Warren Buffett Stops Giving Money to Gates Foundation
Warren Buffett Stops Giving Money to Gates Foundation
華倫·巴菲特停止向蓋茨基金會捐款
Introduction
Warren Buffett stopped giving money to the Gates Foundation. He is waiting for a report about Jeffrey Epstein.
華倫·巴菲特停止向蓋茨基金會捐款。他正在等待一份關於傑弗里·艾普斯坦的報告。
Main Body
Warren Buffett gave money to the foundation for 20 years. He gave almost 50 billion dollars. Now he stopped. A law company is checking the foundation's links to Jeffrey Epstein.
巴菲特向該基金會捐款已有 20 年，捐款金額近 500 億美元。現在他停止了。一家法律公司正在調查該基金會與傑弗里·艾普斯坦的聯繫。
Buffett and Bill Gates are not talking now. Buffett does not want legal problems. He talks to the foundation leader, but he does not talk to Mr. Gates.
巴菲特與比爾·蓋茨目前沒有交談。巴菲特不想陷入法律問題。他與基金會負責人溝通，但不再與蓋茨先生交談。
Bill Gates says he made a big mistake. He says he knew Jeffrey Epstein. But he says he did not know Epstein was a criminal until 2018.
比爾·蓋茨表示他犯了一個大錯。他承認認識傑弗里·艾普斯坦，但他表示直到 2018 年才得知艾普斯坦是個罪犯。
Conclusion
Mr. Buffett will decide about the money later this year.
巴菲特將在今年晚些時候決定是否繼續捐款。
Vocabulary Learning
⏱️ Past vs. Now
Look at how the story changes from Old to New. This is how you tell a story in A2 English.
The Past (Finished) gave, stopped, made, knew The Present (Now) is waiting, are not talking, does not want
💡 Word Switch: 'Money' Actions
In this text, we see two ways to talk about money:
- Giving money Moving money to someone else.
- Decide about the money Thinking about what to do with it.
🚫 How to say 'NO' (Negatives)
Notice the pattern for things that are NOT happening:
- Does not want (One person)
- Are not talking (Two or more people)
- Did not know (In the past)
Vocabulary Learning
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.
Vocabulary Learning
Suspension of Annual Philanthropic Contributions by Warren Buffett to the Gates Foundation
華倫布費最後定暫停向蓋茨基金會提供年度慈善捐款
Introduction
Warren Buffett has deferred his customary midyear financial contribution to the Gates Foundation pending the conclusion of an internal investigation into the organization's associations with Jeffrey Epstein.
華倫布費最後定推遲了其慣例的年中向蓋茨基金會提供的資金捐款，直到該機構內部針對與傑弗里·艾普斯坦關聯的調查結束為止。
Main Body
The current cessation of funding represents the first such interruption in two decades. Since 2006, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman has transferred approximately $43 billion to $48 billion in corporate shares as part of a lifetime commitment. This strategic pause coincides with an institutional review conducted by the law firm WilmerHale, the results of which are anticipated during the current summer season. The review seeks to delineate the extent of the foundation's ties to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the disclosure of communications between Epstein and foundation personnel.
目前的停止撥款代表了二十年來首次出現此類中斷。自 2006 年起，這位波克夏海瑟威主席作為終身承諾的一部分，已轉讓約 430 億至 480 億美元的公司股份。此次策略性暫停與 WilmerHale 律師事務所進行的機構審查同步，結果預計將於今夏公布。在揭露艾普斯坦與基金會人員之間的通訊後，此次審查旨在釐清該基金會與已故性犯罪者傑弗里·艾普斯坦的關聯程度。
Stakeholder positioning indicates a significant cooling of the interpersonal rapport between Buffett and Bill Gates. Mr. Buffett has indicated a preference for communicative distance to avoid potential legal complications, specifically the possibility of being summoned as a witness. While he has maintained contact with foundation leadership, including CEO Mark Suzman, to monitor the progress of the inquiry, he has explicitly stated that a resumption of dialogue with Mr. Gates is contingent upon the resolution of the scandal. Mr. Gates has characterized his association with Epstein as a 'grave error in judgment,' while maintaining that he was unaware of Epstein's status as a registered sex offender until 2018 and denying any participation in criminal activities.
利益相關者的定位顯示，布費最後定與比爾蓋茨之間的私人關係明顯冷淡。布費最後定表示傾向保持溝通距離，以避免潛在的法律複雜化，特別是被傳喚為證人的可能性。雖然他仍與基金會領導層（包括執行長 Mark Suzman）保持聯繫以監控調查進展，但他明確表示，恢復與蓋茨先生的對話取決於該醜聞的解決情況。蓋茨先生將其與艾普斯坦的交往形容為「嚴重的判斷錯誤」，但堅持直到 2018 年他才得知艾普斯坦是登記在案的性犯罪者，並否認參與任何犯罪活動。
Conclusion
Mr. Buffett is expected to determine the status of his future contributions later this year, potentially coinciding with the publication of his annual Thanksgiving correspondence.
布費最後定預計將於今年晚些時候決定其未來捐款的狀態，可能會與其年度感恩節書信的公布時間重合。
Vocabulary Learning
The Art of 'Euphemistic Formalism' and Nominalization
To bridge the gap from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing events to framing them. This text is a masterclass in Euphemistic Formalism—the use of high-register, Latinate vocabulary to neutralize emotional volatility and create a veneer of objectivity.
⚡ The C2 Pivot: From Action to State
Notice how the author avoids 'active' verbs that imply blame or sudden movement, opting instead for nominalization (turning verbs into nouns) to distance the subject from the action.
- B2 approach: "Buffett stopped giving money because he is worried about the investigation."
- C2 approach: "The current cessation of funding represents the first such interruption..."
Analysis: The phrase "cessation of funding" transforms a dramatic act (stopping a payment) into a static state (a cessation). This is the hallmark of high-level institutional English: it removes the 'actor' and focuses on the 'phenomenon.'
🔍 Lexical Precision: The 'Cooling' of Rapport
Look at the phrase: "significant cooling of the interpersonal rapport."
At C2, we don't just say a relationship is "getting worse." We use metaphorical precision. "Cooling" suggests a gradual, temperature-based shift in diplomacy, while "interpersonal rapport" replaces the simple word "friendship" with a term that implies a professional and psychological alignment.
🏛️ Sophisticated Conditionals
Observe the construction: "...a resumption of dialogue with Mr. Gates is contingent upon the resolution of the scandal."
Instead of using a standard If/Then clause (e.g., "If the scandal is resolved, he will talk to him"), the writer employs contingency nouns.
Key C2 Blueprint:
[Noun Phrase A] is contingent upon [Noun Phrase B]
This structure is essential for legal, academic, and diplomatic writing. It replaces the fragility of a verb with the stability of a noun, granting the writer an aura of absolute authority and impartiality.