Bill Gates: The Computer Expert on a Mission to Help the Poor

　比尔‧盖兹：不只是世界富豪

One of the richest people in the world has set his sights on making theworld a better place.

世上最富有的人之一下定决心将这世界变得更美好。

　　 When people think about computers,the name Bill Gates often comes to mind. In the 1980s and 1990s, his company,Microsoft, helped to introduce millions of people to the power of personalcomputers. Now, this intelligent▼ billionaire▼ has a new goal—to fight disease and save the poor.

　　 Gates was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1955.His father worked as a lawyer, and his mother was a teacher. Gates was acurious child who became interested in computers at age 13. He thought it wascool that he could give the machine directions, and it would follow his orders.

　　 After high school, Gates went to HarvardUniversity to study law. He couldn’t get his mind off computers, though. After a yearof college, he dropped out to start a software▼ company with his friends. They called itMicrosoft, and Gates became its first CEO. Microsoft soon went on to createWindows, a software system that now runs on billions of computers around theworld. Microsoft’s success made Gates one of the richest men in the world, witha value of more than US$90 billion.

　　 人们在想到计算机时，脑中常会浮现比尔‧盖兹的名字。在八○至九○年代，他的公司「微软」使数百万人见识到个人计算机的威力。现在，这位天资聪颖的亿万富翁有了一个新的目标 —— 那就是抗病济贫。

　　 盖兹出生于 1955 年的华盛顿州西雅图市。他的父亲是律师、母亲是老师。盖兹是个好奇宝宝，十三岁开始对计算机产生兴趣。他觉得对机器下指令后，机器就会执行命令是件很酷的事。

　　 高中毕业后，盖兹上了哈佛大学读法律。不过，他的心思仍被计算机盘据着。就读大学一年后，他辍学跟朋友一起开了一家软件公司。他们将公司命名为微软，而盖兹则成了公司的第一任执行长。微软接着创造出 Windows，这套软件也就是现在运行于全世界好几十亿部计算机中的操作系统。微软的成功使盖兹成为世上最富有的人之一，身价超过九百亿美金。

                                      

▼ intelligent a. 有智慧的，聪明的

▼ billionaire n. 亿万富翁

▼ software n.（计算机）软件

                                      

1. on a (adj.) mission　　执行（……的）任务

Rumor has it that Michael is on a secret mission in Syria.

谣传麦可正在叙利亚执行一项秘密任务。

2. set sb’s sights on N/V-ing　　下定决心要得到某事物∕做某事，有……抱负

Rick has set his sights on becoming a doctor and helping people.

瑞克已决定将来成为医生并帮助人们。

3. come to mind　　（突然）出现在脑海里，想到

The idea for the song came to mind when Sally looked at a piece of art.

莎莉看着一件艺术品时，脑中突然浮现那首歌的灵感。

4. goal n. 目标，目的

Leslie reached her goal of graduating from college in two years.

莱丝丽达成两年念完大学的目标。

5. curious a. 好奇的；好打听的

Cathy is more than curious about the office gossip.

卡西非常想知道办公室的八卦。

6. direction n. 命令，指示；指点，教导

Under the direction of the coach, the team won the competition.

在教练的指导下，该队赢得了比赛。

7. drop out　　退出，脱离，中断

Because of his injured ankle, Peter was forced to drop out of the race.

因为脚踝受伤，彼得不得不退出赛跑。

8. value n. 价值

After starting to make money on her own, Cheryl came to realize the truevalue of money.

开始自己赚钱之后，雪若逐渐了解金钱的真正价值。

                              

想忘记就不要再去想了！

本文中的 get / keep / take sb’s mind off... 表「不再去想……」，与 get / put...out of sb’s mind 意思相似，后者有「不再去想……，有意忘记……」的意思，也可以说成 get / put...to the back of sb’s mind。例：

Hanging out with friends always helps Penny take her mind off her troubles.

（和朋友在一起总能让潘妮忘掉烦恼。）

Jack just can’t seem to get Nina out of his mind.

= Jack just can’t seem to put Nina to the back of his mind.

（杰克似乎就是无法忘记妮娜。）