15 In this unit you learn how to:

• describe the economy

• compare prices
Grammar
• Time phrases and tense
• Present tenses in future time clauses
Reading

• Will power: a short story

• talk about money issues and
problems
• pronounce different kinds of
numbers
Vocabulary Listening
• The economy and quality of life • How are things there?
• Money verbs • Will power: a short story
• Dealing with banks • Money problems

VOCABULARY
The economy and quality of life
A Translate the words i n bold i n exercise B into your
language.
B Work i n pairs. Decide if each item 1-8 shows that:
a the economy is doing well,
b the economy is doing badly.
1 Inflation is quite low. Prices don't change much.
2 There's a lot of unemployment. Around 15% of the
working population don't have a job.
3 Our currency is very strong, so it's cheap for us to
travel abroad.
4 The cost of living is very high. A lot of people can't
afford basic things.
5 Unemployment has gone up a lot over the past year.
6 Our currency is really weak at the moment. It's very
expensive to import things from abroad.
7 The average salary is quite high. I think it's about
$35,000 a year.
Work i n groups. Discuss the following questions.
1 How do the following things affect your quality of
life? For example: / think if you have a close, strong
family, you have a good quality of life.
! job security time off pace of life crime
cost of living climate transport family
2 Are there any other factors that you think are
important for a good quality of life?
3 Which things do you think are most important?
Why?
LISTENING
You are going to listen to two people, Aidan and
Laima, speaking i n a foreign country, Freedonia.
Laima is on holiday and Aidan works i n a school
there.
A * 15.1 Listen and find out:
1 what the quality of Aidan's life in Freedonia is like
2 how well the economy is doing
3 why he wants to leave.
13 Listen again and choose the words you hear.
1 The economy's doing quite badly at the / in this
moment.
2 I'm actually going back to Canada in /for a few
months.
3 Unemployment has gone up quite a lot over the last
few months / rest of the month.
4 I could get paid a lot more back home / in Canada.
5 Eating out is twice / half the price in my country.
6 That's true, but it used to be cheaper in / at the past.
7 Anyway, in / at the end, I miss my family and friends.
8 I don't mind the cold weather so much. You get used
to it after a time / while.
Work i n pairs. Discuss these questions:
• From what you heard, do you think Aidan is making
the right decision? Why? / Why not?
• Apart from family and friends, what would / doyou
miss if you lived / live abroad?
• Which of the things below are unusual for you?
Could you get used to those different things?
freezing weather very spicy food
boiling weather only two weeks off a year
wet weather driving on the left
vegetarian food working long hours

104 OUTCOMES
 DEVELOPING CONVERSATIONS
Comparing prices
We often compare prices in different places and times:
Eating out is twice the price in my country.
Milk is much more expensive than it used to be.

We often give an example:

You can get a three-course meal for about $6 here. A
meal costs $20 back home.
You can't get a litre for less than a euro now and it
used to be only 70 cents.

A Give examples of the cost of the things i n 1-8, using

the words i n the box and a price.

can pair suit laptop

G R A M M A R Time phrases and tense kilo litre packet digital camera

Some time phrases commonly go with particular 1 Clothes are much cheaper there than elsewhere. You
tenses. For example: can get a designer for
2 The crisps in here are four times more expensive
currently The present continuous than they are in the shops. A costs
over the last two years The present perfect
in the last few months simple 3 Soft drinks there are four times the price they are
since last month / year here. You can't get a for less than
in a few days Futures (e.g. be going to
in two weeks' time and will) 4 Computers are much cheaper than they used to be.
over the next few weeks You can get a now for
5 Petrol is a lot cheaper there. A
in the past used to (+ verb) 6 Shoes are much more expensive there. You can't get
when 1 was younger a
when 1 was at school 7 Electronic goods are much cheaper there. You can get
a good
A Use the verbs i n brackets w i t h the present continuous, 8 Rice is much more expensive than it used to be. You
the present perfect, be going to or used to. Pay attention can't get a
to the time phrases.
1 At the moment, the economy quite well. B Work i n pairs. Take turns starting conversations. Use
(do) your ideas from exercise A to respond. For example:
2 Unemployment over the last few months. A:Clothes are much cheaper there than elsewhere.
(fall) B: I know. You can get a designer suit for about €200.
3 The cost of living a lot in the last five years.
(go up) C Work i n groups. Tell each other about very expensive
4 Eating out a lot cheaper when I was a kid. / cheap places you know and give examples. Are
(be) there any things that have risen or fallen i n price
5 There an election in four months'time, (be) over the last few years?
6 The government currently
popularity, (lose) C O N V E R S A T I O N PRACTICE
7 According to the government, inflation
over the next few months, (fall) You are going to have similar conversations to the
8 Crime less of a problem when I was one you heard i n Listening.
younger, (be)
9 Our currency stronger at the moment. A Student A: talk about your own country.Talk about
(get) what the economy and quality of life are like.
10 We more job security in the past, (have) Student B: read the role card in File 17 on page 159.

