Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer 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 crisis, 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 generosity, 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
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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 founder of Microsoft and Warren Buffett is a very
successful investor. 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 industrialists 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
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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 notable 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.
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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
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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!
