节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-02-12
难易度:High
关键字:sentiment, entrepreneur, consumption, dedicated
Welcome back.
We are in the middle of our lesson called Giving Until it Hurts.
Some of the richest people in the world have signed a pledge called The Giving
Pledge,
where they agree to donate over half of their wealth to charities around the
world.
We've been discussing some of their incentives for doing so.
Among them are the sentiments that they want to create a better world for the
future and they want to give back to society in meaningful ways.
And we have more to learn in the next section, so let's get started.
Giving Until it Hurts.
American entrepreneur Manoj Bhargava simply said, "Service to others seems the
only intelligent choice for the use of wealth.
The other choices, especially personal consumption, seem either useless or
harmful.".
Developer George P. Mitchell expressed confidence in the importance of giving,
saying,
"Throughout my life I've seen firsthand how even a little financial assistance
could mean a chance for struggling students, dedicated scientists and families
to reach their goals.".
Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, said, "Looking back, if I had to live my life
over, there are things I would do differently,
but the one thing I would not change is my charitable giving.".
OK.
(Chinese).
And now let's go to our teachers.
Thanks, Michelle.
So we see three more people in this section who have chosen to give a big
portion of their wealth to charity.
Right. And the first is Manoj Bhargava, who is an American entrepreneur.
Notice the pronunciation of that word "entrepreneur." It comes from French.
An entrepreneur is someone who organizes their own business and takes
responsibility for all of the risks involved.
Well, Manoj Bhargava is perhaps the richest person from India living in the
United States.
He is the founder and CEO of a small energy drink called 5-hour Energy.
And he has made billions of dollars from it.
He says here: Service to others seems the only intelligent choice for the use of
wealth.
Wait a minute, Carolyn.
Are you sure he didn't say service to others seems like the only intelligent
choice?
Seems like, right?
Uh, no.
You can actually just say seems without following with the words "like" or "as."
It's true,
Manoj could have said it seems like or it seems to be the only intelligent
choice, but you can just use the word seem.
Right.
For example, it seems that celebrity just wants to become famous and not really
help others.
Or it seems like that celebrity just wants to become famous.
You could say it both ways.
Or this jacket seems a comfortable one to wear in the winter.
Or this jacket seems like a comfortable one.
Now back to our article.
What is the best use of wealth and how much money do you have to have in order
to be considered wealthy?
Have you ever thought about that before?
You know, I have.
And it seems Steve and Ken have, too.
They are waiting in the Information Cloud to talk about this idea now.
Are you rich?
Let's go there now.
So who in the world is rich?
Well, it all depends.
Rich compared to what and rich compared to whom?
That's right, Ken.
I think it's safe to say that anyone listening to this program is not in the
same financial stratosphere as the men mentioned in this article.
True, but just because you are not as wealthy as these guys doesn't mean you are
not rich.
Think about this.
OK, according to one source, if you have some food in your refrigerator, if you
have clothes on your back and a roof over your head...
If you own a computer, have some money in the bank or even just a few coins in
your pocket, then...
You are among the top eight percent of the world's richest people.
Let me say that again.
You are among the top eight percent of the world's richest people.
Higher than you thought, right?
Much, much higher.
But even then, does that make us rich?
Good point, Ken.
Friends, here's how to know if you truly are rich no matter how much money you
have:
You practice on a regular basis, like the men in today's lesson, serving and
giving to others.
(Chinese).
Thanks, you guys.
So, are you rich?
I don't think I am most of the time, but when I hear statistics like that, I am
reminded that I am pretty blessed.
You never have too little money to practice generosity.
My sentiments exactly.
Well, we continue here with Manoj Bhargava's quote.
He says the other choices, especially personal consumption, seem either useless
or harmful.
Do you agree with this, Carolyn?
I do. Consumption is the idea of using something.
So personal consumption is using it just for yourself.
And if you have lots and lots of money and you use it all on yourself, I think
that is harmful for yourself.
Now having said that, I think most of us are guilty of spending more money on
ourselves than we need to.
It's not just the rich who do this.
I agree.
Well, we do need to move on now to developer George P. Mitchell, who said:
Throughout my life I've seen firsthand how even a little financial assistance
could mean a chance for struggling students, dedicated scientists and families
to reach their goals.
He has seen firsthand.
What does that mean?
Well, that means that he has seen it with his own eyes.
He's not just heard about something, but he's experienced it for himself.
Perhaps he has given financial assistance or help to a family, and he got to see
how they were able to reach their goals.
He didn't just hear about someone giving to the family, he gave to them himself.
Right. And what can you do firsthand?
Maybe someone tells you how amazing a restaurant is.
You can hear all about the food there, or you can go experience it firsthand.
I think in order to understand many things in life, you need to experience them
firsthand.
My sentiments exactly.
Well, we see another person here who's giving away a lot of his money, Ted
Turner, the founder of CNN.
CNN, of course, is Cable News Network.
And it was the first 24-hour cable news channel.
Ted... Ted Turner said:
Looking back, if I had to live my life over, one thing I would not change is my
charitable giving.
Let's take a look at something from this quote, the phrase: looking back.
People say this about events in the past or decisions that they have made in
their lives.
That's right.
And so something that we want to do today is to look back on our lesson.
So, let's enjoy a review skit.
And then we'll join Linda for the Editor's Summary.
Well, if I were a rich man, la...
But Grandpa, you are a rich man.
That's true. I make a lot of money.
What do you plan to do with it all?
Save it.
Well, what about after that?
Will you give it to your kids and your grandkids?
Well, that's a bad idea?
What?! It's a great idea.
Well, according to the adage, the first generation makes the family fortune.
Yes. That's you.
The second generation manages the family wealth.
Well, that's dad.
Yeah. And the third generation spends it.
Oh... that's me.
I can't wait to spend all of your money.
But I work so hard for my money.
Oh, please, Grandpa.
Can I have some?
Well, I don't know.
I'm considering The Giving Pledge.
The Giving Pledge?
Yes. Giving half of my wealth to charitable causes.
No! Don't give away my wealth... I mean, your wealth.
Well, there are incentives.
Like what?
I can support organizations that create a better world for you.
Well, yeah, but...
I can give back in meaningful ways.
Yeah, but...
Service to others, yes, it's the only intelligent choice.
Yeah, but...
So I say yes to charitable giving.
But I say no.
Please, Grandpa, give me some of your money.
This part of our article looked at several people and why they give away money.
There are very interesting points of view about this.
Some feel they have a responsibility to give back in a meaningful way.
Some say that supporting charitable organizations teaches their children to
create a better world for the future.
Some think personal consumption is useless,
while some acknowledge that they have seen how a little bit goes a long way when
a person is struggling to go to school or for a family who is trying to meet a
goal.
Thanks, Linda.
Well, what is your incentive to give to others, anyway?
I believe God has freely given to me my life, so I should use it to bless
others.
Hey, my sentiments exactly.
And we can give our time, money and energy to help others.
Well, thank you for joining us today.
And we hope to see you right here tomorrow at Studio Classroom.
See you then.