Second Conditional

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• hand
• addictive
• odds
• lose its luster

• gamble
• dealer
• thrill
• don't hold your breath

• tourist
• stakes

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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If you think about it, gambling is a pretty strange way to pass the time. You put your money into a machine or give it to a dealer, and in return you get…nothing, usually.

Or maybe you do get something. You get the thrill of taking a risk. And there’s a chance you might get the much bigger thrill of winning. Just don’t hold your breath.

Mason recently took a trip to Las Vegas. Hear him and Jason talk about gambling.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Jason

Mason:  I was in Las Vegas earlier this year, and in general, I just don’t understand why people like gambling.

Jason:  Really?

Mason:  Well, it’s really about what are the stakes, right? Like, in Vegas, it’s really expensive to gamble. You know, if you’re gonna play like 10, 15 dollars a hand to play blackjack, you have to have a lot of money that you’re willing to put at risk.

Jason:  That’s true. Well, I don’t know, I think the thrill is the getting rich quick. It’s a rush when you turn that $5 into 80, and then 800 if you’re really good. But the trick is to walk away at that point, which is so hard for people.

Mason:  Right. And it is very addictive when you’re in that moment, like, “Hey, I just won something! I should probably keep doing this so I will win more.”

Jason:  Yeah, it doesn’t make a lot of sense, because the odds just are not in your favor. But it’s fun. You get to sit there and hang out with the dealer, have a drink.

Mason:  I think if it were more common, like if you could gamble legally everywhere, it would lose its luster pretty quick.

Jason:  That’s true. Well, it’s like a travel event for a lot of people, unless you live in one of those rare places where you can gamble. It’s something you do as a tourist, so you’re a little looser with your money.

 

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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