Correct Answer: C
Basically, there are three measure word units for Chinese currency in spoken Chinese: “块(kuài) Chinese yuan,” “毛(máo) dime or ten cents,” and “分(fēn) cent.” “分(fēn) cent” is not used as much these days because of inflation. Therefore, now the two major units in oral Chinese are “块(kuài)” and “毛(máo).” In written Chinese, “角(jiǎo)” is commonly used in place of “毛(máo)” and “块(kuài)” can be written as “元(yuán).” “块(kuài)” and “毛(máo)” are actually decimal units representing the “ones” and “tenths” place. In other words, “一块(yíkuài) one yuan” equals to “十毛(shímáo) ten dimes.”
Since each of these units is grammatically a measure word, at the end of any sum of money, the noun “钱(qián) money” should follow.
Examples
1. Zhètiáo qúnzi sānbǎi kuài qián.
1. 这 条 裙子 三百 块 钱。
1. This dress costs three hundred yuan.
2. Zhè ge bīngqílín mài wǔ kuài wǔ máo qián.
2. 这 个 冰淇淋 卖 五 块 五 毛 钱。
2. This ice-cream costs 5.50 yuan.
However, the noun “钱(qián) money” can be omitted in spoken Chinese. Therefore, the prices mentioned above can also be “三百块(sānbǎi kuài) three hundred yuan” and “五块五毛(wǔ kuài wǔ máo) five yuan and fifty cents.”
Example
Zhè bù zhìnéngshǒujī mài sānqiān kuài.
这 部 智能 手机 卖 三千 块。
This smart phone is three thousand yuan.
In addition, if a sum of money involves more than one monetary unit in successive ordering, or if the last unit is “块(kuài),” it is very common to omit the last unit in spoken Chinese. So, we often say “三百(sānbǎi) three hundred (yuan)” and “五块五(wǔ kuài wǔ) five yuan and fifty (cents)” too.
Example
Bìshèngkè de pīsà xiànzài mài sìshísì, wǒmen qù chī ba!
必胜客 的 披萨 现在 卖 四十四，我们 去 吃 吧！
The pizza at Pizza-Hut costs 44 yuan now. Let’s go eat!
Please note that if we want to omit “块(kuài)” and “毛(máo)” at the end of each sum of money, the money word “钱(qián)” must also be omitted. Therefore, expressions such as “五百钱(wǔbǎi qián)” and “十二块五钱(shíèr kuài wǔ qián)” are totally WRONG in modern Chinese.
Translation of the dialogue:
Mike: Qīngdǎo píjiǔ duōshǎoqián yìpíng?
Mike: 青岛 啤酒 多少钱 一瓶？
Mike: How much is a bottle of Tsingtao beer?
Steven: Sān kuài wǔ máo qián.
Steven: 三 块 五 毛 钱。
Steven: Three yuan and fifty cents.
In our test, “钱(qián)” is only used at the end of the monetary figure, so we can eliminate A and B. We cannot just omit “毛(máo),” leaving “钱(qián)” at its original position, so D can be ruled out. Therefore, the correct answer is C.