key words (vault, gold bars, store, crisis, trust, safe, abroad, worried, bring back, sell).
Imagine you have something very valuable. Is it safer in your house, or in a bank in another city? Give your reasons with because and because of. Then say what could go wrong with each choice.
The Dutch bank said: "We hope we will never need it, but we must be ready." Talk about being ready for bad days in normal life.
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: