Bill Gates: The Computer Expert on a Mission to Help the Poor 比爾•蓋茲：不只是世界富豪 One of the richest people in the world has set his sights on making the world a better place. 世上最富有的人之一下定決心將這世界變得更美好。
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 personal computers. 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 a curious child who became interested in computers at age 13. He thought it was cool that he could give the machine directions, and it would follow his orders. After high school, Gates went to Harvard University to study law. He couldn’t get his mind off computers, though. After a year of college, he dropped out to start a software▼ company with his friends. They called it Microsoft, and Gates became its first CEO. Microsoft soon went on to create Windows, a software system that now runs on billions of computers around the world. Microsoft’s success made Gates one of the richest men in the world, with a value of more than US$90 billion.
▼intelligent a. 有智慧的，聰明的 ▼billionaire n. 億萬富翁 ▼software n.（電腦）軟體
1. on a (adj.) mission 執行（……的）任務 Rumor has it that Michael is on a secret mission in Syria. 謠傳麥可正在敘利亞執行一項祕密任務。
2. set sb’s sights on N/V-ing 下定決心要得到某事物／做某事，有……抱負 Rick has set his sights on becoming a doctor and helping people. 瑞克已決定將來成為醫生並幫助人們。
3. come to mind （突然）出現在腦海裡，想到 The idea for the song came to mind when Sally looked at a piece of art. 莎莉看著一件藝術品時，腦中突然浮現那首歌的靈感。
4. goal n. 目標，目的 Leslie reached her goal of graduating from college in two years. 萊絲麗達成兩年唸完大學的目標。
5. curious a. 好奇的；好打聽的 Cathy is more than curious about the office gossip. 凱西非常想知道辦公室的八卦。
6. direction n. 命令，指示；指點，教導 Under the direction of the coach, the team won the competition. 在教練的指導下，該隊贏得了比賽。
7. drop out 退出，脫離，中斷 Because of his injured ankle, Peter was forced to drop out of the race. 因為腳踝受傷，彼得不得不退出賽跑。
8. value n. 價值 After starting to make money on her own, Cheryl came to realize the true value of money. 開始自己賺錢之後，雪若逐漸了解金錢的真正價值。
想忘記就不要再去想了！ 本文中的 get / keep / take sb’s mind off... 表「不再去想……」，與 get / put...out of sb’s mind 意思相似，後者有「不再去想……，有意忘記……」的意思，也可以說成 get / put...to the back of sb’s mind。例：
Hanging out with friends always helps Penny take her mind off her troubles. （和朋友在一起總能讓潘妮忘掉煩惱。）
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. （傑克似乎就是無法忘記妮娜。）
