英語聽力小短文走遍全世界74: 布萊克普想要效仿拉斯維加斯
Many English seaside towns seem as if they are stuck in a time warp, in an era when families and caravans full of factory workers would converge on the shore for fun and frolics.
英國許多海濱小鎮(zhèn)仿佛被卡在時(shí)間隧道里了，至今仍然停留在那個(gè)全家人和裝滿工人的大游覽車聚集在海邊歡樂嬉鬧的時(shí)代。
As buildings decay and holiday makers flock to warmer shores, resorts like Blackpool and Morecambe on the northwest coast are looking to refresh their image.
隨著建筑物日漸破損，度假者們蜂擁前往更溫暖的海濱勝地，而位于西北海岸線上的布萊克普和莫克姆正在努力使自己的面貌煥然一新。
Blackpool council has drawn up radical plans to turn its stretch of coastline, known as the Golden Mile, into what some have called the new Las Vegas of Europe.
布萊克普議會(huì)草擬了大膽的計(jì)劃，打算把被稱為“黃金海岸”的海岸線改造成一些人號(hào)稱的“歐洲的新拉斯維加斯”。
The town is keen to capitalize on a proposed deregulation of Britain's gambling laws.
這個(gè)小鎮(zhèn)急于利用提議接觸英國賭博法管制的契機(jī)。
"Blackpool needs to see major change if it is to turn the tide and create a prosperous future," said deputy council leader Eddie Collett.
“如果想要扭轉(zhuǎn)潮流，創(chuàng)造繁榮的未來，布萊克普要經(jīng)歷很大的變化，”議會(huì)副會(huì)長埃迪·考蘭特說。
The aim is to build five big casinos and create around 30,000 new jobs. The project is already underway but developers say it will take until 2020 to finish.
這一計(jì)劃的目標(biāo)是建立五個(gè)大娛樂場(chǎng)，并創(chuàng)造約三萬個(gè)新的工作崗位，這個(gè)項(xiàng)目已經(jīng)起步，但開發(fā)者說要到2020年才能完成。
Council officials say the plan could generate around 437 million pounds a year and increase annual tourist visitors to around 15 million from 11 million now.
議會(huì)官員說這項(xiàng)計(jì)劃每年將創(chuàng)造4.37億英鎊的收入，并使每年的游客量從現(xiàn)在的1,100萬上升到1,500萬。
The glitz of Las Vegas feels a long way from Blackpool.
布萊克普要想像拉斯維加斯一樣光彩奪目還有很長一段路要走。
Its sandy beach is often strewn with litter and it is hard to find much better food than a burger.
那里的沙塘上總是丟滿垃圾，在那里也很難找到比漢堡更美味的食品。
Many residents acknowledge the resort is not looking its best but some worry that the casino plan could attract the wrong sort of clientele.
許多居民承認(rèn)這個(gè)海濱勝地現(xiàn)在的情況并不是最理想的，但也有人擔(dān)心建造娛樂場(chǎng)的機(jī)會(huì)會(huì)吸引不道德的游客。
"There are enough alcoholics and gamblers anyway in Blackpool," said sweet-seller Pat Whitty, referring to a current craze for stag and hen night parties in the resort.
“總之，布萊克普的酒鬼和賭徒已經(jīng)夠多了。”談到目前這里對(duì)男女聚會(huì)的狂熱，逃過售貨員帕特·威蒂這樣說。
"Casinos will definitely scare families away," added Whitty. "Blackpool will lose its old seaside image."
“娛樂場(chǎng)肯定會(huì)把家庭游客嚇跑，布萊克普將喪失它緣由的海濱景象，” 威蒂補(bǔ)充說。
注釋：
1. converge vi. 聚集;靠攏;收斂
例句：These lines converge at a certain point.
這些線集中于某一點(diǎn)。
2. decay vi. 衰退，[核] 衰減;腐爛，腐朽
例句：The tree began to decay as soon as it was cut down.
樹一被砍倒，它就開始腐朽。
3. draw up 草擬，起草
例句：We must draw up a contract.
我們必須草擬一份合同。
4. underway adj. 進(jìn)行中的;起步的
例句：As is the case with many things we fear, once underway, it’s not all that bad.
照現(xiàn)在的樣子我們有許多事情感到害怕，一旦開始，其實(shí)也沒那么糟糕。
