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Chuck Feeney: The Man Who Gave Away Billions

Feeney est devenu milliardaire en vendant des produits hors taxes.
Feeney fee-NEE Feeney
est eh became
devenu duh-vuh-NU became
milliardaire mee-lyar-DAIR billionaire
en on by
vendant von-DON selling
des day of
produits pro-DWEE goods
hors taxes. or TAKS duty-free.
Au lieu de garder sa fortune, il a choisi de tout donner.
Au lieu de oh lyuh duh Instead of
garder gar-DAY keeping
sa sah his
fortune, for-TUN wealth,
il eel he
a ah has
choisi shwa-ZEE chose
de duh to
tout too all
donner. do-NAY give away.
Il a créé une fondation privée pour financer des projets de santé, d’éducation et de droits de l’homme.
Il eel He
a ah has
créé kray-AY created
une un a
fondation fon-da-SYON foundation
privée pree-VAY private
pour poor to
financer fee-non-SAY fund
des day of
projets pro-ZHAY projects
de duh of
santé, son-TAY health,
d’éducation ay-du-ka-SYON education
et ay and
de duh of
droits de l’homme. drwa duh LOM human rights.
Feeney a secrètement donné son argent pendant 15 ans.
Feeney fee-NEE Feeney
a ah has
secrètement suh-KRET-mon secretly
donné do-NAY gave away
son son his
argent ar-ZHON money
pendant pon-DON for
15 kanz 15
ans. on years.
En 2020, il avait fait don de près de 9 milliards de dollars à des œuvres caritatives dans le monde entier.
En on By
2020, duh mil VAN 2020,
il eel he
avait a-VAY had
fait don de fay don duh donated
près de pray duh almost
9 nuhf 9
milliards mee-LYAR billion
de duh of
dollars do-LAR dollars
à ah to
des day to
œuvres caritatives uhvr ka-ree-ta-TEEV charities
dans don around
le luh the
monde mond world
entier. on-TYAY entire.
Ses dons ont changé des vies, en particulier en Irlande du Nord, où il a soutenu l’éducation et la paix.
Ses say His
dons don donations
ont on have
changé shon-ZHAY changed
des day of
vies, vee lives,
en particulier on par-tee-ku-LYAY especially
en on in
Irlande du Nord, eer-LOND du NOR Northern Ireland,
où oo where
il eel he
a ah has
soutenu soo-tuh-NU supported
l’éducation lay-du-ka-SYON education
et ay and
la la the
paix. pay peace.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-54300268
Test your comprehension

What industry did Feeney become a billionaire in?

  • Vente de produits hors taxes
  • Produits de luxe
  • Technologie
  • Immobilier

What did Feeney choose to do with his fortune?

  • Investir dans des entreprises
  • Tout donner
  • Économiser pour sa retraite
  • Acheter des propriétés

How long did Feeney secretly give away his money?

  • 15 ans
  • 10 ans
  • 20 ans
  • 5 ans

In which region did Feeney particularly support education and peace?

  • Afrique du Sud
  • Amérique du Nord
  • Irlande du Nord
  • Asie du Sud-Est

Grammar cards for this story

Past Tense

  • Example: “Feeney est devenu milliardaire.”
  • Explanation: The verb “devenir” is in the past tense, indicating that Feeney became a billionaire at a specific point in the past. In French, the past tense often conveys completed actions.

Conditional Mood

  • Example: “Au lieu de garder sa fortune, il a choisi de tout donner.”
  • Explanation: The phrase “au lieu de” introduces an alternative action, and the structure illustrates the conditional mood, indicating what he chose instead of keeping his fortune.

Infinitive Verbs

  • Example: “pour financer des projets.”
  • Explanation: The infinitive verb “financer” (to finance) is used after “pour,” which indicates purpose. It shows the intention behind creating the foundation.

Past Perfect Tense

  • Example: “En 2020, il avait fait don de près de 9 milliards de dollars.”
  • Explanation: The past perfect tense “avait fait” indicates an action that was completed before another past action or point in time. It highlights the timeline of his donations up to 2020.

Adverbs of Frequency

  • Example: “Feeney a secrètement donné son argent.”
  • Explanation: The adverb “secrètement” (secretly) modifies the verb “donné,” indicating how he gave his money, which adds nuance to the action.
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