VOA常速英语2007年-Mideast Peace Summit Set for Historic Maryland

By Rosanne Skirble
Annapolis, Maryland
22 November 2007
 

Next week, the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the United States along with foreign ministers of other countries will gather in Annapolis on Tuesday for the Middle East Peace Summit.  They will discover a town steeped in American colonial history.  VOA's Rosanne Skirble has this profile of the 300-year-old Maryland State capital, which is reaping the benefits of tourism even as it is facing the challenges of a growing population.  

Tourism generates $1.8 billion per year for the local economy.  Annapolis Conference and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Connie Del Signore says what attracts many of the four million tourists each year is the city's old-world sophistication.

"And, what I tell my friends and others is that I feel as if I live in a pop-up storybook, because any time of year you can walk along the streets and you look at the beautiful state house, you truly are in a very pretend make-believe setting.  It's charming and it's magical," she beams.

Just steps from where Del Signore stands, tourists and school groups in town roam the grounds of the Maryland State Capitol, the oldest in continuous use in the country.

It was here in 1783 that George Washington resigned as commander of the Continental¹ Army.  The Capitol also brings thousands of Maryland schoolchildren for city tours.

"I like coming downtown with my mom and dad," says one schoolgirl. "I love the brick roads.  They're cool," says another. "It makes it seem historical," adds a third.

Annapolis has more colonial buildings than any city in the United States.  That is because local laws preserve its 300-year-old cityscape.  Del Signor says people take pride in their compact and walkable town, where all roads lead to the water. "So you see sailboats year round. We have sailboat races in the winter, just for those diehards who have to sail year-round.  So it is very picturesque," she tells us.

Visitors also come to shop, dine and tour the grounds of the U.S. Naval² Academy, where they can watch the noontime ritual in which 4,000 midshipmen march in formation.  The Naval Academy campus is also the site of the Mideast Peace Summit, chosen both for its historic significance and its high security. 

Despite its robust³ tourist industry, Annapolis suffers growing pains.  A local civil rights advocate says affordable⁴ housing has become scarce and services for the urban poor do not meet the increased need.  Also, a local government official predicts the reorganization of a nearby military base will bring more than 100,000 newcomers to the surrounding county. 

All this has locals who stop by for breakfast at 'Chick and Ruth's Delly' on Main Street worried. "I'm very upset about the massive traffic that is going to happen.  We have three major building [projects] going on and when they are open and the occupancy is full you won't be able to move in this town," grouses⁵ one resident. "I think that Annapolis is growing way too fast (and) that the infrastructure⁶ can't begin to support all the building that is going on," says another restaurant patron.

Another man adds, "Some of the older people have moved away because of the congestion⁷.  It's a town where if you don't have a little money you can't stay around here.  It's real pricey."

Diners at Chick and Ruth's are momentarily distracted from local problems as their historic city prepares to host one of the world's most complex, difficult, and important peace negotiations⁸.

 

1 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

2 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

3 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

4 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

5 grouses   

n.松鸡( grouse的名词复数 )；松鸡肉v.抱怨，发牢骚( grouse的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• If you've got any grouses, you`d better tell me about them. 你若有什麽不满就跟我说。 来自辞典例句
• If you've got any grouses, you'd better tell me about them. 你若有什么不满就跟我说。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 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。

8 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。