ESL Podcast 268 – Get-Rich-Quick Schemes

Bill: What are you watching?

Susan: I’m watching a really interesting TV program. It’s about how to make a lot of money quickly and easily.

Bill: Are you watching an infomercial? Those things are scams! You should know better than to fall for some get-rich-quick scheme.

Susan: This isn’t a scam. This program is about how make money with no capital. All I have to do is to get other people to sell these products and I’ll get a cut of the profits.

Bill: That sounds like a pyramid scheme. Only a few people at the top make money, while all of the other people lose their shirts.

Susan: It doesn’t seem like a fraud¹ to me. Sit down and watch for a minute and you’ll see all of the testimonials from people who have used this system and who have struck it rich. It may really work.

Bill: There’s a sucker born every minute. How much do you have to pay to learn the secrets to this system?

Susan: It’s only $179.95, and I can pay in monthly installments². The program comes with a step-by-step book and video on how to get started.

Bill: I think you’re wasting your time. I can think of a lot of things I’d rather spend $179.95 on.

Susan: That’s your prerogative³. Don’t come to me later when I’m a millionaire and you want my business advice.

Bill: Don’t worry. That will never happen.


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 fraud   

n.骗子，欺骗，欺诈，诡计

参考例句：

• We will introduce legal safeguards against fraud.我们将推行防止欺诈的法律条款。
• The prosecutor accused the defendant of fraud.原告控告被告犯有欺诈罪。

2 installments   

部分( installment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The first two installments were pretty close together in 1980. 第一次和节二次提款隔得很近，都是在1980年提的。
• You have an installments sales contract. 你已经订立了一份分期付款的买卖契约了。

3 prerogative   

n.特权

参考例句：

• It is within his prerogative to do so.他是有权这样做的。
• Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.作这类决定并不是管理者的专有特权。