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VOA标准英语2012--Coney Island Amusement Park Still Up and Spinning

时间：2012-08-20 09:08:15

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Coney Island Amusement Park Still Up and Spinning

Coney Island is only half a kilometer wide, but this “playground by the sea” has been offering giant-sized fun ever since the early 19th century.

It's been a "Big Apple" summertime destination, beginning with its first carousel1 in 1876, Luna Park in 1903, and the Cyclone2 in 1927 - reputed to be the world’s first roller coaster and now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wonder Wheel ride, Coney Island’s most visible landmark3, has been family-owned and operated since it opened in 1920. “Dee-Jay” Vourderis works seven days a week helping4 to maintain and operate the 180-metric-ton contraption.

"I’m proud because not only do I have a job that I enjoy doing but I’m proud because I feel like I’m part of maintaining the jewel of Coney Island," he said.

Coney Island had its heyday5 before World War II. It was a prime destination for working-class and immigrant families seeking respite6 from the city's factories and tenements7. But the area went into a steep decline between the late 1960s and the 1990s.

“... There has been this renaissance8. There are three new amusement parks here. Life is coming back," Vourderis said.

Tourists and residents like to beat the heat on the nearly five kilometers of Atlantic Ocean beach that lies adjacent to the rides.

For many New Yorkers, Coney Island, especially Nathan's on the Boardwalk, is nostalgia9. The hot dog shop opened in 1916 and has been turning out hot dogs and french fries year-round ever since.

“I thought the crispiness was really great. I thought the flavor was really great. The chili10 was fantastic. I loved it, “ said Alfonse Lorente, who brought his family to Nathans from nearby Long Island.

For those who don’t stomach hot dogs, there are old-fashioned rides and games of luck and skill.

Corporate11 developers have raised the rents on many old-time concessions13 and forced some out of business. Coney Island native and concession12 owner Monica Ghee had to move three times in as many years. She’s angry and says attractions like hers give Coney Island its soul.

“Our spirit will live on long after we’re dead, honey. We are the blood, sweat and tears on the block," she said.

Coney Island with its unique mix of nostalgia and thrills will be spinning in full force through September when the leaves turn gold. 


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1 carousel 6wKzzp     
n.旋转式行李输送带
参考例句：
  • Riding on a carousel makes you feel dizzy.乘旋转木马使你头晕。
  • We looked like a bunch of awkward kids riding a slow-moving carousel.我们看起来就像一群骑在旋转木马上的笨拙的孩子。
2 cyclone cy3x7     
n.旋风，龙卷风
参考例句：
  • An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
  • The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。
3 landmark j2DxG     
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 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的
参考例句：
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
5 heyday CdTxI     
n.全盛时期，青春期
参考例句：
  • The 19th century was the heyday of steam railways.19世纪是蒸汽机车鼎盛的时代。
  • She was a great singer in her heyday.她在自己的黄金时代是个了不起的歌唱家。
6 respite BWaxa     
n.休息，中止，暂缓
参考例句：
  • She was interrogated without respite for twenty-four hours.她被不间断地审问了二十四小时。
  • Devaluation would only give the economy a brief respite.贬值只能让经济得到暂时的缓解。
7 tenements 307ebb75cdd759d238f5844ec35f9e27     
n.房屋，住户，租房子( tenement的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Here were crumbling tenements, squalid courtyards and stinking alleys. 随处可见破烂的住房、肮脏的庭院和臭气熏天的小胡同。 来自辞典例句
  • The tenements are in a poor section of the city. 共同住宅是在城中较贫苦的区域里。 来自辞典例句
8 renaissance PBdzl     
n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴
参考例句：
  • The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
  • The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。
9 nostalgia p5Rzb     
n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧
参考例句：
  • He might be influenced by nostalgia for his happy youth.也许是对年轻时幸福时光的怀恋影响了他。
  • I was filled with nostalgia by hearing my favourite old song.我听到这首喜爱的旧歌，心中充满了怀旧之情。
10 chili JOlzm     
n.辣椒
参考例句：
  • He helped himself to another two small spoonfuls of chili oil.他自己下手又加了两小勺辣椒油。
  • It has chocolate,chili,and other spices.有巧克力粉，辣椒，和其他的调味品。
11 corporate 7olzl     
adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的
参考例句：
  • This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
  • His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。
12 concession LXryY     
n.让步，妥协；特许(权)
参考例句：
  • We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
  • That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。
13 concessions 6b6f497aa80aaf810133260337506fa9     
n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权
参考例句：
  • The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
  • The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

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