Seven steps to becoming a millionaire

Tom Wright is the author of a bestselling book called How to make a million. Here are seven of his top pieces of 1 for getting rich.

1 Work hard – If you work harder and more effectively than your colleagues, this will probably be noticed by your customers or employer. Good enough just isn’t enough to become a millionaire.

2 you go that extra mile in the workplace, don’t expect a pay rise any time soon either.

2 Start budgeting – It is far too easy to waste money and overspend. If you use a spreadsheet to keep

3 of how much money you lose each week, I guarantee you’ll have an unpleasant shock by the end of the year and you’ll be happy to curb that spending.

3 Start saving – Unfortunately you never know what nasty surprise is lurking round the corner. Would you have enough in the bank to cover your mortgage if you 4 your job? I advise keeping at least six months of expenses in your bank account in case of emergencies.

4 Start investing – With such low interest rates, you won’t become rich by sticking all your money in a savings account. Trading in stocks and shares is risky, but if seen as a long-term 5 and if you’re able to keep your cool when the stock market is shaky, you’ll reap the rewards.

5 Learn from your mistakes – Even the richest entrepreneurs have lost money due to bad investments, i.e. they’ve bought companies that then go bankrupt. However, if you’re put off by your mistakes, or let them hold you back from decision-making, you’ll never 6 success.

6 Don’t listen to others – If your friends see you’re becoming successful, odds are they’ll feel envious of you and will try and put you 7 . As soon as you stop believing you’ll become a millionaire, it probably won’t happen. Don’t let other people put you off, prove them wrong instead!

7 Love your job – If you aren’t passionate about your job, chances are you won’t be able to 8 up the long hours and dedication required to make a million. Do what you love and you’ll love what you do (and hopefully also get rich in the process!).

2 CERT Read the text. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.

Alex loved horses, which is why he worked in a stable on very low wages. He wasn’t a 1 person – he didn’t earn much but he always managed to put something aside. He spent his

2 on his hobby, horses!

One night, he dreamed he saw his 3 horse, Bella, win a race. So he took out all his 4 , $200, and bet it all on her. It was madness, he knew, but 5 Bella won the race. He was rich! He knew exactly what he would do with his 6 He would buy a horse. It was a good 7 and he knew which horse he wanted. He wanted Bella. He was in luck: the

8 , Mr Thomas, agreed to sell her. However, when the day arrived for the 9 to take place, Mr Thomas said that,

10 , he had changed his mind. He couldn’t sell Bella. His daughter, who was very fond of Bella, refused to part with the horse.

Revison: be going to and will for future

be going to will

●  to talk about future intentions or decisions already taken: Spielberg’s going to make a new movie next year.

●  to make predictions based on current evidence: Box office sales show the movie’s going to be a great hit.

●  to express decisions made at the moment of speaking:

I think I’ll go and buy some popcorn before the movie starts!

●  to make predictions based on what we believe: Some movie critics say 3D is a gimmick. It will fizzle out.

●  to express future events that are subject to true facts: You’ll be 18 on your next birthday.

Watch out!

It is often possible to use both the Present continuous and be going to when we talk about future plans:

We are staying/going to stay for another week.

We usually use be going to when we want to stress the intention or decision to do something in the future, while we use the Present continuous to talk about a future action which has already been planned:

Hurray! My parents are going to increase my weekly allowance.

We are moving into our new house next Monday.

With come, go and leave we usually don’t use be going to but the Present continuous, as it sounds less clumsy:

●  to give a warning about something that’s about to happen: You’re going to burn the steak. Turn down the flame!

Watch out!

●  to express offers, promises and requests:

I’ll take you all out to the movies tonight. My treat!

‘You know I’ll always love you darling!’, he said kissing her. Will you lend me $20 until the end of the week?

We use will after verbs of opinion like be sure, believe, expect, hope, think, doubt, suppose, etc.: Mia had another bad mark in math. I doubt her mom will let her go to the party. In the negative form, we add not to the verb of opinion, not to will:

I don’t think he will buy a new cell phone. (Not: I think he won’t buy a new cell phone.)

