Microsoft founder Bill Gates said that he planned to give away almost all of his vast fortune, largely to the cause of global health, during the course of his lifetime. With an estimated (估计) worth of more than $40 billion, according to Forbes, the project will be no small feat (功绩) for Gates. Having already provided the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with $24 billion to address global health issues, Gates said that eventually his entire fortune will be put towards the cause except “a few percent left for the kids”.
So what has made the richest man in the world to
channel his resources so heavily into one interest? Gates believes that “the equality of opportu
nity” in which Americans take such pride needs to extend to other nations around the world. Improving the health of the population, he says, has proven to be an essential (实质的) method in helping poor countries to be financially successful. “National borders allow inequalities,” said Gates: “We all need to take a more global view, rather than just saying my country is doing well. We have to step up these health issues, knowing how few resources are going into them.”
Gates said that both his parents set an example for him as a child. His father, William H. Gates, was the head of the local Planned Parenthood, and his mother, Mary, volunteered for the United Way. As he gathered his fortune, Gates knew he would eventually want to give back as well, but he didn’t expect to devote himself whole-heartedly to one project until he was about 60.
However, Gates, 47, began to question his ability to wait that long. “It seemed there was a real time urgency (紧迫),” Gates said. “I started to think, how many lives could I save before then?”
小题1:.. Bill Gates will give away his vast fortune to ___.
| A．improve the health of population in America alone |
| B．improve the health of population all over the world |
| C．avoid leaving his children too much money |
| D．spare the American government the burden of health care |
小题2:.. Bill Gates believes that one important way of developing poor countries is ___.
| A．to set up more foundations for them | B．to aid them with natural resources |
| C．to put more effort into the health issues in them | D．to help them take a more global view |
小题3:. It can be learned from the text that Bill Gates thinks ___.
| A．Americans should care about people in other countries |
| B．Americans should treat fellow citizens well |
| C．Americans should devote themselves to certain projects |
D． Americans can be world-famous by giving away vast fortune |
小题4:.. Bill Gates gave away his vast fortune earlier than he had expected because of ___.
| A．his weakening health condition | B．his parents’ suggestions |
C．his great s uccess in business | D．his concern for suffering people |
小题5:. The underlined word “channel” probably has a similar meaning as it is used in sentence “___”.
| A．Try to channel your abilities into something useful |
| B．We ought to channel this street so that water can flow away easily |
| C．Ships must follow the channel into the port | D．Which cha nnel will you be broadcasting tonight |
nity” in which Americans take such pride needs to extend to other nations around the world. Improving the health of the population, he says, has proven to be an essential (实质的) method in helping poor countries to be financially successful. “National borders allow inequalities,” said Gates: “We all need to take a more global view, rather than just saying my country is doing well. We have to step up these health issues, knowing how few resources are going into them.”
Americans can be world-famous by giving away vast fortune
uccess in business
nnel will you be broadcasting tonight