We won the

lottery!
lesson description
Win big with new verbs and actions,
vocabulary, and key phrases that will
prepare you to discuss the cross-cultural
phenomenon and implications of the
lottery.
The bonus section on Financial Planning
and Starting Up a Business will give
you tips on how to be an organized
entrepreneur.

objectives
U
 se financial language to understand
wealth management and planning
Analyze the use of passive voice and
form sentences in the passive
voice from the active voice without
compromising meaning

Lesson ID: #0435

page 1

Photo: flickr.com/photos/amagill

vocabulary

actions

key phrases

bankruptcy
charity
donation
dream come true
entrepreneur
financial planning
fraud
installments
jackpot
long-lost relative
lottery
lucky day
millionaire
pay out
philanthropy
retirement
scam artists
windfall

to buy
to celebrate
to create
(a business, a corporation, a charity)
to donate
to give away (money)
to help the needy
to incorporate
to invest (in good causes or oneself )
to spend
to win

Ive always wanted to create...

Ive got to watch out for scam artists.
People are coming out of the woodwork.
This is my dream come true!
Todays my lucky day!
Who are all of these long-lost relatives?

Lesson ID: #0435

page 2

your turn
Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the word bank.
lottery

millionaire

donation

financial planning

windfall

charity

installments

scam artists

entrepreneur

jackpot

installments
1. The lottery will be paid off in yearly ____________________.

6. Six factory workers who pooled their money to buy ten tickets

donations
2. After the disaster, many _______________
were received and

lottery
won the state ________________.

the money was used to rebuild homes and shops.

jackpot
7. When I go to Las Vegas, the slot machine _______________
will

entrepreneur
3. Four companies were started by the business ______________.

be won by me!

scam artists
4. Many people lose their money to _________________
who take

8. The large tax refund the company received was considered

advantage of people during times of confusion and

windfall
a ________________.

desperation.

millionaire
9. That very expensive mansion was bought by the ____________.

financial planning
5. Bankruptcy can be avoided by smart __________________.

charity
10. A lot of money will be raised by the _________________
this

year.

conversation
Read the following conversation
out loud five times.
Raven: Hey David, can I askDavid: Shhhhh! Im listening to the radio!
Radio announcer:
And the last winning number is
93, 70, 13, 14, 45!
David: 45 45 We won the lottery! We
won the lottery! A dream come
true! Were rich! David Slater won
the lottery.
Raven: What? Really! Oh my!
David: Everybody! Were rich! Were rich!
Whos the boss? I am! ...
This may be the most important
meeting we will ever have. So,
buying a lottery ticket everyday
proved useful, eh?
Lesson ID: #0435

Bonus Feature: Watch the English Highway video to follow along! (Lesson ID: #0375)

Raven: I must admit, that business

strategy of yours worried me.
Tom: But it worked.
David: Thanks to whom?

Tom: Thanks to you. So, what are you

going to do with the money?
David:  You mean, what are we going to
do with our money?
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the passive voice

your turn

The passive voice is most commonly used when the subject that
performed an action is either unknown or unimportant.

Choose the sentence in which the passive voice structure is

used correctly.

For example:
Active voice = Construction workers built the road in 1950.
Passive voice = The road was built in 1950.

1. a. The airplane was flown by Jim.

b. Jim flew the airplane.
c. Jim was flying the airplane when the weather worsened.

The passive voice is also frequently used in reporting

information, for instance, in news programs.

2. a. Betty ate the steak.

b. The steak was eaten by Betty.
c. Eat the steak, Betty!

In the passive voice, the object of the action verb becomes

the subject.
Forming the passive: Subject Verb Direct Object
Active = Joe won the jackpot.
Passive = The jackpot was won by Joe.
verb tense

active voice

passive voice

3. a. The thieves robbed the house.

b. The house was robbed during the evening.
c. The thieves came during the evening.
4. a. Billy was questioned by his mother.
b. Mrs. Applebee was questioning Billy.
c. Billys mother questioned him.

simple present

Joe spends the

money.

The money is spent

by Joe.

present progressive

Joe is spending
the money.

The money is being

spent by Joe.

present perfect

Joe has spent the

money.

The money has

been spent by Joe.

simple past

Joe spent the

money.

The money was

spent by Joe.

past progressive

Joe was spending

the money.

