英语听力小短文走遍全世界74: 布莱克普想要效仿拉斯维加斯
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.
英国许多海滨小镇仿佛被卡在时间隧道里了，至今仍然停留在那个全家人和装满工人的大游览车聚集在海边欢乐嬉闹的时代。
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.
随着建筑物日渐破损，度假者们蜂拥前往更温暖的海滨胜地，而位于西北海岸线上的布莱克普和莫克姆正在努力使自己的面貌焕然一新。
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.
布莱克普议会草拟了大胆的计划，打算把被称为“黄金海岸”的海岸线改造成一些人号称的“欧洲的新拉斯维加斯”。
The town is keen to capitalize on a proposed deregulation of Britain's gambling laws.
这个小镇急于利用提议接触英国赌博法管制的契机。
"Blackpool needs to see major change if it is to turn the tide and create a prosperous future," said deputy council leader Eddie Collett.
“如果想要扭转潮流，创造繁荣的未来，布莱克普要经历很大的变化，”议会副会长埃迪·考兰特说。
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.
这一计划的目标是建立五个大娱乐场，并创造约三万个新的工作岗位，这个项目已经起步，但开发者说要到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.
议会官员说这项计划每年将创造4.37亿英镑的收入，并使每年的游客量从现在的1,100万上升到1,500万。
The glitz of Las Vegas feels a long way from Blackpool.
布莱克普要想像拉斯维加斯一样光彩夺目还有很长一段路要走。
Its sandy beach is often strewn with litter and it is hard to find much better food than a burger.
那里的沙塘上总是丢满垃圾，在那里也很难找到比汉堡更美味的食品。
Many residents acknowledge the resort is not looking its best but some worry that the casino plan could attract the wrong sort of clientele.
许多居民承认这个海滨胜地现在的情况并不是最理想的，但也有人担心建造娱乐场的机会会吸引不道德的游客。
"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.
“总之，布莱克普的酒鬼和赌徒已经够多了。”谈到目前这里对男女聚会的狂热，逃过售货员帕特·威蒂这样说。
"Casinos will definitely scare families away," added Whitty. "Blackpool will lose its old seaside image."
“娱乐场肯定会把家庭游客吓跑，布莱克普将丧失它缘由的海滨景象，” 威蒂补充说。
注释：
1. converge vi. 聚集;靠拢;收敛
例句：These lines converge at a certain point.
这些线集中于某一点。
2. decay vi. 衰退，[核] 衰减;腐烂，腐朽
例句：The tree began to decay as soon as it was cut down.
树一被砍倒，它就开始腐朽。
3. draw up 草拟，起草
例句：We must draw up a contract.
我们必须草拟一份合同。
4. underway adj. 进行中的;起步的
例句：As is the case with many things we fear, once underway, it’s not all that bad.
照现在的样子我们有许多事情感到害怕，一旦开始，其实也没那么糟糕。
