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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
环球影城的环球魅力
by Rebecca Fratzke
Universal Studios Hollywood — a place for fun, entertainment, and even history — is taking its first steps in a 25-year plan to expand the park. The new outline envisions an incredible growth of the amusement facilities as well as the development of a residential1 neighborhood in the area. This environmentally friendly living area is just another feather in the cap of this amazing park of wonder.
Originally known as Universal City, Universal Studios Hollywood was founded in 1915 by Carl Laemmle. It was the first studio to offer tours where audiences could watch films in production. Since then, Universal Studios has grown to include theme parks, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and much more. This park proved to be so popular that Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990, and last year, Universal Studios Japan (Osaka) celebrated2 its fifth birthday.
With so much past success from growth, it's no wonder that Universal is excited about its latest plans for expansion. Previous plans were scrapped4 due to complex zoning and environmental regulations. Now, they are ready to move ahead in full force.
While many new attractions are in the works for the new expansion, Universal will preserve some of its old attractions, such as the Bates Mansion5 from the film Psycho and the mechanical shark from Jaws6. These attractions offer a historical perspective of the film industry. Preserving them illustrates8 the advance in film production techniques over the years. In addition to safeguarding the past, plenty of new high-tech9 soundstages, rides, and theaters are in the works. In May, Citywalk, a shopping, dining, and entertainment facility, began remodeling. Spring also saw the opening of SkyVenture Hollywood, an attraction where visitors can float 40 feet into the air on 125 mph winds. Not bad for a studio once called, "The strangest place on Earth."
1. As a result of the popularity of Universal Studios, ______.
(A) other parks and facilities were opened
(B) homeowners lost their property rights
(C) neighborhoods in the area were flattened11
(D) Carl Laemmle decided12 to shut down his park
2. In the third paragraph, "scrapped" is closest in meaning to _____.
(A) blown up
(B) refused
(C) called off
(D) prolonged
3. According to the article, why will older attractions remain?
(A) They're too costly13 to replace.
(B) They provide insight into the development of the film industry.
(C) They represent the destruction of historic landmarks15.
(D) They only cost US$25 million in annual upkeep.
4. What will more than likely occur because of the expansion of the park?
(A) The movie industry will improve its contents.
(B) Business will experience a slight slump16.
(C) More tourists will be drawn17 to the area.
(D) Universal Studios will pass out more tour packages.
文法一点灵
Spring also saw the opening of SkyVenture Hollywood, ...
注意:
a.此处的 see 表事件或情况『发生』、『存在』之意，通常以『时间』或『地方』作主词。
例: The 1990s saw several cultural exports from Japan make it big in Taiwan.
（九○年代有许多日本输出的文化产物在台湾大放异彩。）
b.而 see 也可以表『经历』、『遭遇』、『有……的经验』，即等于 experience 之意，通常以『人』作主词。
例: The poor old beggar had seen better days when he was young.
（那可怜的老乞丐年轻时也曾有过好日子。）
精解字词词组
1. take one's first step(s) 开始某人的第一步
例: The couple is taking their first step to moving overseas.
（这对夫妻正开始移居海外的第一步。）
2. envision vt. 展望；想象（未来等）
例: We envision a bright and prosperous future for our new company.
（我们展望自己的新公司有个光明成功的未来。）
3. a feather in the cap of...= a feather in one's cap 是……值得自豪的成就
例: The new book is a real feather in that author's cap because it's her best yet.
（这本新书的确是那位作者值得骄傲的成就。这是她目前为止最好的作品。）
4. prove (to be) N/adj. 证明（是）……
注意:
此处的 prove 作不完全不及物动词用，表『证明是』、『显示』之意，等同于 turn out，之后接 "to be + N/adj." 作主词补语，而 to be 可省略。
例: After a series of investigations18, the suspect was proven (to be) innocent and has been released.
（经过一连串调查后，该嫌犯证实无罪而被释放。）
5. be excited about... 对……感到兴奋
例: The scientists were excited about the results of the experiment.
（科学家对实验的结果感到很兴奋。）
6. scrap3 vt. 放弃，抛弃
例: We'll have to scrap our plans for a vacation if that typhoon hits.
（如果台风来袭，我们就得放弃渡假计划。）
7. in full force 全力以赴，用尽一切力量
例: With the election just around the corner, the candidates will be campaigning in full force.
（随着选举即将到来，候选人无不卯足全力造势。）
8. in the works 建设中；进行中
例: The legislation has been in the works for five years.
（这个法案已经处理五年了。）
9. preserve vt. 保存，保护
例: All of us must do our part to preserve the natural habitat of those butterflies.
（我们每个人都该善尽本分保护这些蝴蝶的自然栖息地。）
10. illustrate7 vt.（举例）说明∕证明
例: Could you please illustrate what you're trying to say a bit more? I don't fully19 understand it.
（可以请你多说明一下你的想法吗？我并不是全然了解。）
11. safeguard vt. 防卫，保护
例: To safeguard our computer system, the engineer installed anti-virus software.
