A：在中国，出门旅行是一件很平常的事。如果一个中国人在国内旅行，除了要带上钱或信用卡，还需要带上

B：Yes，indeed．ID card is one of the most authoritative certificates issued by the government to show a person's status．It is very useful for a person who travels around the country．And I know that a driving license cannot be used to identify a person's status in China．

A：你说的对。和中国众多的人口相比，有驾照的还是少数。中国从1985年开始颁发身份证，到现在有八亿多居民拥有身份证。

B：ID cards are issued to the Chinese citizens aged 16 or above．Citizens who are below that age，if they want，can also apply．

A：生活中常会用到身份证。比如，坐飞机，住旅店，从邮局取包裹，登记交税，申请驾照，或是到了任何需要出示身份证的地方，都得用身份证。

B：After about 20 years since the issue of the first ID cards，the Ministry of Public Security decided to issue the second generation of ID cards starting from January this year．

A：新一代身份证技术含量高。和老卡不同，新卡可以机读。这是中国科学家多年研究的结果。