B Work i n groups. Discuss which of the ten sentences B Now change roles.
above are true for your country. Explain your ideas. Student A: read the role card in File 10 on page 158.
Student B: talk about the country you are really from.
• Need help? Read the grammar reference on page 154.

15 MONEY 105
READING

You aie going to read a short story about a w o m a n going to the reading of her father's w i l l . A will is a legal document
where a person writes down what should be done w i t h their possessions after they die.

Before you read, discuss these questions i n
groups.
• Why is it important to have a will?
• When do you think is a good time to write one?
• Do you have anything special you'd leave to
someone?
• What surprises can happen when a will is read?
• Have you heard of any stories in the news about
wills?
B Now read the story and find out w h y the author was surprised.
C Work i n pairs. Discuss the following:
1 Explain the different sayings the author's family had.
2 What things do you think the daughters liked when they were
young, and what didn't they like? Why?
3 How do you think the parents became rich?
4 Why do you think they didn't tell their daughters?
5 How do you think the daughters felt about it when they found
out?

WILL POWER

N o n e o f us had anv idea what was going t o happen when we arrived at the lawyer's office. Dad
had died t w o m o n t h s earlier in his bed in the same two-bedroom house where we'd g r o w n up.
A p a r t from the house, wc d i d n ' t expect Dad t o leave a n y t h i n g o f value. I mean, for years after
m y m u m d i e d , he'd gone to a neighbour's house t o watch T V . I offered to b u y h i m a T V once,
b u t he j u s t said, 'Never buy what you can b o r r o w ! ' T h a t was t y p i c a l o f h i m . I guess he liked his
neighbour's company as well.

M y m u m had never worked and Dad was an insurance salesman. We assumed he wasn't successful
because we were never bought toys and we wore second-hand clothes. We just t h o u g h t he
couldn't afford these things. Dad used t o find bits o f wood and t u r n t h e m i n t o t o y boats and
dolls. M u m t a u g h t us to make and repair clothes, w h i c h we used to do together at n i g h t . T h e v
had tunny l i t t l e savings that they'd repeat whenever we complained about things: 'Money's
silver, b u t a needle and thread is g o l d ! ' 'Early to bed, early t o rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy
and wise'; 'Never b u y what you can borrow, never t h r o w away what you can repair.' We used t o
laugh at t h e m , and sometimes invented are o w n silly sayings: 'A fool spends what the wise man
saves'; 'A glass o f water is w o r t h all the tea in C h i n a . ' We laughed, b u t having so l i t t l e money
was often annoying. I t h i n k we were the o n l y family in our school w i t h o u t a T V ; we never drank
soft d r i n k s , and sharing a room w i t h t w o b i g sisters for sixteen years was difficult.