Revision: Present simple and continuous for future

Present simple Present continuous

●  to talk about timetabled events and schedules, such as transportation, TV programs, public shows and events: The train leaves in ten minutes. Don’t be late! The next showing of the new Avengers movie is at 8 p.m.

●  to talk about fixed future plans or arrangements, usually with a time expression, involving other people or place: We’re having dinner with friends this evening John is backpacking around Europe this summer

I’m going to the movies this week. (Not: I’m going to go to the movies this week.)

David isn’t going to the university this year. (Not: David isn’t going to go to the university this year.)

Are you coming over this weekend? (Not: Are you going to come over this weekend?)

Exercises 1-3

Future continuous and Future perfect

Future continuous

●  to talk about actions in progress on or around a particular time in the future: This time next week we’ll be laying on a tropical beach!

●  to make assumptions about what people might be doing at present: Don’t phone Mom now. She will be driving home.

Exercises 4-5

Future perfect

●  to talk about something that will be completed before a particular time in the future (often used with by or in): In one week’s time I will have finished writing my first novel!

By the time you receive this letter I will have gone forever. Don’t try to find me!

1 Complete the mini conversations with be going to or will and the words in parentheses.

1 A I (go) for a walk.

B I need a break. I (come) with you.

2 A How’s the match?

B Great. Look, Messi (score)!

3 A When (you / leave) home?

B When I get a job!

4 A What would you like to drink?

B I (have) an orange juice, please.

5 A There’s a transportation strike tomorrow so there (not be) any buses.

B That means I (not be able) to go to school. Great!

6 A You don’t look well, what’s up?

B I think I (be) sick!

2 Complete the conversation with will or the Present continuous using the verbs in parentheses.

Sally Don’t forget Pete’s birthday party on Friday.

Lisa Don’t worry. I 1 (not forget) it. Are you going?

Sally Yes, I 2 (go) straight after my dance class, so I 3 (see) you there.

Lisa How many people do you think 4 (be) there?

Sally About twenty? Why?

Lisa I 5 (make) the cake for the party, remember!

Sally Do you think you 6 (have) time to get the drinks too? You 7 (buy) the drinks remember!

Lisa Don’t worry. I promise I 8 (get) them today.

3 Underline the correct alternative.

1 Don’t worry, I’m sure you will pass / are passing your exam.

2 Sorry, I can’t come to the movies. I am rehearsing / will rehearse with my band tonight.

3 When do you leave / will you leave for your summer break?

4 Let me. I’ll carry / I carry your suitcase for you.

5 The movie will start / starts at 8:30 p.m.

6 I’m not going / don’t go out tonight. I’m feeling really tired, I want to get an early night.

4 Choose the correct option (a or b).

1 Sure, Adrian. You can call me anytime tomorrow.

a n I won’t be working.

b n I won’t have worked.

2 It’s already midnight. The theater a n will be closing by now – it usually closes at 11:30 p.m. b n will have closed by now – it usually closes at 11:30 p.m.

3 Tokyo, here we come: in a couple of days a n we’ll have eaten the most delicious sushi! b n we’ll be eating the most delicious sushi!

4 Don’t worry, Mom! By the time you get back from work a n we’ll have prepared dinner. b n we’ll be preparing dinner. a n Will you be joining me? b n Will you have joined me?

5 I’ve decided to go to the Contemporary Art exhibition tonight.

6 How many theater plays a n will you be watching by the end of the festival? b n will you have watched by the end of the festival?

7 By this time next year, a n I’ll have graduated from the university. b n I’ll be graduating from the university.

8 Media trend analysts say that by 2040 a n we’ll have shut down all our old TV services. b n we’ll be shutting down all our old TV services.

5 Complete the sentences with the correct future form of the verbs in parentheses.

1 I (finish) my homework and then I’ll help you lay the table.

2 I’m afraid I might be a bit late. (wait) for me?

3 Please, don’t call me after 11 p.m. I (sleep).

4 I (study) until late tonight. I have an exam in the morning.

5 By next June, we (leave) school.

6 The newspaper says the concert is at 9, but they never start on time. I’m sure if we get there at 9:15 p.m. it (not start).