The money was being spent by Joe.

past perfect

Joe had spent the

money.

The money had

been spent by Joe.

simple future and

going to future

Joe will spend the

money.
Joe is going to
spend the money.

The money will be

spent by Joe.
The money is going
to be spent by Joe.

8. a. The book was read by millions.

b. Millions of people read the book.
c. Three million people read the book.

future perfect

Joe will have

spent the money.

The money will

have been spent by
Joe.

9. a. The cookies were baked by Jane.

b. Many cookies taste delicious.
c. Jane baked the cookies.

tip 1
Not all verbs can be used in the passive tense. For example,
it is not possible to use any intransitive verbs, such as sleep,
come, be, seem, and happen among others, in the
passive tense.
Lesson ID: #0435

5. a. She broke the record last year.

b. Last year, the record was broken.
c. She was breaking the record when she broke her nose!
6. a. The apple was eaten by the student.
b. Here, eat the apple.
c. The student ate the apple.
7. a. The president loved his son.
b. The president was loved by many.
c. Many people loved the president.

10. a. Jaime took the test.

b. The test was taken by Jaime.
c. I like taking tests.

page 4

financial planning and starting up

a business

Photo: flickr.com/photos/sunshinecity

Whether or not you are an entrepreneur, financial planning is the

key to financial stability and security. It is also necessary in case
you wish to start up your own business. Here are some tips to
help you explore your financial options:
Budget your money wisely. Without knowing how much you
have and allowing for necessary expenditures, it would be nearly
impossible to plan for any big financial decisions.
Put a percentage into savings. Its important to save for a rainy
day. (tip 1)
Invest a certain percentage for retirement. Its important to
plan for the years when you will not be working.
Spend a certain percentage on fun things. Enjoy some of your
money now.
Invest a certain percentage in a business venture. Choose
wisely, and make sure it is for something about which you are
passionate.
Ask yourself if you have the determination to succeed.
Know yourself. Identify your special talents. Do you have
self-discipline? How much risk are you will to take?
Know when to incorporate and when not to incorporate.
In business, knowledge = money. Get familiar with business
trends in your field.
Invest in your business. Establish a good accounting system.
If you need help, hire employees who you can trust. Advertise
wisely.
Invest in yourself. Continue your education. Never stop
learning.

tip 1
Rainy day is an expression used to describe an unforeseen
emergency in the future.

Lesson ID: #0435

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your turn
Change each of the following active voice sentences into the
passive voice. You may add or delete as many words as
necessary in order to write a correct sentence, but do not
change the main idea of the sentence!
For example:
I watched the movie.

The movie was watched by me.

1. Frank won the lottery.

The lottery was won by Frank.

2. The scam artists fooled my mother.

My mother was fooled by the scam artists.

3. Every year he donates $10,000 to the foundation.

$10000 are donated to the foundation by him every year.

8. Some women won the jackpot.

The jackpot was won by some women.

9. Arnold is going to donate a lot of money to the museum.

A lot of money is going to be donated to the museum by Arnold.

10. Shari will buy a lottery ticket tonight.

A lottery ticket will be bought by Shari tonight.

4. The millionaire has invested more money.

More money has been invested by the millionaire.

5. Long-lost relatives contacted the winner.

The winner was contacted by long-lost relatives.

6. Regina is giving her old car away.

Regina's old car is being given away by her.
The old car is being given away by Regina.

7. Randy advises the entrepreneur.

The entrepreneur is advised by Randy.

Lesson ID: #0435

page 6

answer key

your turn - exercise 1

your turn - exercise 2

1. installments
2. donations
3. entrepreneur
4. scam artists
5. financial planning
6. lottery
7. jackpot
8. windfall
9. millionaire
10. charity

1. a
2. b
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. a
7. b
8. a
9. a
10. b

your turn - exercise 3

1. The lottery was won by Frank.
2. My mother was fooled by the scam artists.
3. $10,000 are donated to the foundation by him every year.
4. More money has been invested by the millionaire.
5. The winner was contacted by long-lost relatives.
6. The old car is being given away by Regina.
7. The entrepreneur is advised by Randy.
8. The jackpot was won by some women.
9. A lot of money is going to be donated to the museum by Arnold.
10. A lottery ticket will be bought by Shari tonight.

Lesson ID: #0435

page 7