So we walked i n t o the lawyer's office and sat d o w n . We were serious, b u t n o t sad any more. Dad
had had a good life. T h e lawyer started reading; I was hardly paving a t t e n t i o n , really, b u t then
the numbers seemed to c o n t i n u e w i t h o u t end. ' W a i t , I ' m sorry,' I said. ' H o w much d i d you say
he had?' T h e lawyer smiled, 'Yes, I imagine i t does need repeating. T w o m i l l i o n , seven hundred
and eighty-one thousand, six h u n d r e d and fifty three pounds and eighteen pence.'

f '
We d i d n ' t k n o w what t o say! Nearly three m i l l i o n pounds! How? Why? We had so many
questions, so many feelings.
 LISTENING Work i n pairs. Answer the questions about the word
pay.
You are going to listen to the rest of the story. 1 What different ways can you pay for something?
2 What kinds of bills do people have to pay?
A % 15.2 Check you understand 1-6 below. Then listen 3 When do you have to pay a bank / someone back?
and decide if the sentences are true or false. 4 How and when do people get paid?
1 Her father had won the money. 5 When do you have to pay interest?
2 He bought shares in a company that doubled in 6 Who do you pay to do something?
value. 7 Where do people have to pay attention?
3 The daughters didn't receive all of the money.
4 She's still angry about the situation.
5 The money will help other people. P R O N U N C I A T I O N Numbers
6 She's planning to spend the money on a holiday.
How do you say these numbers from the story?
Work i n pairs. Discuss these questions.
• How would you feel if you were in this situation? B & 15.3 Listen and check.
• Do you agree that the parents did a fantastic thing?
Would you do it? Why? / Why not? £2,000,000 653 £4.12 V*
• What would you do if you had a quarter of a million 781,000 1965 2.7
pounds now?
C 9> 15.4 Listen and write down the numbers you hear
i n 1-8.
VOCABULARY Money verbs 1 The minimum wage at that time was
an hour.
Look at the story again and at the audioscript on 2 Inflation fell to last month.
page 177 and find as many words as you can that 3 The government is going to invest in
are connected to money. Compare your ideas w i t h a schools.
partner. 4 of the population own a car.
5 The new factory will create jobs.
Complete the conversations w i t h the correct form of 6 The house cost
the verbs i n the box. 7 We borrowed from the bank.
8 We'll finally pay back the mortgage in
borrow buy earn give invest
leave owe save win worth
SPEAKING
1 A: Sorry, can I two euros? I don't have
enough. Work i n groups. Discuss these questions.
B: Of course. Just take it. I you three • Are you good at saving money? Is there anything
euros, anyway. you're saving for at the moment?
2 A: I'm thinking of going to see the new opera. • What do you spend most of your money on?
B: your money! It's not very good and • What are good things to invest money in? Have you
the tickets cost a lot. ever invested in shares? Were they successful?
3 A: Hey, I've ten euros on the lottery! • In which jobs do you think people earn too much
B: Wow! Ten euros. What are you going to do with it? money? In which jobs do they earn too little? Why?
it in shares? Buy a boat? • Do you know anyone who's won any money? How?
A: There's no need to be sarcastic. I was going to • Have you ever lost money? How?
you a coffee actually, but maybe I • Have you ever been left anything (e.g. in a will)?
won't now. What?
4 A: Would you like to money to a • What charities have you given money to? What do
children's charity each month? they do?
B: I'm sorry. I can't afford to. I don't • Would you consider borrowing money from a friend?
much in my job. In what situations? If not, why not?
A: It doesn't have to be much. Every little helps. • Does anyone owe you anything (money / a meal / a
B: I'm sorry. Not today I'm in a hurry. favour, etc.)? Why?
5 A: That's a nice painting. It looks quite old. Is it
much?
B: I don't know. My granddad it to me
when he died. I don't know how valuable it is, but
I'd never sell it.

15 MONEY 107
 LISTENING NATIVE SPEAKER ENGLISH

You are going to hear four conversations about money What's up?
problems. We often use up to mean wrong.

A Work in groups. Discuss these questions. A: Oh no!

