Philanthropy

 　　NB: This is not a word for word transcript¹

　　Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer² 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 crisis³, 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 generosity⁴, 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

　　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 founder⁵ of Microsoft and Warren Buffett is a very

　　successful investor⁶. They're both US dollar billionaires and have given away

　　considerable – 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 somewhat 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

　　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 notable⁸ part of their wealth for a good cause.

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

　　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.

　　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

　　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 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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。

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 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。