【一起听英语】慈善机构

社会上的需要帮助的人正是因为这些慈善机构的存在，才能渡过难关

Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer¹ and Alice has joined me for today's 6 Minute

English. Hello, Alice!

Alice: Hello, Yvonne.

Yvonne: Of course, the world news is often about the financial crisis², so I thought it

would be nice to hear about philanthropy on today's programme.

Alice: Very good choice.

Yvonne: Thanks, Alice. So how about explaining 'philanthropy' for us?

Alice: Sure. 'Philanthropy' is something people or companies do to help others in a

practical way. For example, they might give away some money to help

improve other people’s lives.

Yvonne: Hmm. Thanks, Alice. So philanthropy is about generosity³, really – giving and

being kind to other people. Now, before we hear more I've a question for you.

Are you ready, Alice?

Alice: I am.

Yvonne: OK. Of course, coins have been around for hundreds of years. But where was

the first true paper money used? Was it in:

a) China 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 2 of 6

b) Turkey or

c) Egypt

Alice: Oh, I would guess…Turkey.

Yvonne: OK! So, as usual, I'll give you the answer at the end of today's "6 Minute

English". Recently, two of the world's wealthiest men – Americans Bill Gates

and Warren Buffett, were in India.

Alice: Ah, yes - Bill Gates is the founder⁴ of Microsoft and Warren Buffett is a very

successful investor⁵. They're both US dollar billionaires and have given away

considerable⁶ – or very large - amounts of money.

Yvonne: Exactly. And in India, there are 55 billionaires, so Bill Gates and Warren

Buffett met some of them who are industrialists⁷ and businessmen, to talk

about philanthropy. Let's hear Bill Gates explain more about their trip to India.

Insert 1: Bill Gates

You know, our goal is just to talk about philanthropy and learn from other people. Our

experience is that when we talk about it with others that there's a tendency for them to

do somewhat⁸ more. But we're not trying to, you know, make anyone feel guilty - we're

just here to talk about why we do it and see if there's a chance to work together.

Yvonne: Bill Gates talked about their goal – what they're aiming to do or are trying to

achieve by visiting India. Did you catch what that was, Alice?

Alice: Yes, several things, actually. Their goal was to talk to people about

philanthropy – and why they do it. They also wanted to learn from other people 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 3 of 6

and find out whether there's a chance – an opportunity – that they might be able

to work together.

Yvonne: And what did Bill Gates mean when he said that, after he and Warren Buffett

speak to other wealthy people, "there's a tendency for them to do somewhat

more"? What's 'a tendency to do something'?

Alice: 'A tendency to something' means you’re more likely to do it. So by talking to

other wealthy people about philanthropy, it's more likely they’ll get involved.

Yvonne: Next, here's the BBC's Shalu Yadav with a little more information on that visit

to India by two of the world's richest men:

Insert 2: Shalu Yadav, BBC

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have been successful in inspiring billionaires in the

United States and China to give away a notable⁹ part of their wealth for a good cause.

But out of India's 55 billionaires, only a handful¹⁰ have shown the same enthusiasm¹¹.

 

Yvonne: Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have managed to make other billionaires in the

United States and China feel that it's a good idea to give away a notable part

of their wealth - a fairly large amount of their money - for a good cause. Alice,

what does the BBC's Shalu Yadav mean by 'for a good cause'?

Alice: Well, 'for a good cause' means for what the philanthropists think is a good

reason. For example, if you give money to a charity that helps people to access

clean drinking water, most people would agree that it’s a good cause. You're

giving your money away to help other people. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 4 of 6

Yvonne: Mm. So far, only a handful of – very few - of India's 55 billionaires have

shown the same enthusiasm to become philanthropists. So far, they haven't

shown the same amount of passion and eagerness that Bill Gates and Warren

Buffett show for philanthropy.

Alice: Perhaps they give to charity in other ways?

Yvonne: That’s true! OK Alice, I haven't got any money to give you – but you've got

something for me, and that's the answer to today's question!

Alice: And hopefully, I've got the right answer?

Yvonne: Well, let's see. I asked: where was the first true paper money used? Was it in

China, Turkey or Egypt?

Alice: And I said Turkey.

Yvonne: Well, the first coins came from what is now Turkey, but the answer is China.

True paper money was used between 600 and 1455 there, although true paper

money didn't really work well until it was printed in Massachusetts in the

United States in the 1690s. So Alice, as you're feeling so philanthropic, why

don't you remind us of some of the language we heard in today's "6 Minute

English"?

Alice: Today, we heard:

philanthropy

billionaires

industrialists 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 5 of 6

a tendency to do something

a notable part of

a good cause

a handful of

enthusiasm

 

Yvonne: Lovely, thanks so much, Alice. And that's all for today, but do join us again for

more "6 Minute English" soon.

Both: Goodbye! 

1 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

2 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

3 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

6 considerable   

a.相当多的，相当大的，相当重要的

参考例句：

• He saved the child at considerable risk to himself. 他冒着极大的生命危险救了那个孩子。
• The flood resulted in a considerable reduction in production. 这次水灾造成相当大的减产。

7 industrialists   

n.工业家，实业家( industrialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This deal will offer major benefits to industrialists and investors. 这笔交易将会让实业家和投资者受益匪浅。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has set up a committee of industrialists and academics to advise it. 政府已成立了一个实业家和学者的委员会来为其提供建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 somewhat   

pron.一些，某物；adv.多少，几分

参考例句：

• The cake we made was somewhat of a failure.我们做的蛋糕不大成功。
• The two office buildings are somewhat alike in appearance.这两座办公楼在外形上有点相似。

9 notable   

adj.值得注意的，著名的；n.名人，要人

参考例句：

• His achievement is very notable.他的成就是非常显著的。
• He wrote and published the essay under notable's name.他假托名人写文章发表。

10 handful   

n.一把；少量，少数，一小撮

参考例句：

• We invited 30 people, but only a handful came.我们邀请了30人，但是只到了几个人。
• He pulled out a handful of coins from his pocket.他从口袋里掏出一把硬币。

11 enthusiasm   

n.热情，激情；巨大兴趣；热衷的事物

参考例句：

• We set about our task at once with great enthusiasm.我们立刻兴致勃勃地干起来。
• A team which is full of enthusiasm is more likely to win.情绪高涨的球队更可能获胜。