TOEFL Q7: Spending Money

DIRECTIONS

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over question one from the TOEFL speaking test. Read
the question below out loud with the tutor.

One of your friends has recently received a lot of money. How do you suggest that your friend
use the money? Include specific details and reasons in your response.

Preparation time: 15 seconds l Response time: 45 seconds

WARM-UP

Choose a question at random from the list below. Answer the question right away without
making notes. Try to speak for at least 10 seconds.

● What are two things you would like to buy if you had a lot of money? ​I would like to buy a
big apartment in the middle of Seoul. I would also like to buy an expensive sports car,
such as a Porsche.
● What are some of the most expensive things people must pay for in their lives?
● How can you use that money to make more money?

BRAINSTORM
Use the following pointers as a guideline to refine your answer.

1. Introduction
○ I would suggest that my friend saves the money
2. Come up with supporting ideas
○ put money into a savings account
○ can prepare for the future
○ money can earn interest
○ can also earn more money
○ pay for college
○ put down money for an apartment
3. Come up with details to explain two of your supporting ideas
○ prepare for the future: ​She could use the money to pay for an apartment when
she is older.
○ earn more money: ​She can put the money into a savings account and earn
interest.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Reading great sample answers is one way to improve. Go over the sample answer with your
tutor. Ask questions if you have any.

Sample Answer

If one of my friends received a lot of money, I would suggest that she save the money. One
reason is that she could prepare for the future. For example, my friend could use the money to
pay for an apartment when she is older. Saving the money is also a good idea because my friend
can earn more money. She can put the money into a savings account and earn interest. Overall,
I feel that it is best for my friend to save the money.

FURTHER STUDY
Got more time? Here is a list of common vocab words related to the text you studied today. Go
over each one with your tutor.

Additional Expressions

savings account (n) a bank account in which

people keep money that
they want to save

e.g. She opened a ​savings

account​.

interest (n) money paid to you by a

bank for the money you
have in a bank account

e.g. He made about $500

in ​interest​ last year.

retirement (n) the act of ending your

working or professional
career : the act of retiring

e.g. She decided to take an

early ​retirement​.
parvenu (n) a person from usually a
low social position who has
recently or suddenly
become wealthy, powerful
or successful but who is not
accepted by other wealthy,
powerful and successful
people

​ arvenu
e.g. He was a rich p
who brought his son at an
early age to Paris.

squander (v) to use (something) in a

foolish or wasteful way

e.g. She ​squandered​ her

inheritance.

donate (v) to give (money, food,

clothes, etc.) in order to
help a person or
organization

e.g. We ​donated​ our old

clothes to charity.
charity (n) the act of giving money,
food or other kinds of help
to people who are poor,
sick, etc.

e.g. The holidays are a

time for ​charity​ and
goodwill.

stock (n) a share of the value of a

company which can be
bought, sold or traded as
an investment

e.g. The value of his ​stocks

soared.

real estate (n) property consisting of

buildings and land

e.g. He sells ​real estate​.

tuition (fee) (n) money that is paid to a

school for the right to study
there
e.g. Her uncle agreed to
pay part of her ​tuition​.