James talks about what he would do if he was given a million dollars.
Script
Todd: James!
James: Yo!
Todd: if you had a million dollars…
James: Mm-hm
Todd: if you won the lottery…
James: Yes.
Todd: What would you do?
James: I would buy a small island, build a house there, and invest the rest of my money so that I would never have to work again.
Todd: OK, So are you talking a tropical island, or…
James: A tropical island, yeah, or maybe I would give it all to charity and have a bridge named after me.
Todd: That’s two different things there. How bout the island? Would you want to be alone, on a secluded island or?
James: No, I would want all of my friends to come and visit me often.
Todd: OK. Nice. So how would you pass the time on this island?
James: I would read books. I would study. I would go swimming, go fishing, and play with my dog.
Todd: OK. Do think money can make people happy, can buy happiness?
James: No, but it can sometimes make it easier. It depends on what you buy.
Vocab
Learn vocabulary from the lesson!
win the lottery
If you won the lottery, what would you do?
The ‘lottery’ is a collection of money that someone can win by buying a lottery ticket, in a kind of gambling. The longer that passes without someone winning the more money you can win. The money comes from selling lottery tickets. Notice the following:
- I don’t know anyone who has won the lottery.
- It would be great to win the lottery.
invest
I would invest my money so that I would never have to work again.
When you ‘invest’ your money you buy part of a company or a product with the idea that you will make more money when you sell the product or the company is successful. People invest in things like stocks, bonds and property. Notice the following:
- We invested in Starbucks when it was first starting.
- He invested his money in many successful companies and now he doesn’t have to work.
tropical island
If I had a million dollars, I would buy a tropical island.
An ‘island’ is a small piece of land in the ocean, sea or lake that has water on all sides. A ‘tropical island’ is located in an area of the world that has a tropical or warm climate. Notice the following:
- The cruise ship stopped at a few tropical islands.
- We just got back from a vacation to a tropical island.
secluded
Do you want to be alone on a secluded island?
A ‘secluded’ place is far away from everywhere else. Notice the following:
- Their cabin is in a really secluded area.
- He needs a quiet and secluded spot to work or he gets distracted.
pass the time
How would you pass the time on this island?
How you ‘pass the time’ is how you spend your time or what you do to keep yourself busy. Notice the following:
- How did you pass the time on your vacation?
- She likes to pass the time in front of the television.
Quiz
Answer the following questions about the interview.
1) Would he continue to work? 
a) Yes, he loves his job b) Only for charity c) No, he would not work
2) What kind of island would he live on?
a) Tropical b) Desert c) Secluded
3) Who would go and see him?
a) His family b) His friends c) Nobody
4) What would he do?
a) Read and study b) Fish and swim c) All of the above
5) Can money make people happy?
a) Yes, for sure b) No way c) No, but it helps
Show answers
1) Would he continue to work?
a) Yes, he loves his job b) Only for charity c) No, he would not work
2) What kind of island would he live on?
a) Tropical b) Desert c) Secluded
3) Who would go and see him?
a) His family b) His friends c) Nobody
4) What would he do?
a) Read and study b) Fish and swim c) All of the above
5) Can money make people happy?
a) Yes, for sure b) No way c) No, but it helps