（为了保护我们的计算机系统，工程师安装了防毒软件。）
12. blow up (...) （使……）爆炸
例: The bomb blew up and destroyed the building.
（那枚炸弹爆炸，摧毁了那栋建筑物。）
13. prolong vt. 延长
例: Please don't prolong the story. Just tell me everything right now.
（说事情不要拖拖拉拉。现在就把一切都跟我说吧。）
14. replace vt. 取代
replace A with B 以 B 取代 A
例: We're going to replace our old car with a new one next month.
（我们下个月要买一部新车来汰换旧车。）
15. pass out... 发送∕散发……
例: There are always people passing out free tissues on this corner.
（这个街角总是有人在发送免费面纸。）
单字小铺
1. appeal n. 吸引力
2. outline n. 大纲，轮廓
3. facilities n. 设备（恒用复数）
4. residential a. 住宅的
5. environmentally friendly 环保的
6. production n. 制作；生产
7. expansion n. 扩张
8. zoning n. 都市的区域划分
9. mechanical a. 机器的
10. historical a. 历史的，史学的 historic a. 有历史性的
11. perspective n. 观点
12. soundstage n. 有声电影摄影棚（声音被有效控制、隔离的室内摄影棚）
13. remodel10 vi. & vt. 重建，改装
14. property n. 财产
15. costly a. 昂贵的
16. landmark14 n. 地标
17. upkeep n. 维修费
18. slump n. 下跌，衰败
19. tour package 套装旅行团行程
词组小铺
1. shut down... 关闭……
2. call off... 取消……（= cancel...）
3. be drawn to...= be attracted to... 被吸引到……
中文翻译＆标准答案
充满欢乐、娱乐、甚至历史的好莱坞环球影成正开始一个长达二十五年的扩建计划。这个新的大纲展望游乐设施惊人的成长，以及该区住宅区的发展。而这个环保生活圈只是这神奇乐园值得骄傲的成就之一。
1915年由卡尔‧莱梅里创立的环球影城最初称为寰宇之都，是第一个开放游客观赏电影制作过程的片厂。从那时起，环球影城便发展成一个包含主题乐园、餐厅、旅馆与购物中心等的地方。游乐园大受欢迎的程度促使佛罗里达州的环球影城在 1990 年开幕，而去年大阪的环球影城也欢庆五周年。
在发展过程中有这么多成功的经验，难怪环球影城对最新的扩建计划如此雀跃。先前的计划因复杂的都市区域划分和环境法规而流产。现在，他们已经准备好全力冲刺了。
虽然为扩建计划增设的新设施正在动工，环球影城也保留了一些旧设施，像是电影《惊魂记》中的贝兹豪宅和《大白鲨》中的机器鲨鱼。这些设施能提供电影工业史的一面。保留这些设备可以说明制片技术这几年来的进步。除了保存过去，许多新颖的高科技有声电影摄影棚、乘坐设备和剧场都正在兴建中。五月时，结合购物、餐饮和娱乐设施的环球街市开始重新整修。SkyVenture 也于春季开幕，游客可以时速 125 英里的风速在 40 英尺的高空漂浮。对曾被称为『地球上最奇怪的地方』而言，这还真不赖。
1. 因为环球影城的高人气，_____。
(A) 其它分馆与设施也陆续开张
(B) 屋主失去自己的财产权
(C) 邻近区域遭夷平
(D) 卡尔‧莱梅里决定关闭游乐园
题解: 根据本文第二段，由于游乐园大受欢迎，佛罗里达州的环球影城在 1990 年开幕，而去年大阪的环球影城也欢庆五周年，加上最近的扩建计划，可知应选 (A)。
2. 第三段中的 "scrapped" 意思是 _____。
(A) 被炸掉
(B) 被拒绝
(C) 被取消
(D) 被延长
题解: scrap 的意思是『放弃、抛弃』，与 (C) 的意思相近，故选之。
3. 根据本文，为何旧的设备被保留下来？
(A) 取代它们太花钱。
(B) 它们使人得以洞察电影业的发展。
(C) 它们代表历史性地标的破坏。
(D) 它们每年仅耗费两千五百万美金的维修费。
题解: 根据第四段，这些保留下来的旧设施能提供电影工业史的一面，说明制片技术这几年来的进步，故选 (B)。
4. 因游乐园的扩建，什么事情可能会发生？
(A) 电影工业会改善其内容。
(B) 生意会稍微下跌。
(C) 会有更多人被吸引到该区。
(D) 环球影城会推出更多旅游套装行程。
题解: 从全文中的描述中可以推论，环球影城广受欢迎，不断推陈出新，势必吸引更多人前往，故选 (C)。
标准答案: 1. (A) 2. (C) 3. (B) 4. (C)
收听单词发音 |
1
residential
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| adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的 | |
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2
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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3
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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4
scrapped
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| 废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架 | |
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5
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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6
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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7
illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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8
illustrates
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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9
high-tech
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| adj.高科技的 | |
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10
remodel
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| v.改造，改型，改变 | |
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11
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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12
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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13
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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14
landmark
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| n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标 | |
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15
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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16
slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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17
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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18
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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19
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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