Warren Buffett Pauses Annual Donations to the Gates Foundation
巴菲特暫停向蓋茲基金會進行年度捐款
Introduction
Warren Buffett has delayed his usual mid-year donation to the Gates Foundation while the organization completes an internal investigation into its links to Jeffrey Epstein.
巴菲特延遲了其通常在年中向蓋茲基金會進行的捐款，因為該組織正對其與傑弗里·艾普斯汀的關係進行內部調查。
Main Body
This pause in funding is the first time in twenty years that a payment has been missed. Since 2006, the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway has donated between $43 billion and $48 billion in company shares as part of a lifelong promise. This decision follows a review by the law firm WilmerHale, which is expected to finish this summer. The investigation aims to determine how closely the foundation was connected to Jeffrey Epstein after emails between Epstein and foundation staff were made public.
這次暫停撥款是二十年來第一次錯過付款。自2006年起，波克夏海瑟威的主席作為終身承諾的一部分，捐贈了價值 430 億至 480 億美元的公司股份。此決定是在 WilmerHale 律師事務所進行審查後做出的，預計將於今年夏天完成。由於艾普斯汀與基金會職員之間的電子郵件被公開，調查旨在確定基金會與艾普斯汀的關係究竟有多密切。
Furthermore, reports suggest that the relationship between Buffett and Bill Gates has become distant. Mr. Buffett has emphasized that he prefers to keep his distance to avoid legal problems, such as being called as a witness in court. Although he is still talking to the foundation's CEO, Mark Suzman, to track the investigation's progress, he stated that he will not speak with Mr. Gates until the scandal is resolved. Meanwhile, Mr. Gates admitted that his connection to Epstein was a 'grave error in judgment,' but he denied knowing about Epstein's criminal history until 2018.
此外，報導指出巴菲特與比爾·蓋茲的關係已變得疏遠。巴菲特強調他希望保持距離，以避免法律問題，例如被傳喚到法院擔任證人。雖然他仍與基金會執行長 Mark Suzman 聯繫以追蹤調查進度，但他表示在醜聞解決之前，他不會與蓋茲先生交談。與此同時，蓋茲先生承認他與艾普斯汀的聯繫是一次「嚴重的判斷錯誤」，但他否認在 2018 年之前知道艾普斯汀的犯罪紀錄。
Conclusion
Mr. Buffett is expected to decide whether to continue his donations later this year, possibly around the time he writes his annual Thanksgiving letter.
巴菲特預計將在今年稍後決定是否繼續捐款，可能會在撰寫年度感恩節信函時決定。
Vocabulary Learning
⚡ The 'Nuance Jump': From Simple Actions to Complex States
At the A2 level, you describe things simply: "He does not talk to Bill Gates." But to reach B2, you need to describe the nature of the relationship and the reason why.
Look at this phrase from the text:
"the relationship between Buffett and Bill Gates has become distant."
Why this is a B2 move: Instead of saying "They are not friends," the author uses "become distant." This tells us two things:
- They were close before (change of state).
- The separation is emotional or social, not just physical.
🛠️ The "B2 Bridge" Tool: Precision Verbs
Stop using 'say', 'think', and 'do'. Look at how the article upgrades basic ideas:
| A2 (Basic) | B2 (Precise) | Context from Text |
|---|---|---|
| Say | Emphasize | "Mr. Buffett has emphasized..." (He isn't just talking; he is stressing a point). |
| Check | Track | "...to track the investigation's progress" (He is following a process over time). |
| Mistake | Error in judgment | "...a grave error in judgment" (This isn't a spelling mistake; it's a failure of wisdom). |
💡 Pro-Tip: The "Causality" Link
B2 students don't just list facts; they connect them. Note the use of "Following" and "Meanwhile" in the text.
- Following: (After this happened...) "This decision follows a review..."
- Meanwhile: (At the same time as something else is happening...) "Meanwhile, Mr. Gates admitted..."
Challenge: Next time you describe a problem, don't say "And then." Use "Following this..." to sound more professional and fluent.