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Reading Worksheet

If I Won the Lottery

A2 Second Conditional: Imaginary Present/Future Situations Money and Dreams 25 minutes
Before You Read

Discuss these questions with a partner before you read.

  • Have you ever bought a lottery ticket, or do you know someone who has?
  • If you had a lot of money, would you save it, spend it, or give it away?
  • What is something you can't afford now but would like to have one day?
  • Is it better to spend money on experiences (like travel) or things (like a house)? Why?
Key Vocabulary
Word Definition Example
lottery (n.) a competition where you buy a ticket and win money if your numbers are chosen She bought a lottery ticket every week, but she never won.
afford (v.) to have enough money to pay for something I can't afford a new phone right now — I don't have enough money.
generous (adj.) happy to give money, time, or help to others He was very generous — he paid for everyone's lunch.
charity (n.) an organisation that helps people who need it, using donated money She gave money to a charity that helped sick children.
invest (v.) to put money into something so it can grow or make more money in the future He decided to invest his savings in a small business.
retire (v.) to stop working permanently, usually when you are older She wanted to retire at 60 and travel the world.
Reading Text
Magazine Article ~210 words

If I Won the Lottery

We asked four people one simple question: what would you do if you won the lottery? Their answers were very different.

Lucia, 19, from Italy, says she would stop studying immediately. "If I won the lottery, I would travel the world," she says. "I would visit every country before I was 30. I would not buy a big house — if I had all that money, I would live in small apartments in different cities."

Sam, 35, from England, would be generous with his money. "If I won the lottery, I would give half to my family," he says. "I would also buy a small farm and grow my own vegetables. And if I could afford it, I would start a football school for children in my town."

Keiko, 28, from Japan, has a clear dream. "If I had enough money, I would open a restaurant in Tokyo and cook for my friends every evening," she says. "I would also give money to animal shelters — I love animals."

Carlos, 51, from Mexico, would not change his life very much. "If I won, I would pay for my grandchildren's education first," he says. "If there was money left, I would give the rest to a hospital in my city. I don't need much for myself."

Notice the Grammar

Look at the article. Find a sentence with the word 'if'. What verb form comes after 'if'? What verb form comes in the second part of the sentence? Can you find three more examples of this pattern?

1 Reading for Gist

Answer these questions in a few words.

  1. What question did the magazine ask the four people?
  2. How many people answered the question?
  3. Which person would change their life the least?
2 Reading for Detail

Write short answers to these questions.

  1. What does Lucia say she would do before the age of 30?
  2. What type of home would Lucia choose?
  3. What would Sam start in his town?
  4. What would Keiko do with some of her money besides opening a restaurant?  a) She would buy a farm. b) She would give money to animal shelters. c) She would pay for her family's holidays. 
  5. What would Carlos spend his money on first?
3 True, False, or Not Given

Write T (True), F (False), or NG (Not Given).

  1. Lucia would buy a large house if she won the lottery.
  2. Sam would give half of his lottery money to his family.
  3. Keiko has already tried to open a restaurant.
  4. Carlos would donate money to a hospital in his city.
  5. Sam would grow fruit on his farm.
4 Vocabulary in Context

Answer these questions about words from the article.

  1. Carlos says: 'I don't need much for myself.' Which word best describes Carlos?  a) greedy b) generous c) ambitious 
  2. Sam says he would 'buy a small farm and grow his own vegetables'. Why might winning the lottery make this possible — which vocabulary word helps explain this?
  3. Find a word in Lucia's paragraph that means 'to stop doing a job or activity permanently'. 
  4. What does 'give money to animal shelters' mean here? Write your own definition of 'animal shelter' based on the context.
5 Grammar in Context

Complete these activities about the second conditional.

  1. Find four second conditional sentences from the article. Write them.
    a)  b)  c)  d) 
  2. Complete the rule: In the second conditional, after 'if' we use _____ (present or past?) simple. In the result clause, we use _____.
  3. Which sentence is a correct second conditional?  a) If I win the lottery, I will travel the world. b) If I won the lottery, I would travel the world. c) If I won the lottery, I will travel the world. 
  4. Write second conditional sentences: (a) You win the lottery. What do you do? → 'If I won the lottery, I ___.' (b) Sam has a farm. What does he grow? → 'If Sam had a farm, he ___.' (c) You are Keiko. You have a restaurant. → 'If I had a restaurant, I ___.' Write a complete sentence for each.
  5. Write three second conditional sentences about what you would do if you won the lottery.
Personal Response — Discuss with a partner

Discuss with a partner. Share one idea with the class.

  1. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would be the first thing you would do?
  2. Would you tell people about your win, or keep it secret? Why?
  3. Do you think winning the lottery would make you happier? Why or why not?

Answer Key

If I Won the Lottery — A2 — Second Conditional: Imaginary Present/Future Situations

Exercise 1 — Reading for Gist

  1. What would you do if you won the lottery?
  2. Four people.
  3. Carlos.

Exercise 2 — Reading for Detail

  1. She would visit every country.
  2. Small apartments in different cities.
  3. A football school for children.
  4. b)
  5. His grandchildren's education.

Exercise 3 — True, False, or Not Given

  1. F — She says she would NOT buy a big house — she would live in small apartments.
  2. T — Sam says: 'If I won the lottery, I would give half to my family.'
  3. NG — The article does not say whether Keiko has tried to open a restaurant before.
  4. T — Carlos says he would give the rest to a hospital in his city.
  5. F — Sam says he would grow vegetables, not fruit.

Exercise 4 — Vocabulary in Context

  1. b)
  2. afford — he would now be able to afford the farm and the land.
  3. retire (not directly in Lucia's paragraph — the article doesn't use 'retire'; accept 'stop studying' as the closest contextual equivalent)
  4. An animal shelter is a place that looks after animals that have no owner or are in need of care. Keiko wants to donate money to support them.

Exercise 5 — Grammar in Context

  1. Any four sentences with 'if + past simple, would + infinitive'. For example: 'If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.' / 'If I had all that money, I would live in small apartments.' / 'If I won the lottery, I would give half to my family.' / 'If I had enough money, I would open a restaurant in Tokyo.'
  2. Past simple. Would + infinitive.
  3. b)
  4. (a)–(c): Answers vary. Check: if + past simple, would + infinitive. Example: (a) If I won the lottery, I would buy a house. (b) If Sam had a farm, he would grow vegetables. (c) If I had a restaurant, I would cook for my friends.
  5. Answers will vary. Answers will vary. Check: If I won..., I would... Both clauses must use the correct form.

Notice the Grammar — suggested answers

Accept any five correct examples from the article that use the target grammar. Students should be able to explain why the grammar is used in each case.

Personal Response

Answers will vary. This section is for spoken discussion or short written response. There are no single correct answers.