Discussion Starters

Luck
“Those who have succeeded
at anything and don’t mention
luck are kidding themselves.”
—Larry King, American television host

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. Are you a lucky person?

Why do you think you are (or aren’t) lucky?

2. Describe your worst encounter with bad luck.

3. Who is the luckiest person you know? What makes this person lucky?

4. What is the luckiest thing that could happen to you?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match up as many words and meanings as you can.

Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on page 2.

1. excuse a)  to make something come in a certain direction

2. slot machine b)  chances

3. land in one’s lap c)  an object that is supposed to attract good fortune

4. attract d)  a reason to help others accept something

5. visualize e)  a contest you enter where there is a chance to win something

6. materialize f)  to become real or true

7. shadow g)  a patch of darkness that results when light is blocked

8. draw h)  to receive without effort

9. odds i)  a machine you put money into in the hopes of winning more back

10. lucky charm j)  to see in your mind, to imagine

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 Luck
Discussion Starters

Reading
LUCK
Does it land in your lap?

1. Lucky people are often in the right place at the right time. This is
the excuse they give. Everyone wants to know their true secret to
success. You know someone like this, don’t you? He wins money in
slot machines. Free holidays land in her lap. When Miss Perfect
meets Mr. Right at the bus stop, you can’t help but wish you had
her luck.

2. Is it possible that some people attract good fortune? This theory is

called the law of attraction. According to the law of attraction, good
things happen to positive people. The trick is to visualize dreams
coming true before they materialize.

3. The law of attraction theory works in the opposite way too. In other
words, bad luck follows negative people like a shadow. For example,
negative people remind themselves they are not going to win as they
enter a draw.

4. People play the lottery despite the odds of winning. Are your chances
of winning higher if you visualize yourself as a millionaire? Perhaps
all you need is a lucky charm in your pocket.

Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers in your notebook.

1. What excuse do some people give for their luck?

2. What example of luck “landing in one’s lap” is given?

3. What theory is discussed in the reading?

4. According to the theory, what do positive people do to make their dreams come true?

5. What do some people carry to attract luck?

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 Luck
Discussion Starters

Vocabulary Review
A. Complete the Sentences

Complete each sentence with the correct word from the vocabulary list on page 1.

1. Bad luck surrounded the grumpy man like a dark              .

2. Milan’s              was a tiny photo of his grandmother.

3. If you              yourself on stage, your dreams may come true.

4. We entered the              for the new car, but we didn’t win.

5. I made up an              for missing the party.

B. Word Placement

Where does the word belong in the sentence?

Circle the correct letter.

# Word Sentence

1 slot machines I’m such a lucky    person, I always    win    money in    .

a b c d

2 materialize Your    dreams will not    unless you    truly believe that they will come true   .
a b c d

3 odds What    are the    of winning a million    dollars in the lottery    ?

a b c d

4 land in his lap Knowing Brian’s luck,    a new    car will    within a matter of    days.
a b c d

5 attract According to    the law of attraction, positive    people    positive things    .

a b c d

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 Luck
Discussion Starters

Discussion
1. Do you believe in lucky charms? Why or why not?

2. Describe one time when you felt unlucky.

3. In your opinion, why are some people luckier than others?

4. Have you (or someone you know) ever been at

the right place at the right time? What happened?

Class Opinion
Walk around the class and ask your classmates questions.
Write their answers in the chart below.

Do you consider Does bad luck seem Is the luckiest

Classmate’s name: yourself a to come all at once person you know
lucky person? in your life? a positive person?

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 Luck
Discussion Starters

Listening
Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.

LUCK
Does it land in your lap?

1. Lucky people are often in the right place at the right time. This is
the            they give. Everyone wants to know their
true secret to success. You know someone like this, don’t you?
He wins money in slot machines. Free holidays land in her
           . When Miss Perfect meets Mr. Right
at the bus stop, you can’t help but wish you had her luck.

2. Is it possible that some people            good fortune?

This theory is called the law of attraction. According to the law of
attraction, good things happen to positive people. The trick is
to            dreams coming true before they
           .

3. The law of attraction theory works in the opposite way too. In other
words, bad luck follows negative people like a            .
For example, negative people remind themselves they are not going
to win as they enter a            .

4. People play the lottery despite the            of winning.

Are your chances of winning higher if you visualize yourself as a
millionaire? Perhaps all you need is a           
charm in your pocket.

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 Luck
Discussion Starters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: TEACHING TIPS: LEVEL: Int

Students read about luck and discuss See Discussion Starters Teaching Guide TIME: 1–2 hours
whether luck lands in their laps or not. (https://esllibrary.com/courses/72/lessons/)
TAGS: luck, lucky, destiny, St. Patrick’s
They also learn about the law of attraction. for a variety of ways to use the reading.
Day, bad luck, good luck, lottery

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Review

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS A. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Answers will vary. Discuss the quote. 1. shadow 4. draw

2. lucky charm 5. excuse
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW 3. visualize

1. d 3. h 5. j 7. g 9. b
B. WORD PLACEMENT
2. i 4. a 6. f 8. e 10. c
1. d 2. b 3. b 4. c 5. c

Reading (and/or Listening)

Discussion
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. You can also play
the listening as your students read along. A gap-fill version of the Answers will vary.
reading is available on page 5. Help your students with vocabulary
and expressions that they are unfamiliar with. Class Opinion

Comprehension Optional task. Individual answers.

1. Some people say they are in the right place at the right time. Listening
2. Receiving a free holiday is the example from the reading.
3. The law of attraction is discussed in the reading. 1. excuse, lap
4. According to the law of attraction, positive people 2. attract, visualize, materialize
imagine their dreams coming true ahead of time. 3. shadow, draw
5. Some people carry lucky charms. 4. odds, lucky

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