7 We (prepare) for Jenny and Ben’s surprise birthday party all day Friday.

8 The rerun of this episode (go out) at the same time next week.

Conditionals

We use the Zero conditional to talk about things which are always true: If you want to open a bank account, you need some ID.

We use the First conditional to talk about things which are real or possible:

If you make the effort to save money when you are young, you will appreciate it later.

We use the Second conditional to talk about things which are highly unlikely or impossible: If fewer people got into debt, there would be fewer social problems.

We use the Third conditional to talk about things in the past which did not happen, or cannot be changed: If I had put some money aside, I would have been able to buy a car.

Watch out!

The if clause can go before or after the main clause; when the if clause precedes the main clause, we put a comma between the two clauses: I would go on vacation if I didn’t have to work. If I didn’t have to work, I would go on vacation.

Modal verbs can be used in different types of conditional sentences to express different functions:

You can pay contactless if you want to. (ability)

If someone hadn’t been so honest, you might not have had your wallet back. (possibility)

If you need to borrow money, you should apply for a loan. (advice/obligation)

Exercises 1-2

Mixed and inverted conditionals

Mixed conditionals are used to talk about things when the time of the if clause is not the same as the time in the main clause:

If I’d worked during my gap year (past), I’d have money to go to university now (present).

If I didn’t work the night shift (present), I would have joined you for dinner yesterday (past).

Inversions are used in formal conditional sentences to express unreal present and unreal past situations, by inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb and removing if:

If I were in your position, I would ask for a refund on your vacation 

Were I in your position, I would ask for a refund on your vacation.

If I had known you were going to pay, I would have come with you! 

Had I known you were going to pay, I would have come with you!

In negative clauses with inversion, we do not use contracted forms:

If you hadn’t heard the news, you wouldn’t have known all the banks were closed. 

Had you not heard the news, you wouldn’t have known all the banks were closed.

Watch out!

Inversions are also used in formal conditional sentences to express real conditions, by beginning the sentence with should and removing if:

If you need any assistance, please let us know.  Should you need any assistance, please let us know.

Exercises 3-4 wish, if and if only wish, if and if only are used to express the function of regret:

If I had been more responsible, I wouldn’t have maxed out on my credit cards.

I wish I had bought a house when you could still get a 100% mortgage.

If only I had reserved my ticket earlier, I would have paid a lot less for it.

Exercise 5

1 Underline the correct alternative.

1 If Julia gets / will get that job at Google as an analyst, she will be / is over the moon!

2 Be careful with that vase, it’s very fragile: if you drop / will drop it, it breaks / would break

3 If I could afford a motorbike, I wouldn’t / won’t use buses.

4 My grandad would have found / had found a better job, if his family had allowed / would had allowed him to go abroad.

5 They won’t / don’t admit us to the venue if we won’t / don’t arrive on time.

6 If I spoke / speak Chinese, I would accepted / would have accepted that teaching position in Hong Kong.

7 If your car won’t work / doesn’t work, I’ll drive / drive you myself to the job interview.

8 I will join / join you at the restaurant if I won’t finish / don’t finish work late.

9 We would buy / bought a bigger apartment if the bank would give / gave us the loan.

10 If you park / will park here, they give / will give you a fine.

2 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.

1 If I (know) you were coming, I would have cooked something special.

2 If I could afford it, I (go) to New York for Christmas.

3 We would have a table if you (call) to reserve one.

4 He (not buy) an expensive watch even if he could afford one.

5 We (miss) the train if we don’t hurry.

6 If you could visit anywhere in the world, where (you / go)?

7 They (not sell) the jacket if you had left a deposit.

8 If I (not forget) my wallet, I would have been able to pay for my lunch.

9 If I (see) Mark tomorrow, I’ll give him your message.

10 I (watch) the football match if you aren’t going to watch TV tonight.

3 Match the two halves of the sentences.

1 If the airline pilots hadn’t gone on strike,

2 If we hadn’t got lost,

3 If I’d won the $50,000 prize money,

4 If we hadn’t eaten so much chocolate,

5 If I hadn’t worked so hard,

6 You wouldn’t have a reprimand a n if you weren’t always late for school. b n I’d be rich. c n Angie would be in Los Angeles now. d n I wouldn’t be where I am today! e n we wouldn’t feel sick. f n we would be there now.

