VOA标准英语2014--富豪陈光标给纽约穷人免费午餐

 

Chinese Billionaire Offers Free Lunch to New York’s Homeless 富豪陈光标给纽约穷人免费午餐

NEW YORK — Chinese billionaire Chen Guangbiao, who considers himself China's top philanthropist, is offering to buy lunch for 1,000 homeless people in New York City. Some say the offer is a noble gesture, while others consider it a gimmick¹ from the Chinese tycoon² who once made news by offering to buy The New York Times newspaper.

Chen Guangbiao announced the event in prominent ads in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He said he will buy lunch for 1,000 homeless people at a fancy New York City restaurant next Wednesday and give each of them $300 after the meal.

At one Manhattan restaurant, a man named Matthew, who would give only his first name, said he thinks the offer is politically motivated.

“I guess Chinese bureaucrats³ are just as entitled to engage in media stunts⁴ just like American politicians,” he said.

But for Anthony Shaw and his family -- who have been homeless in New York  for three months after moving there from Florida -- any help now is much appreciated.

Mr. Lee [who would not give his first name] has a different take, however, on Chen's motivations.

"He [Chen Guangbiao] wants to use this chance to help and improve his reputation for his business, of course. His reputation will be spread ... and  people will choose and trust him, then a large sum of money will return to his hands,” he said.

The free meal is scheduled to be held on June 25 at the upscale Loeb Boathouse in Central Park.

1 gimmick   

n.(为引人注意而搞的)小革新，小发明

参考例句：

• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。
• It is just a public relations gimmick.这只不过是一种公关伎俩。

2 tycoon   

n.有钱有势的企业家，大亨

参考例句：

• The tycoon is on the verge of bankruptcy.那名大亨濒临破产的边缘。
• The tycoon has many servants to minister to his needs.那位大亨有很多人服侍他。

3 bureaucrats   

n.官僚( bureaucrat的名词复数 )；官僚主义；官僚主义者；官僚语言

参考例句：

• That is the fate of the bureaucrats, not the inspiration of statesmen. 那是官僚主义者的命运，而不是政治家的灵感。 来自辞典例句
• Big business and dozens of anonymous bureaucrats have as much power as Japan's top elected leaders. 大企业和许多不知名的官僚同日本选举出来的最高层领导者们的权力一样大。 来自辞典例句

4 stunts   

n.惊人的表演( stunt的名词复数 )；（广告中）引人注目的花招；愚蠢行为；危险举动v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He did all his own stunts. 所有特技都是他自己演的。
• The plane did a few stunts before landing. 飞机着陆前做了一些特技。 来自《简明英汉词典》