Bill Gates

William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. He is one of the world's richest people and perhaps the most successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant Microsoft and turned it into the world’s largest software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of the PC revolution. He has also written two best-selling books and started his own charity with his wife.

Gates was fascinated with electronics from a young age. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contacted them to see if they were interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation of Microsoft. Gates later struck a deal with IBM that put Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.

Gates was in charge at Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer at the beginning. He had a vision that computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come true and developed many products that are now part of modern life. His management style has been studied and copied around the world.

Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. He now spends his time with his wife, Melinda, focusing on their charitable foundation. They provide funds for global problems that are ignored by governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences of the 20th Century. Scientists named the Bill Gates flower fly after him.

248 words

SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right.

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	richest	a.	formation
2	giant	b.	interested
3.	entrepreneur	c.	agreement
4.	fascinated	d.	monster
5.	creation	e.	wealthiest
6.	deal	f.	businessman
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	beginning	g.	quit
8.	vision	h.	passed over
9.	style	i.	dream
10.	stepped down	j.	give
11	provide	k	start
12	ignored	l	approach

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.	He co-founded the software	a.	player in the IT industry
2	He is the best-known entrepreneur	b.	down as Microsoft CEO
3.	Gates was fascinated with	c.	of the PC revolution
4.	a computer programme he	d.	charge at Microsoft
5.	a major	e.	by governments
6.	Gates was in	f.	electronics
7.	He had a vision that computers could	g.	flower fly after him
8.	Gates stepped	h.	giant Microsoft
9.	global problems that are ignored	i.	had written
10.	Scientists named the Bill Gates	j.	change everyone’s life

LISTENING GAP FILL

William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. _____________ world's richest people and perhaps the most successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant Microsoft _____________ the world’s largest software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of the PC revolution. He has also written two best-selling books ________________ charity with his wife.

Gates was fascinated with electronics ________________. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contacted them ________________ interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation of Microsoft. Gates later struck ____________________ Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.

Gates ________________ Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer at the beginning. ___________________ computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come true and developed many products ___________________ modern life. His management style has been studied and copied around the world.

Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. __________________ his wife, Melinda, focusing on their charitable foundation. They provide funds for global problems _______________ governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences of the 20th Century. Scientists named the Bill Gates ________________.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. He is one of the world's richest people and perhaps the most / best successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant / gigantic Microsoft and turned it into the world’s largest software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of / for the PC revolution. He has also written two best-selling books and started his owner / own charity with his wife.

Gates was fascinated with electronics from a young era / age. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contracted / contacted them to see if they were interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation / creator of Microsoft. Gates later struck a dealt / dealwith IBM that put Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.

Gates was in change / charge at Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer at / on the beginning. He had a vision that computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come / go true and developed many products that are now part of modern life. His management style / stylish has been studied and copied around the world.

Gates stepped down / under as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. He now spends / spent his time with his wife, Melinda, focusing on their charitable foundation. They provide finds / funds for global problems that are ignored by governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences of the 20th Century. Scientists named / naming the Bill Gates flower fly after him.

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	haerpsp the most successful businessman ever
2.	the software tgani Microsoft
3.	the world’s largest warosfte company
4.	started his own carthyi with his wife
Paragraph 2
5.	Gates was ntadisefca with electronics
6.	He oantcetcd them
7.	This led to the icaoenrt of Microsoft
8.	a major player in the IT nurydits
Paragraph 3
9.	He was an active software lvderopee
10.	He had a siovni
11.	products that are now part of roednm life
12.	management lsyet
Paragraph 4
13.	Gates ppdeset down as Microsoft CEO
14.	They pdreivo funds for global problems
15.	the biggest csiueelnfn of the 20^th Century
16.	the Bill Gates oflewr fly

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant Microsoft and turned it into the world’s largest
( )	ignored by governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences
( )	Gates was in charge at Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer
( )	Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. He now spends his time with his wife, Melinda, focusing on
( )	true and developed many products that are now part of modern life. His management
( )	best-selling books and started his own charity with his wife.
( )	software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of the PC revolution. He has also written two
( )	their charitable foundation. They provide funds for global problems that are
( )	them to see if they were interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation of Microsoft. Gates
( 1 )	William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. He is one of the world's richest people and perhaps the most
( )	later struck a deal with IBM that put Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.
( )	at the beginning. He had a vision that computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come
( )	style has been studied and copied around the world.
( )	of the 20th Century. Scientists named the Bill Gates flower fly after him.
( )	Gates was fascinated with electronics from a young age. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contacted

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

Put the words back into the correct order.

1.	giant software the co-founded He Microsoft
2.	He best-selling has also written books two
3.	from was a fascinated young with age electronics Gates
4.	deal IBM later a with Gates struck
5.	made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry This deal
6.	active beginning software He developer was at an the
7.	change He vision could life a computers everyone’s had that
8.	stepped in down June as 2008 Microsoft Gates CEO
9.	for funds provide They problems global
10.	him Gates Scientists flower named fly the after Bill

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	richest	a.	wealthiest
2	giant	b.	monster
3.	entrepreneur	c.	businessman
4.	fascinated	d.	interested
5.	creation	e.	formation
6.	deal	f.	agreement
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	beginning	g.	start
8.	vision	h.	dream
9.	style	i.	approach
10.	stepped down	j.	quit
11	provide	k	give
12	ignored	l	passed over

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	He co-founded the software	a.	giant Microsoft
2	He is the best-known entrepreneur	b.	of the PC revolution
3.	Gates was fascinated with	c.	electronics
4.	a computer programme he	d.	had written
5.	a major	e.	player in the IT industry
6.	Gates was in	f.	charge at Microsoft
7.	He had a vision that computers could	g.	change everyone’s life
8.	Gates stepped	h.	down as Microsoft CEO
9.	global problems that are ignored	i.	by governments
10.	Scientists named the Bill Gates	j.	flower fly after him