4 Complete the second sentences.

1 My train was at nine thirty. I left the house at nine and I missed the train. Had I , I wouldn’t have missed the train study finance • not stay out so late • not say anything save some money • buy the latest electric scooter

2 Susan saw a car accident. She had her phone with her. Had she not , she couldn’t have called an ambulance.

3 Yesterday my friend Josh wanted to come to the concert with me. He didn’t have a ticket. Had I , I would have given it to him.

4 It was Liz’s birthday yesterday. I forgot it and did not call her. Had I , I would have bought her a present.

5 Your order is delayed. You can contact the customer service. Had your order , contact the customer service.

5 Complete the second sentences using the phrases from the box.

1 I’m in the red for the second month in a row. I spend too much money.

I wish .

2 I went out really late and didn’t wake up in time for my lesson.

If only I

3 I said I didn’t like Yu’s hair. She was really upset.

I wish .

4 The latest electric scooter is on sale. I don’t have enough money.

If only I

5 Clark studied law. He can’t run his firm.

If only Clark ,

The arts

1 Read the definitions and write the corresponding words.

1 someone who is responsible for money and management when making a movie, play or TV program

2 someone in charge of making a movie, play or TV program

3 someone who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir

4 someone who writes music

5 someone who performs or writes music

6 someone famous from the entertainment industry

7 an entertainer on stage or television who makes people laugh

8 a group of people who watch live entertainment

2 Underline the correct alternative to complete the description of online classes.

Try one of our new online classes. In the new year there are plenty to choose from.

• You could step behind the camera and learn 1 special effects / video making with expert documentary-maker Tom Richens.

• Or why not give writing a go? If a 2 chapter / novel seems too much, try crafting 3 an edition / a scene from a play with well-known dramatist Fay Willis.

• And have you ever thought of learning to play an 4 instrument / orchestra or writing the 5 lyrics / poetry for your very own song? Before you know it, our expert tutors will have you forming a band and putting on 6 a concert / an exhibition!

• If on the other hand art is your bag, we have several 7 canvas / painting and art 8 installation / sculpture courses for you to choose from led by working artists. Click here for the full list of courses.

3 Find the odd one out and give a reason why.

1 A exhibition B landscape

C portrait D watercolor

2 A audiobook B author C e-book D print book

3 A silky B tragic C tuneful D voice

4 A performance B sell-out shows C special effects D stage presence

Entertainment collocations

4 Complete the collocations with suitable words.

1 compose 2 do 3 go 4 play 5 see

6 surf 7 watch

Compound nouns: Entertainment

5 Complete the compound nouns with the words from the box. 1 back 2 costume 3 close-

6 Complete the sentences with the correct compound nouns.

1 We were so excited when we got passes at Glastonbury Festival and got to meet our favorite artists.

2 I can’t stand watching foreign films because you have to read the so quickly in case you lose the plot.

3 Famous people are increasingly choosing to write their to tell the story of their lives before they have even really done anything!

4 People always look forward to the latest James Bond movie to see what spectacular have been created.

5 This is the from that new TV crime series. Now I can’t get the tune out of my head!

7 Use the words in parentheses to form a compound noun that fits each gap.

I was quite young when my mother first took me to the Louvre in Paris to see Leonardo da Vinci’s 1 (MASTER), the Mona Lisa. I was struck not just by her famous enigmatic smile and the way her eyes seemed to follow you around the room, but by the detail Leonardo had succeeded in putting in the 2 (GROUND).

My mother, who is an art historian, explained that such depth and detail were possible because it was an 3 (OIL). When we returned home, I decided to attempt to do a 4 (SELF), as I didn’t think it is fair to draw anybody else badly. I took my inspiration from looking at the style of the Dutch 5 (IMPRESSIONIST) artist Van Gogh, who used a particular swirling technique with his paintbrush on canvas. He also did many interesting 6 (LIFE) studies like his famous picture, the Sunflowers; which were much easier to copy!

Collocations and expressions with get 8 Answer the questions about yourself.

1 What stops you from getting bored during the day?

2 What would you like to get for your birthday this year?

3 Which personal qualities will help you get a job in the future?