Welcome to Module 1: this quick warm-up will help you master the key words, essay phrases, and grammar patterns you need to write a top-scoring IELTS essay on lotteries and gambling.

A Word Forms (5 items)

Complete each sentence by writing the correct form of the word in parentheses.

1. Many ticket buyers fail to realize that regular betting can easily turn into an ________.

2. A compulsive ________ often struggles to stop betting even after suffering severe losses.

3. She decided to donate half of her lottery ________ to a charity supporting healthcare.

4. Professional ________ calculate probabilities carefully to ensure their businesses remain profitable.

5. He ________ his weekly income on a horse race, hoping for a quick return.

B Collocations with Unit Words (5 items)

Complete each sentence with the most appropriate word from the unit vocabulary list.

6. Millions of players buy weekly tickets hoping to hit the grand ________.

7. Statistical analysis proves that the mathematical ________ are heavily stacked against winning.

8. Governments ought to fund a national confidential ________ for individuals suffering from gambling problems.

9. Wealthy tourists frequently spend their vacations gambling inside a luxury ________ resort.

10. Before the final whistle, he decided to place a high-stakes ________ on his favorite team.

C Essay Phrases (5 items)

Complete each sentence using each linking phrase from the word bank exactly once.

11. ________, public lotteries provide useful funding for infrastructure, but they can also encourage risky behavior.

12. ________ these potential benefits, the social harm caused to vulnerable families remains significant.

13. ________ state-run draws function as an indirect tax on lower-income citizens.

14. Some view commercial gaming as entertainment. ________, critics label it an unethical practice.

15. Compulsive gaming frequently leads to severe debt; ________, regulatory bodies must intervene.

D Sentence Paraphrasing (3 items)

Select the option that best paraphrases the original sentence without changing its meaning.

E Grammar Recap & Quick Practice (3 items)

Review the idiomatic modal structures below and complete the 3 practice items.

💡 Idiomatic Modal Structures

19. Players who place high wagers without a personal budget ________ (be bound to) run into severe financial distress.

20. If you have spare money you don't need, you ________ (a soft suggestion: no better choice) buy one ticket, but don't expect a fortune.

21. When observing how gambling advertisements target low-income communities, one ________ (feel: an unavoidable reaction) deep concern for social equity.

Now it is time to put your skills into practice by planning and drafting a full C1-level essay on national lotteries.