2006年VOA标准英语-Las Vegas: Popular Destination Brings in W

By Crystal Park
Las Vegas, Nevada
03 January 2006
 
watch Las vegas report

  
  

Las Vegas, in the western state of Nevada, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in America and the world. It attracts millions of visitors each year who spend $34 billion for a good show and a good time. VOA's Crystal Park takes a look at the city of neon lights.

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The Las Vegas "Strip" is lined with huge hotels, each with casinos and theaters  
  

Las Vegas has been known as “Sin City” for its gambling¹, risqué entertainment and tell-no-tales atmosphere. It is dominated by The Strip, also known as Las Vegas Boulevard. Just over four miles long, the Vegas strip is the heart of what makes Vegas different.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman told us, "We're either the most real place in the world or most unreal place in the world, and I've lived here for over 40 year and I still don't have the answer."
 
 
Mayor Oscar Goodman 
  
What is real is the amount of money Las Vegas brings in every year. The tourism industry totaled $34 billion last year. One of the biggest draws is the casinos. The gaming revenue in Las Vegas generates over $6 billion a year.

And that's because over 37 million people come to Las Vegas each year ready to gamble on black jack², roulette and the famous slot machines. The average gambling budget per trip is $545, but that doesn't stop loyal visitors, like Jack Wolfin who has come to Vegas more than 30 times.

"We come down here, anything goes,” he says, “people act differently down here and it's fun!"

Las Vegas is a popular destination for international tourists as well. Thirteen percent of total visitors were from oversees³ last year.

Another popular reason to come to Vegas is to get married! A Las Vegas wedding has all the elements of a traditional American marriage: walking down the aisle⁴, exchanging rings and a kiss. It's just faster, more convenient and cheaper.

Weddings are a popular attraction for many  
  
"To get your marriage license⁵, the court house is open till midnight during the week, 24 hours on the weekend," says Reverend Ron Poros.

The wedding industry is a huge moneymaker for the city with an average of 315 weddings per day.

Another source of revenue is the famous Las Vegas shows. Whether it's a burlesque⁶ show or an Elvis impersonator competition, these shows always draw a large crowd.

1 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

4 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

5 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

6 burlesque   

v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿

参考例句：

• Our comic play was a burlesque of a Shakespearean tragedy.我们的喜剧是对莎士比亚一出悲剧的讽刺性模仿。
• He shouldn't burlesque the elder.他不应模仿那长者。