SAT寫(xiě)作素材-名人事跡

SATSATWangariMaathaiKenyanenvironmentalistandhumanrightscampaignerWangariMaathaihaswontheNobelPeacePrize.SheisthefirstAfricanwomantobeawardedthepeaceprizesinceitwascreatedin1901.AsurprisedMrsMaathaibrokethenewstoreportersminutesbeforetheofficialannouncement.TheprizecommitteesaysMrsMaathai,Kenya'sDeputyEnvironmentMinister(助理環(huán)境部長(zhǎng)),isanexampleforallAfricansfightingfordemocracyandpeace.Thedelighted64-year-oldprofessorsaidtheawardwascompletelyunexpected."ThisisextremelyencouragingtothepeopleofAfricaandtheAfricanwoman,"shetoldtheBBC."ItisarecognitionofthemanyeffortsofAfricanwomen,whocontinuetostruggledespitealltheproblemstheyface."Inthelate1970s,MrsMaathailedacampaigncalledtheGreenBeltMovementtoplanttensofmillionsoftreesacrossAfricatoslowdeforestationThemovementgrewtoincludeprojectstopreservebiodiversity,educatepeopleabouttheirenvironmentandpromotetherightsofwomenandgirls.Knownas"TheTreeWoman"inKenya,MrsMaathaicelebratedbyplantingaNandiflametreeinherhometownofNyeriintheshadowofMountKenya.Shesaidshewasdelightedthatthevitalroleoftheenvironmenthadbeenrecognized."Theenvironmentisveryimportantintheaspectsofpeacebecausewhenwedestroyourresourcesandourresourcesbecomescarce,wefightoverthat"."Iamworkingtomakesurewedon'tonlyprotecttheenvironment,wealsoimprovegovernance,"sheadded.Thecommitteesaysshehascombinedsciencewithsocialengagementandpolitics,andhasworkedbothlocallyandinternationally.Theprofessorwasthe12thwomanpeacelaureatesincethefirstawardwasfirstmadein1901.AspokesmanfortheKenyangovernmentsaidhiscountrywashonored."ThisisagreatmomentinKenyanhistory.TousthisshowsthatwhatWangariMaathaihasbeendoingherehasbeenrecognised,"AlfredMutuasaid."We'reveryproudofherandshedeservesallthecredit."MrsMaathaibeatarecord194nominations,includingformerchiefUnitedNationsweaponsinspectorHansBlixandtheheadoftheUNenergywatchdog,MohamedElBaradei,towintheprize.MrsMaathaiisthesecondwomaninarowtobeawardedthepeaceprize,whichlastyearwenttoIranianlawyerShirinEbadiforherworkfortherightsofwomenandchildreninIran.Theaward,whichincludes10millionSwedishkronor($1.3m)isawardedinOsloon10Decembereachyear.Reevewasreal-life'Superman'Althoughhewillalwaysberememberedforportraying"Superman,"thegreatestroleofactorChristopherReeve'slifewasasachampionofsufferersofspinalcordinjuries(脊椎損傷患者andanadvocateofstemcellresearch(干細(xì)胞研究).Unlikethemanofsteel,hewasn'tfasterthanaspeedingbullet,morepowerfulthanalocomotiveandhecouldn'tleaptallbuildingsinasinglebound.ButthecourageanddeterminationReevedisplayedintryingtoovercomehisparalysisfroma1995horse-ridingaccidentfarsurpassedanyofthefeatsofthecomicbookhero(連環(huán)畫(huà)英雄)."Hebecameareal-lifeSuperman.Hisheroism,hiscouragewasextraordinary,"ColinBlakemore,thechiefexecutiveofBritain'sMedicalResearchCouncilsaid."Likemanypeoplewhosuffersometerribleinjury,ChristopherReevewasreinvented(徹底改變)bythatexperienceandbroughtthekindofenergyandenthusiasmthatmadehimsuccessfulasafilmstartoanentirelydifferentissue,withhugeeffect."Reeve,52,diedonOctober10ofheartfailure(心臟功能衰竭)afterhavingtreatmentforaninfectedpressurewound(withoutrealizinghisdreamofwalkingagain.Butinthenineyearssincehisaccident,hemadepersonalprogresstoregainsomefeeling(重新獲得了人們的尊敬和欣賞),establishedtheChristopherReeveParalysisFoundation,anon-profitresearchorganization,andusedhisfametoraisemillionsofdollarsforresearchintospinalcordinjuries.HealsoprovidedhopeandinspirationtootherpatientsandlobbiedforscientiststobeallowedtoconductstemcellresearchinthehopesofeventuallycuringparalysisandotherillnessessuchasdiabetesandAlzheimer'sandParkinson'sdisease(糖尿病、阿茲海默癥和巴金森氏癥)."Hehasbeenourchampion.Ifyouthinkofspinalinjuriesyouautomaticallyconjureup(想起、回憶)apictureofChristopherReeve,"saidPaulSmith,executivedirectoroftheSpinalInjuriesAssociationinEngland.ItisbecauseofReevethatspinalcordinjuriesandstemcellresearcharesowidelydiscussed,accordingtoSmith.ThefactthatithappenedtoReeveshoweditcanaffectanyone,evenSuperman.Reevedidnotlivelongenoughtoseewhetherstemcellresearchcouldhelprestoremovementtotheparalyzed.Theresearchisstillinitsearlydaysandnooneknowswhatadvancesitmaybring.AdventurerFossettlaunchessoloballoontripThegianthigh-altitudeballoon,bathedinthedesert'sgoldenmorninglight,driftedslowlyintotheskyaboveNortham,asmallminingtown100km(62miles)eastofPerth,justafter7.00a.m.(2300GMT).Fossetthaddelayedinflatingtheaircraftforsixandahalfhoursduetounfavourablewinds,butwithtimerunningoutbeforethearrivalofthemorning'shotthermals,hegavetheordertofilltheballoonwithheliumforadawnlaunch.Fossettwavedtoaround100townsfolkasheenteredthecapsuleforaneastwardcircumnavigationthatheexpectswilltake15days."Iamabitnervousaboutthefirstnight,"Fossettsaidbeforetake-off."OnthefirstnightIwillfindoutifeverythingworks,ifthereareanyleaksintheballoon,ifthereareanyfailuresincommunicationsandiftheall-importantheatingworks,"hesaid.Themillionaireformerstockbrokerhasmadeaseriesoffailedattemptstoflysoloinaballoonaroundtheworld.ThelastattempttoinflatethegiantballoonforalaunchonJune17fromtheAustraliangoldminingtownofKalgoorlieendedindisasterwhenafreakwindtoreitapart.Fossett'sfourthsolobidendedinneardisasterin1998,whenathunderstormoffAustralia'snortheasterncoastshreddedhiscanopyandsenthimplummeting29,000feet(9,000metres)intotheCoralSea.Hewasunhurt.ThisyearFossett,57,decidedtolaunchinwesternAustralia,some600km(400miles)fromtheIndianOcean,tohaveabetterchanceofavoidingthunderstormsintheSouthPacificandgaintimetodetectproblemswhilestilloverland.LaughingMatter-WomanResortstoComedytoConfronttheTraumaofCancer"Inaflashmoment,Iwentfrombeingahappyexpectantmother,tobeingsomeoneafraidforherlife,"shetoldreporters.MinutesafterdoctorsdeliveredNatebyemergencyC-section,Southcottwentintosurgery.Thediagnosiswasovariancancer.Suddenlytearsandchemotherapyovertookherlife.Butthelowestmomentcameaftershelostallherhairandafreewigarrived.ShetrieditonasheroldersonKylerwatched."IthoughtIcancryaboutthisbadwigandhe'llrememberit,orIcanlaughaboutitandhewillrememberthat,"Southcottsaid.Thatwaswhenshestartedlaughingalot,andfounditwastheperfectmedicine."Ispentalottimelookingforanythinghumorbasedforcancerpatients,"shesaid."AndI'lltellyouwhat:Thereisn'tmuchoutthere."Usingherselfasabaldmodel,Bonniestartedherownlineofgreetingcardsandacalendar.Eachposepokesfunatthetribulationsofchemo."Wedesperatelyneedtolaugh,"shesaid."It'svitaltoourjoy."EventhoughSouthcott'sovariancancerisinremission,thediagnosisisnolaughingmatter-a25-percentchanceshewillliveforanothertwo-years.Sheplanstoappreciateeverymomentofmotherhood.Andsheplanstolaugh.SpacewomanStuckinOrbitwithTooMuchShrimpPeggyWhitson,theAmericanastronautspendingher130thdayinspace,saidonSundaythatshewashappyinorbit,butmaybeshebroughtalongtoomuchshrimp."Sometimes,whenyoucometospace,yourtasteschange.OneofmyfavoritefoodsontheInternationalSpaceStation.Aquickcheckofthestation'smanifestshowedthatWhitsonhadplannedmorethan40shrimpmealsforherstay."Theguyslikeitbecausetheygetallmyshrimp,"shesaid,referringtohertwoRussiancrewmates,ValeryKorzunandSergeiTreshcvev.Thethreemembersofthespacestation'sExpeditionFiveteamheldajointnewsconferencewiththesixastronautsfromthespaceshuttleAtlantisonSunday."I'mhavingagreattimeuphere.It'sfuntolivehereanddothescience,"saidWhitson,abiochemistconductingandmonitoringdozensofstudiesonthestation.WhensomeoneaskedaboutherplansforChristmas,Whitsonsaid"It'shardtoimaginebeingbackhomebecauseIguessIfeellikethisismyhomerightnow.Idon'thavemyhusband,butotherthanthat,thisismyhome."Whitson,duetoreturntoEarthwithKorzunandTreschevaboardaU.S.shuttleinNovember,saidsomechangesinspacetakemoregettingusedtothanothers.Salsacanusuallyovercomespaceblandness."Wecouldprobablyeatpaperifwehaditwithsalsa,"shesaid.Butcallusesareanothermatter.Inweightlessness,sheneveractuallystands,butdoesswayaboutwithherfeetinfootrestraints."Itwasreallyinterestingtometolosethecallusesfromthebottomofyourfeetandtogetcallusesonthetopofyourfeetafterbeinguphereforafewmonths,"shesaid.TheflyingFrenchmansettosmashroundtheworldrecordTheyarecallinghimtheBobBeamonofsailing.AndjustlikeBeamon,whoastonishedtheworldwithhisrecord-breakinglong-jumpin1968,theFrenchsailorFrancisJoyonisrewritingthenauticalrecordbooksinanunprecedentedfashion.Joyon,47,isnowinthefinalstagesofanincrediblevoyageandoncoursetosmashtheexistingnon-stopsoloround-the-worldrecordby20days.OncehecrossesthefinishlineofftheChannelportofBrestonthemorningofFebruary3,hewillhavecompletedoneofthegreatestfeatsofsingle-handedsailinginhistory.JustlikeBeamon,whoseleapattheMexicoOlympicsin1968broketheworldrecordbyanalmostunbelievable21in-whichstoodunbeatenuntil1991-Joyon'sexpectedtimeof73daysforthe26,000-mileglobalcoursewillhavefarexceededwhatmostthoughtpossibleforasolosailor.JoyonsetsailinNovemberonanadventuresomepredictedwouldendindisaster.ThefatheroffourfromLaTrinité-sur-MerinBrittanywasundertakingthevoyageinthe90fttrimaranIDEC,aboatoftremendouspowerwithahugerotatingmastthathadbeenbuilttoberacedbyacrewofuptoten.ManywereworriedthatJoyonwouldendupexhaustedandIDECwouldsimplyflipoverassheranoutofcontrolintheSouthernOcean.OtherspredictedthatJoyonwouldbeunabletohandleIDEC'senormoussailsorthattheboatcouldlosehermastintheroughconditionsthatanyround-the-worldsailorinevitablywouldface.Therewerealsoalltheusualdangers-collisionwithdebrisinthewater,withicearoundAntarcticaorthepossibilitythatJoyonwouldcollidewithashipwhilesleeping.Whenhesetoff,thesolorecordstoodat93days.AlthoughJoyonwassailingamuchfasterboatthanthepreviousrecord-holder,mostsawlittlechanceofhimgettingevencloseto80days.Joyonhadotherideasandoverthepast71dayshehasenjoyedgoodfortunewiththeweather,rarelyrunningoutofwind.Hehas,however,alsodisplayedextraordinarystamina,determinationandseamanshipinkeepingIDECrunningclosetoherfullpotential.Ronaldo:KingoftheWorldRonaldoLuizNazariodeLimawasbornon22September1976inapoorsuburbofRiodeJaneiro.Likemostofhischildhoodfriends,Ronaldobeganhissoccercareerplayingbarefootinthestreetsofhisneighborhood.Attheageof14,hejoinedSCristovosoccerclubandonlytwoyearslaterbecamethestarofCruzeiroBeloHorizontescoringatotalof58goalsin60matchesandearninghimselfareputationforhisexplosivepaceandoutstandingfinishingskills.Hisgoal-scoringrecordandunusualagilityledhimtobeincludedintheBrazilianWorldCupwinningteamthefollowingyear.AftertheWorldCup,manytopEuropeanfootballclubsweretryingtosignhim.Manypeople,includingBrazilianfootballlegendPelé,referredtohimasthemostpromisingfootballerofhisgeneration.SincehistransfertoDutchteamPSVEindhoven,Ronaldosbiographyisoneofsuccessaftersuccess.TwoCopaAméricas,aUEFACup,aDutchCup,aSpanishLeagueCup,andtwoawardsasbestplayerintheworld,allinthespaceoftwoyears,aresomeofRonaldosimpressiveachievements.OnarrivaltoInter-Milanin1997,Ronaldobecametheidolofthelocalfanswhorefertohimas“ilFenomeno.”Sincethe98WorldCuphehassufferedtwoseriouskneeinjuriesthathaveseverelylimitedhisappearances.JustwhenpeoplebegantowonderwhetherRonaldowouldbeabletocontinuewithhisfootballcareer,heprovedtotheworldthathestillcouldplay.IntheWorldCupheldinKoreaandJapan,themagicalstrikerwontheGoldenShoeawardandtiedPelé'sBrazilianrecordforcareerWorldCupgoalswith12.HehelpedBrazilcaptureitsfifthWorldCupchampionshiponJune30witha2-0winoverGermany.ItwasthethirdtimethatRonaldohaseverplayedintheWorldCup.Hewitt:ICame,ISaw,IConqueredLleytonHewittwasborninAdelaide,Australiaon24February,1981.HismotherisaformerinAustraliaforherageintennis.ShehasachievedalreadymoreintennisthanLleytonhadatthesameage.TheHewitt'shaveagrasscourtattheirhome.ThiswaswhereyoungLleytonbeganhistenniscareer.WhenLleytonshowedanunusualabilityfora4-year-oldandhewashittingballsconsistentlyoverthenet,hisparentsdecideditwastimetofindhimacoach.“Ratherthangetintobadhabits,itwasbesthelearnthowtohittheballcorrectly.”sayshisfather.Twoyearslater,theygotPeterSmithashiscoach.Attheageoffive,whenmostchildrenthatageareplayinghideandseekorgettingintoallsortsoftrouble,LleytonandhisfamilywouldmakethetriptoMelbournefortheAustralianOpen.Lleytonwouldsitforupto12hoursadaywatchingplayerspractise.Lleyton'scareerasatennisplayerwasplannedbyhisparentswhotriedtheirbesttokeephimawayfromfootball.Lleyton'sparentsthoughtitwastooriskytoplayfootballsincehemightgethurt.HadLleytonplayedfootball,itisquitepossiblehemayhaveendedupplayingforhisfavoriteteam—theAdelaideCrows.Ashismothersays,“Iguesswe'veguidedhimintothingswefeltgoodforhimbeforehedid.”BythetimeLleytonwaseight,hewaswinning“under-10games”andalwayswonayearaheadofhisage.Aprofessionalcareerwaslookingverypromising.Lleytonofficiallyturnedproin1997.￡400,000advanceforstudent'sfirstnovelAn18-year-oldauthorhasreceiveda￡400,000advanceforherdebutnovel,oneofthebiggestdealsforayoungauthorinBritishpublishinghistory.HelenOyeyemi,afirst-yearstudentatCorpusChristiCollege,Cambridge,isnowinthetopbracketofBritishauthorsandsharesanaccountantwithJ.K.RowlingandZadieSmith.MsOyeyemistruckatwo-bookdealwithBloomsburyafterthepublisherwasbowledoverbyhernovelTheIcarusGirl.ThestoryconcernsJessamy,aneight-year-oldgeniuswho,whileonavisittorelativesinNigeria,meetsTillyTilly,afriendwhomonlyshecansee.TheirrelationshipisfriendlyatfirstbutbecomesdarkerasitappearsthatTillyTillyisaghostwhowantsJessamy'sbodyforherown.Inaninterview,theNigerian-bornauthorsaidthatshewasastonishedatthespeedwithwhichshewassnappedup."Ihadtosignthecontractbetweenmyexams.ItwasonthedayofmytheologyAlevel,"shesaid.MsOyeyemi,whosefatherisateacherandwhosemotheristrainingtobecomeadriverforLondonUnderground,beganwritingattheageofseven."IrewroteLittleWomensothatLauriemarriedJobecauseIthoughtthatwasabetterending."ShebeganwritingTheIcarusGirllastyearwhenshewasinthesixthformofNotreDameSchool.Heragent,RobinWade,showedthebooktoAlexandraPringle,editor-in-chiefatBloomsbury,whoisalsoDonnaTartt'seditor."Theprosesingsimmediatelyrightfromthefirstpage,"MsPringlesaid.MsOyeyemidoesnotbelievethatshewillbecomeafull-timewriter,however."Idon'tthinkthatmanypeoplecandothatthesedays,"shesaid."Iwouldquiteliketobealiteraryagent."101-year-oldmanparachutesintorecordbookA101-year-oldmanisbelievedtobetheworld'soldestskydiverafterheacceptedadarefromfriendsandjumpedoutofanairplaneatnearly10,000feet.FrankMoody,fromHollowaysBeachonAustralia'snortheasterncoast,beattherecordsetbya94-year-oldNorwegianin1999,saidAmandaPilkington,fromSkydiveCairns,whichorganizedthejump.OnthemorningofJune16,Moodyjumpedintandemwithanexperiencedskydiverfrommorethan9,900feet,shesaid."He'sanabsolutelegend.ItwasabitofadrunkendarebysomeofhismatesatthelocalHollowaysBeachfootballclub.Hesaid:'Sure,I'llgojumpoutofanairplane,'"Pilkingtonquotedhimassaying,addingshenearlyfelloffherchairwhenshefirstheardMoodygofortherecord."WedecidedtoattempttobeattherecordaswellasgivingFrankanawesomeexperienceandonethathe'llrememberfortherestofhislife.He'sveryswitched-onandverywittyandcharming.It'sanabsolutepleasuretohavedonethisforhim,"shesaid.PilkingtonsaidtheclubwouldsendvideoofthejumpandotherdetailstotheGuinnessBookofRecordsheadofficeinLondonandexpectsconfirmationoftherecordshortly.MoodywentdowntothefootballclubwithhissonJohnafterthejumptohaveaGuinnessbeertocelebrateandcollectonbetsplacebyhisfriends."He'sbeengivenhisfootageandphotographssohe'sgotproofandevidencethathe'sdoneit,"Pilkingtonsaid.BritonwhosavedJewsrememberedABritishagentwhosavedthousandsofJewsfromtheNazisisbeingrememberedwithaplaquebeingplacedoutsidetheBritishembassyinBerlin.FrankFoleywasbasedinBerlininthe1930s,workingasapassportcontrolofficer,andusinghispositiontoprovidepapersforJewishpeople.ItisbelievedMrFoleysavedtensofthousandsoflives,evenhidingpeopleinhisownhome.ForeignSecretaryJackStrawdescribedhimas"atrueBritishhero".EyewitnessesrecallMrFoleyasanunassuminghero-asmall,slightlyoverweightmanwithroundglasses.ButhewasactuallyBritain'stopspyinthecity.Henotonlyinterpretedtherulesonvisasloosely,enablingJewstoescapetoBritainandPalestine,buthealsohelpedtoforgepassports.And,despitenothavingdiplomaticimmunity,hegavesheltertosomepeopleinhisownhome.MrFoley'seffortshavealreadybeenrecognisedbyIsrael,whichdeclaredhimarighteousgentile,likeOskarSchindler,andhehasalsobeenhonouredbyhishometownofStourbridgeintheWestMidlands.MichaelSmithoftheDailyTelegraph,whowroteabookabouthim,saidthatalthoughitisnotknownexactlyhowmanylivesMrFoleysaved,archiveevidencewouldsuggestthenumberwasinthetensofthousands.Hesaid,"WithSchindleryouhad1,400peopleworkinginafactory,workingwithhim,theyworkedcloselytogether.Theirlivesweretogether."SowhentheymovedtoPalestine,whichlaterbecameIsrael,theyarealltalkingtoeachother,theyarestillonthephonetoeachothereveniftheyarenotlivinginIsrael-theyhaveacollectivememoryofwhatSchindlerdid."ButwithFoleyalotofthepeoplehehelpedprobablydidn'tevenknowhehelpedthem."Theywerehelpedinonesortwosorinsmallfamilyunits-fiveorsixpeopleperhaps.TheyhavegottoPalestine.Theyhaveavisatheyknowtheyshouldn'thave-theyarenotgoingtotalkaboutit."TheFirmHelenKellerIn1882ababygirlcaughtafeverthatwassofierceshenearlydied.Shesurvivedbutthefeverleftitsmark-shecouldnolongerseeorhear.Becauseshecouldnothearshealsofounditverydifficulttospeak.Sohowdidthischild,blindedanddeafenedat19monthsold,growuptobecomeaworld-famousauthorandpublicspeaker?Thefevercutherofffromtheoutsideworld,deprivingherofsightandsound.Itwasasifshehadbeenthrownintoadarkprisoncellfromwhichtherecouldbenorelease.LuckilyHelenwasnotsomeonewhogaveupeasily.Soonshebegantoexploretheworldbyusingherothersenses.Shefollowedhermotherwherevershewent,hangingontoherskirts;shetouchedandsmelledeverythingshecameacross.Shecopiedtheiractionsandwassoonabletodocertainjobsherself,likemilkingthecowsorkneadingdough,sheevenlearnttorecognizepeoplebyfeelingtheirfacesortheirclothes.Shecouldalsotellwhereshewasinthegardenbythesmellofthedifferentplantsandthefeelofthegroundunderherfeet.Bytheageofsevenshehadinventedover60differentsignsbywhichshecouldtalktoherfamily,ifshewantedbreadforexample,shewouldpretendtocutaloafandbuttertheslices.Ifshewantedicecreamshewrappedherarmsaroundherselfandpretendedtoshiver.Helenwasunusualinthatshewasextremelyintelligentandalsoremarkablysensitive.Byherowneffortsshehadmanagedtomakesomesenseofanalienandconfusingworld.Butevensoshehadlimitations.AttheageoffiveHelenbegantorealizeshewasdifferentfromotherpeople.Shenoticedthatherfamilydidnotusesignslikeshedidbuttalkedwiththeirmouths.Sometimesshestoodbetweentwopeopleandtouchedtheirlips.Shecouldnotunderstandwhattheysaidandshecouldnotmakeanymeaningfulsoundsherself.Shewantedtotalkbutnomatterhowshetriedaroundtheroom,kickingandscreaminginfrustration.Asshegotolderherfrustrationgrewandherragesbecameworseandworse.Shebecamewildandunruly.Ifshedidn'tgetwhatshewantedshewouldthrowtantrumsuntilherfamilygavein.Herfavoritetricksincludedgrabbingotherpeople'sfoodfromtheirplatesandhurlingfragileobjectstothefloor.Oncesheevenmanagedtolockhermotherintothepantry.Eventuallyitbecameclearthatsomethinghadtobedone.So,justbeforeherseventhbirthday,thefamilyhiredaprivatetutor-AnneSullivan.AnnewascarefultoteachHelenespeciallythosesubjectsinwhichshewasinterested.Asreadpeople'slipsbypressingherfinger-tipsagainstthemandfeelingthemovementandvibrations.ThismethodiscalledTadomaanditisaskillthatvery,veryfewpeoplemanagetoacquire.Shealsolearnttospeak,amajorachievementforsomeonewhocouldnothearatall.Helenprovedtobearemarkablescholar,graduatingwithhonorsfromRadcliffCollegein1904.Shehadphenomenalpowersofconcentrationandmemory,aswellasadoggeddeterminationtosucceed.Whileshewasstillatcollegeshewrote'TheStoryofMyLife'.Thiswasanimmediatesuccessandearnedherenoughmoneytobuyherownhouse.Shetouredthecountry,givinglectureafterlecture.Manybookswerewrittenaboutherandseveralplaysandfilmsweremadeaboutherlife.Eventuallyshebecamesofamousthatshewasinvitedabroadandreceivedmanyhonorsfromforeignuniversitiesandmonarchs.In1932shebecameavice-presidentoftheRoyalNationalInstitutefortheBlindintheUnitedKingdom.Afterherdeathin1968anorganizationwassetupinhernametocombatblindnessinthedevelopingworld.Todaythatagency,HelenKellerInternational,isoneofthebiggestorganizationsworkingwithblindpeopleoverseas.BillGatesinHisBoyhoodAsachild-andasanadultaswellBillwasuntidy.Ithasbeensaidthatinordertocounteractthis.Marydrewupweeklyclothingplansforhim.OnMondayshemightgotoschoolinblue,onTuesdaysingreen,onWednesdaysinbrown,onThursdaysinblack,andsoon,Weekendmealschedulesmightalsobeplannedindetail.Everythingtime,atworkorduringhisleisuretime.DinnertablediscussionsintheGate'sfamilyhomewerealwayslivelyandeducational."Itwasarichenvironmentinwhichtolearn,"Billremembered.Bill'scontemporaries,evenattheage,recognizedthathewasexceptional.Everyyear,heandhisfriendswouldgotosummercamp.Billespeciallylikedswimmingandothersports.Oneofhissummercampfriendsrecalled,"Hewasneveranerdoragooforthekindofkidyoudidn'twantyourteam.WeallknewBillwassmarterthanus.Evenbackthen,whenhewasnineortenyearsold,hetalkedlikeanadultandcouldexpresshimselfinwaysthatnoneofusunderstood."Billwasalsowellaheadofhisclassmatesinmathematicsandscience.HeneededtogotoaschoolthatchallengedhimtoLakeside-anall-boys'schoolforexceptionalstudents.ItwasSeattle'smostexclusiveschoolandwasnotedforitsrigorousacademicdemands,aplacewhere"eventhedumbkidsweresmart."Lakesideallowedstudentstopursuetheirowninterests,towhateverextenttheywished.Theschoolprideditselfonmakingconditionsandfacilitiesavailablethatwouldenableallitsstudentstoreachtheirfullpotential.ItwastheidealenvironmentforsomeonelikeBillGates.In1968,theschoolmadeadecisionthatwouldchangethirteen-year-oldBillGates'slife-andthatofmanyofothers,too.Fundswereraised,mainlybyparents,thatenabledtheschooltogainaccesstoacomputer-aProgramDataprocessor(PDP)-throughateletypemachine.TypeinafewinstructionsontheteletypemachineandafewsecondslaterthePDPwouldtypebackitsresponse.BillGateswasimmediatelyhooked-sowashisbestfriendatthetime,KentEvans,andanotherstudent,PaulAllen,whowastwoyearsolderthanBill.Whenevertheyhadfreetime,andsometimeswhentheydidn't,theywoulddashovertothecomputerroomtousethemachine.Thestudentsbecamesosingle-mindedthattheysoonovertooktheirteachersinknowledgeaboutcomputingandgotintoalotoftroublebecauseoftheirobsession.Theywereneglectingtheirotherstudies-everypieceofwordwashandedinlate.Classeswerecut.Computertimewasalsoprovingtobeveryexpensive.Withinmonths,thewholebudgetthathadbeensetasidefortheyearhadbeenusedup.Atfourteen,Billwasalreadywritingshortprogramsforthecomputertoperform.EarlygamesprogramssuchasTic-Tac-Toe,orNoughtsandCrosses,andLunarLandingwerewritteninwhatwastobecomeBill'ssecondlanguage,BASIC.OneofthereasonsBillwassogoodatprogrammingisbecauseitismathematicalandlogical.DuringhistimeatLakeside,Billscoredaperfecteighthundredonamathematicstest.Itwasextremelyimportanttohimtogetthisgrade-hehadtotakethetestmorethanonceinordertodoit.IfBillGateswasgoingtobegoodatsomething.Itwasessentialtobethebest.Bill'sandPaul'sfascinationwithcomputersandthebusinessworldmeantthattheyreadabecausebothboysweredesperatetogetmoretimeandbecauseBillalreadyhadaninsightintowhattheycouldachievefinancially,thetwoofthemdecidedtosetthemselvesupasacompany:TheLakesideProgrammersGroup."Let'scalltherealworldandtrytosellsomethingtoit!"Billannounced.ANUNUSUALARCHITECT—LEOHMINGPEIOnthisvividplanet,itappearscolorfulwithazureblueseawater,lushgreenplantsandmanyworldfamousbuildings.Amongtheselargestartificialarticlesintheworld,manyoriginatedfromthesamearchitect—IeohMingPei.IeohMingPei,the1983LaureateofthePritzkerArchitecturePrize,isafoundingpartnerofI.M.Pei&PartnersbasedinNewYorkCity.HewasborninChinain1917,thesonofaprominentbanker.HecametotheUnitedStatesin1935tostudyarchitectureattheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology(B.Arch.1940)andtheHarvardGraduateSchoolofDesign(M.Arch.1946).DuringWorldWarⅡ,heservedontheNationaldefenseResearchCommissionatPrinceton,andfrom1945to1948,taughtatHarva