2006年VOA标准英语-Universal Studios to Revamp California Theme Pa

By Robert Raffaele
Washington, DC
08 December 2006
 
watch Universal Studio Expansion

Universal Studios' Bates motel

It seems movie characters Norman Bates and his mother from the film "Psycho" will be getting some neighbors. As VOA's Robert Raffaele explains, movie fans and business owners may one day call a popular U.S. tourist attraction "home."

The studio that enjoyed worldwide success with such hit movies as "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," and "Psycho," is expanding the complex, which celebrates its legacy¹.

Universal Studios in Universal City, California is already the world's largest movie studio lot. Now Universal's parent company wants to add a major residential² and business complex to its 158-hectare studio and theme park.

NBC Universal plans to add 24,000 square meters of space, including high-tech³ sound stages and a residential development to be called "Universal Village."

Under the $3 billion proposal, the new neighborhood would include 2,900 homes and apartment units. The 25-year plan also calls for new production facilities, restaurants, stores, a hotel, and improvements to the studio's famous back lot.

Universal City, in the Hollywood Hills overlooking the San Fernando Valley, was founded in 1915 by Carl Laemmle, who also founded Universal Studios.

In its earliest days, Universal Studios spread across a 151-hectare ranch⁴. Over the decades, the lot expanded to include the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and a shopping and retail⁵ area called City Walk. In recent years, zoning and environmental regulations have blocked Universal's efforts to expand the complex even further.

Regulations requiring current amusement park rides to be scrapped⁶ to create space for new attractions also hindered Universal's efforts to compete with nearby theme parks Disneyland and Six Flags Magic Mountain.

NBC Universal says the project would create 17,000 construction jobs and add another 11,000 permanent jobs at the studio.

At a news conference Wednesday, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called the project an economic boon⁷ for the metropolitan⁸ area. "All together the existing [and] future studio, retail, theme park, and residential uses will generate approximately $21 million in new annual revenues."

However, many nearby residents say those benefits pale compared with the problems caused by additional automobile⁹ traffic.They say surrounding neighborhoods are already overcrowded with tourists and park visitors.

Plans by previous owners to expand the lot also met with similar opposition¹⁰.

One resident commented. "It's their property and they have the right to develop it as they like. But, there has got to be smart development. You can't just put in thousands of homes without the roads and the infrastructure¹¹ to handle it."

A spokesman says NBC Universal is working with city officials to widen roads to ease congestion¹². Universal is adjacent to a subway station and near two freeways. New parking facilities would be added near the subway stop.

Construction on the expanded studio and theme park complex is not expected to begin for at least two years. Universal must first secure construction permits and various approvals for the entire project.

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

3 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

4 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

7 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

8 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

9 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

10 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。

11 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

12 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。