2006年VOA标准英语-Proposal for Casino Near Historic Battlefield C

By Erik Silk
Gettysburg, PA
13 July 2006
 
watch Gettysburg Casino report

The site of one of the most famous battles in U.S. history is now the focus of another conflict -- over a casino. 
 
  
  
This is Gettysburg, in the southern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A major battle in the American Civil War was fought here nearly 150 years ago.  That war lasted from 1861 to 1865.   

 
A recent Gettysburg war reenactment
  
The battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest¹ ever fought in the United States. It is viewed by many as a turning point of the Civil War, setting the stage for the Union Army's victory two years later over the Confederate rebellion.

Bill Synnamon   
  
The battlefield is now a national park that receives more than two million visitors each year from all over the world. But some say that the area needs to have more appeal to tourists who are not interested in Civil War history.

"You have to have the entertainment value," says local Bill Synnamon. "Gettysburg, after nine o'clock, if you don't go have a beer, you're done. There's absolutely nothing in town for those people."

 
Jim Lighthizer
  
That's why Gettysburg businessmen have proposed building a casino three kilometers from the battlefield. But the idea of gambling² near such an important American landmark³ bothers many residents, such as Jim Lighthizer. "The idea of putting a gambling emporium next to one of America's sacred sites is ludicrous."

David LeVan   
  
David LeVan leads a group of investors⁴ pushing for the casino. He says he did not expect this level of resistance to the project, which he thinks will bring more money and jobs to Gettysburg. "I thought the positive economic benefits warranted taking it on. But I certainly regret how divisive this issue has become to the community."

Gambling was recently legalized in the state of Pennsylvania, but that hasn't done much to deter⁵ the opposition⁶ of Civil War appreciators to the casino plan.

One historic re-enactor told us, "We want people to come to Gettysburg for what is there, their heritage, their history, not to come and put money in a slot machine.

Many tourists are also against the proposal. "Because I mean this is a historic place and putting something there that would trash the history and stuff. It's just, it shouldn't belong here at all," said one visitor.

A bill blocking the casino's construction is currently in the Pennsylvania legislature. But with the state senate adjourned⁷ for the summer, this is one battle that may continue for quite a long time.

1 bloodiest   

adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• The Russians were going to suffer their bloodiest defeat of all before Berlin. 俄国人在柏林城下要遭到他们的最惨重的失败。 来自辞典例句
• It was perhaps the bloodiest hour in the history of warfare. 这也许是战争史上血腥味最浓的1个小时。 来自互联网

2 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。

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

4 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

5 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。