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Chuck Feeney: The Man Who Gave Away Billions

Feeney è diventato miliardario vendendo prodotti duty-free.
Feeney FEE-nee Feeney
è EH became
diventato dee-ven-TAH-toh became
miliardario mee-lee-ar-DAH-ree-oh billionaire
vendendo ven-DEN-doh by selling
prodotti pro-DOT-tee goods
duty-free. DOO-tee FREE duty-free.
Invece di mantenere la sua ricchezza, scelse di donarla tutta.
Invece een-VEH-cheh Instead
di dee of
mantenere man-teh-NEH-reh keeping
la lah his
sua SOO-ah his
ricchezza, reek-KETZ-zah wealth,
scelse SHEL-seh he chose
di dee to
donarla doh-NAR-lah give it
tutta. TOOT-tah all away.
Creò una fondazione privata per finanziare progetti di salute, istruzione e diritti umani.
Creò kre-OH He created
una OO-nah a
fondazione fon-da-tsee-OH-neh foundation
privata pree-VAH-tah private
per per to
finanziare fee-nan-tsee-AH-reh fund
progetti pro-GET-tee projects
di dee of
salute, sa-LOO-teh health,
istruzione ee-stroo-tsee-OH-neh education
e eh and
diritti umani. dee-REET-tee oo-MAH-nee human rights.
Feeney donò segretamente il suo denaro per 15 anni.
Feeney FEE-nee Feeney
donò doh-NOH gave away
segretamente seh-greh-tah-MEN-teh secretly
il eel his
suo SOO-oh his
denaro deh-NAH-roh money
per per for
15 KWEEN-dee-chee 15
anni. AHN-nee years.
Entro il 2020, aveva donato quasi 9 miliardi di dollari a organizzazioni benefiche in tutto il mondo.
Entro EN-troh By
il eel the
2020, DOO-eh-MEE-lah VEN-tee 2020,
aveva ah-VEH-vah he had
donato doh-NAH-toh donated
quasi KWAH-zee almost
9 NOH-veh 9
miliardi mee-lee-AR-dee billion
di dee of
dollari dol-LAH-ree dollars
a ah to
organizzazioni benefiche or-ga-nee-tsa-tsee-OH-nee beh-NEH-fee-keh charities
in een around
tutto TOOT-toh all
il eel the
mondo. MON-doh world.
Le sue donazioni hanno cambiato vite, soprattutto in Irlanda del Nord, dove ha sostenuto l’istruzione e la pace.
Le leh His
sue SOO-eh his
donazioni doh-na-tsee-OH-nee donations
hanno AHN-noh have
cambiato kahm-bee-AH-toh changed
vite, VEE-teh lives,
soprattutto soh-praht-TOOT-toh especially
in een in
Irlanda del Nord, eer-LAHN-dah del NORD Northern Ireland,
dove DOH-veh where
ha ah he
sostenuto soh-steh-NOO-toh supported
l’istruzione lee-stroo-tsee-OH-neh education
e eh and
la lah the
pace. PAH-cheh peace.

Sources:

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

What type of products did Feeney sell to become a billionaire?

  • prodotti di lusso
  • prodotti duty-free
  • prodotti alimentari
  • prodotti tecnologici

What did Feeney choose to do with his wealth?

  • donarla tutta
  • investirla in aziende
  • mantenerla per la sua famiglia
  • spenderla in viaggi

For how long did Feeney donate his money secretly?

  • 10 anni
  • 15 anni
  • 20 anni
  • 5 anni

Which region particularly benefited from Feeney’s donations?

  • Irlanda del Sud
  • Irlanda del Nord
  • Scozia
  • Galles

Grammar cards for this story

Past Simple Tense

  • Example: Feeney became a billionaire.
  • Explanation: The past simple tense is used to describe actions that were completed at a specific time in the past. In this case, “became” indicates that the action of becoming a billionaire happened in the past and is no longer ongoing.

Present Perfect Tense

  • Example: He has donated nearly 9 billion dollars.
  • Explanation: The present perfect tense is used to indicate actions that occurred at an unspecified time before now. The focus is on the result or the impact of the action, which is still relevant in the present.

Modals of Advice

  • Example: He should create a foundation.
  • Explanation: Modals like “should” are used to express advice or recommendations. In this context, it suggests that creating a foundation is a wise or beneficial action for Feeney to take.

Passive Voice

  • Example: His donations were made secretly.
  • Explanation: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action itself rather than who performed the action. Here, it emphasizes the act of donating rather than who did it.
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