• What kind of money problems might the people in the pictures B: What's up?
below have? A: I've just realised I left my wallet in my
• What's the best way to deal with each of the possible other jacket.
problems?
• Which problem do you think is the worst? Why? What's up with you today? Why are you in
• Have you ever any had any similar problems? When? What such a bad mood?
happened? There's something up with that cash
machine. It's not working.
B 9>1S.S Listen and match each conversation to one of the I think something is up with my car. It's
pictures below. making a funny noise.
• What problems are mentioned in each?
• How are the problems dealt with? D Work i n pairs. Discuss these questions.
• Who do you think should pay on dates: the
C Work i n pairs. Try to complete the sentences. Then listen man, the woman or both? Why?
again to check your answers. • Do you like vintage clothes? Why? / Why
Conversation 1 not?
1 I'll get this. It's my • Are you good at negotiating good prices in
2 What's ? markets?
3 I've just realised I my wallet in my • How much money do you think parents
other jacket. should give their children? Until what age?
Conversation 2 • Have you heard any stories about credit
4 It's hard to find things like that in this cards being copied - or about any similar
crimes?
5 Look - there's a here. • Have you managed to do anything difficult
6 The best price I can is 150. this year?
Conversation 3
7 have just gone up.
8 I haven't to save much yet. /rite the sentences in your language.
9 Maybe we can some money from Translate them back into English. Compare
the bank. your English to the original.
Conversation 4 1 haven't managed to save much yet!
10 Your card was cancelled because of some How did they manage to do that?
activity. I managed to borrow €1000 and my <
11 We that your card was copied lent me the rest.
sometime last month. The best price I can manage is 150.
12 Everything is covered by your It's OK, thanks. I can manage.

108 OUTCOMES
 G R A M M A R Present tenses in
future time clauses
We use present tenses to talk about the future
in clauses with when, as soon as, before, after and
until. We often use will, won't, can, be going to or
imperatives in the other main clause.
/'// pay you back as soon as I get paid.
You pay halfback when you have the money, OK?
You'll receive your new PIN number after you get the
card.
A Choose the correct form.
1 I'm going to try and find a part-time job when I'm /
I'll be at university.
2 What do you do / are you going to do after you
graduate?
3 Call me as soon as you arrive / will arrive, OK?
4 I'm going to move /1 move back home before the
recession here gets worse.
5 You'll just have to save until y o u /you'll have enough
money!
6 The software is really good. It'll really speed things
up, but it might take some time before you get /
you'll get used to using it.
7 /'// / / pay you back when I get paid, OK?
8 Can you t w o please finish arguing about the bill
after///'//leave?
9 We'll / We support you until you graduate. After that,
though,you'll have to start looking after yourself!
10 I'm waiting for confirmation of the dates, but / call /
I'll call you as soon as I hear anything.
• Need help? Read the grammar reference on page 154.
B Complete the sentences below using your own ideas.
Then work w i t h a partner and compare what you
have written.
1 When I get home today, I'm going to ....
2 As soon as I have enough money, I'm going to .
3 After this course ends, I'll probably ....
4 Before I get too old, I'd really like to ....
5 I'm going to carry on studying English u n t i l . . . .
4
L
V O C A B U L A R Y Dealing with banks
A Match the verbs i n the box to the pairs of
collocations they go with.
cancel change charge make
open pay take out transfer
1 ~ a savings account / ~ a joint account with my
partner
- a mortgage / - a loan
- a complaint / - a payment
- money / - my PIN number
~ f i o o o from my current account to my savings
account / - money to my son in Thailand
6 ~ money into my account / ~ bills by direct debit
7 ~ my credit card / ~ a cheque
8 - 5 % interest / ~ me 30 euros
B Try to remember the collocations i n 1-8 above. Test
each other i n pairs.
Student A: read out the eight verbs.
Student B: close your book. Try to remember the pairs of
collocations.
C Work i n pairs. Discuss these questions.
• Why do you think people / banks do the things in
exercise A?
• Which of these things have you done? When?
SPEAKING
A Work i n pairs. Choose two of the following situations
to role-play. Decide w h i c h roles you are going to play.
Spend a few minutes preparing what to say. Use the
audioscript on page 177 to help you if you need to.
Then have the conversation.
1 Two friends are having lunch in a cafe. They try
to decide how they are going to pay. One person
realises he doesn't have any money.They work out
what to do about it.
2 One person wants to buy a second-hand car.The
seller asks a very high price. The buyer tries to
negotiate a better price. The buyer points out
problems with the car. They try to reach a deal.
3 A teenager wants her dad to buy her a new laptop.
The father is worried about how much it will cost
• and how will pay for it. He suggests alternative
:
ind out why