by Rebecca Fratzke
Universal Studios Hollywood — a place for fun, entertainment, and even history — is taking its first steps in a 25-year plan to expand the park. The new outline envisions an incredible growth of the amusement facilities as well as the development of a residential neighborhood in the area. This environmentally friendly living area is just another feather in the cap of this amazing park of wonder.
Originally known as Universal City, Universal Studios Hollywood was founded in 1915 by Carl Laemmle. It was the first studio to offer tours where audiences could watch films in production. Since then, Universal Studios has grown to include theme parks, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and much more. This park proved to be so popular that Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990, and last year, Universal Studios Japan (Osaka) celebrated its fifth birthday.
With so much past success from growth, it's no wonder that Universal is excited about its latest plans for expansion. Previous plans were scrapped due to complex zoning and environmental regulations. Now, they are ready to move ahead in full force.
While many new attractions are in the works for the new expansion, Universal will preserve some of its old attractions, such as the Bates Mansion from the film Psycho and the mechanical shark from Jaws. These attractions offer a historical perspective of the film industry. Preserving them illustrates the advance in film production techniques over the years. In addition to safeguarding the past, plenty of new high-tech soundstages, rides, and theaters are in the works. In May, Citywalk, a shopping, dining, and entertainment facility, began remodeling. Spring also saw the opening of SkyVenture Hollywood, an attraction where visitors can float 40 feet into the air on 125 mph winds. Not bad for a studio once called, "The strangest place on Earth."
Spring also saw the opening of SkyVenture Hollywood, ...
注意:
a.此處的 see 表事件或情況『發生』、『存在』之意，通常以『時間』或『地方』作主詞。
例: The 1990s saw several cultural exports from Japan make it big in Taiwan.
（九○年代有許多日本輸出的文化產物在台灣大放異彩。）
b.而 see 也可以表『經歷』、『遭遇』、『有……的經驗』，即等於 experience 之意，通常以『人』作主詞。
例: The poor old beggar had seen better days when he was young.
（那可憐的老乞丐年輕時也曾有過好日子。）
1. take one's first step(s) 開始某人的第一步
例: The couple is taking their first step to moving overseas.
（這對夫妻正開始移居海外的第一步。）
2. envision vt. 展望；想像（未來等）
例: We envision a bright and prosperous future for our new company.
（我們展望自己的新公司有個光明成功的未來。）
3. a feather in the cap of...= a feather in one's cap 是……值得自豪的成就
例: The new book is a real feather in that author's cap because it's her best yet.
（這本新書的確是那位作者值得驕傲的成就。這是她目前為止最好的作品。）
4. prove (to be) N/adj. 證明（是）……
注意:
此處的 prove 作不完全不及物動詞用，表『證明是』、『顯示』之意，等同於 turn out，之後接 "to be + N/adj." 作主詞補語，而 to be 可省略。
例: After a series of investigations, the suspect was proven (to be) innocent and has been released.
（經過一連串調查後，該嫌犯證實無罪而被釋放。）
5. be excited about... 對……感到興奮
例: The scientists were excited about the results of the experiment.
（科學家對實驗的結果感到很興奮。）
6. scrap vt. 放棄，拋棄
例: We'll have to scrap our plans for a vacation if that typhoon hits.
（如果颱風來襲，我們就得放棄渡假計劃。）
7. in full force 全力以赴，用盡一切力量
例: With the election just around the corner, the candidates will be campaigning in full force.
（隨著選舉即將到來，候選人無不卯足全力造勢。）
8. in the works 建設中；進行中
例: The legislation has been in the works for five years.
（這個法案已經處理五年了。）
9. preserve vt. 保存，保護
例: All of us must do our part to preserve the natural habitat of those butterflies.
（我們每個人都該善盡本分保護這些蝴蝶的自然棲息地。）
10. illustrate vt.（舉例）說明∕證明
例: Could you please illustrate what you're trying to say a bit more? I don't fully understand it.
（可以請你多說明一下你的想法嗎？我並不是全然瞭解。）
11. safeguard vt. 防衛，保護
例: To safeguard our computer system, the engineer installed anti-virus software.
（為了保護我們的電腦系統，工程師安裝了防毒軟體。）
12. blow up (...) （使……）爆炸
例: The bomb blew up and destroyed the building.
（那枚炸彈爆炸，摧毀了那棟建築物。）
13. prolong vt. 延長
例: Please don't prolong the story. Just tell me everything right now.
（說事情不要拖拖拉拉。現在就把一切都跟我說吧。）
14. replace vt. 取代
replace A with B 以 B 取代 A
例: We're going to replace our old car with a new one next month.
（我們下個月要買一部新車來汰換舊車。）
15. pass out... 發送∕散發……
例: There are always people passing out free tissues on this corner.
（這個街角總是有人在發送免費面紙。）
1. appeal n. 吸引力
2. outline n. 大綱，輪廓
3. facilities n. 設備（恆用複數）
4. residential a. 住宅的
5. environmentally friendly 環保的
6. production n. 製作；生產
7. expansion n. 擴張
8. zoning n. 都市的區域劃分
9. mechanical a. 機器的
10. historical a. 歷史的，史學的 historic a. 有歷史性的
11. perspective n. 觀點
12. soundstage n. 有聲電影攝影棚（聲音被有效控制、隔離的室內攝影棚）
13. remodel vi. & vt. 重建，改裝
14. property n. 財產
15. costly a. 昂貴的
16. landmark n. 地標
17. upkeep n. 維修費
18. slump n. 下跌，衰敗
19. tour package 套裝旅行團行程
1. shut down... 關閉……
2. call off... 取消……（= cancel...）
3. be drawn to...= be attracted to... 被吸引到……
充滿歡樂、娛樂、甚至歷史的好萊塢環球影成正開始一個長達二十五年的擴建計劃。這個新的大綱展望遊樂設施驚人的成長，以及該區住宅區的發展。而這個環保生活圈只是這神奇樂園值得驕傲的成就之一。
1915年由卡爾‧萊梅里創立的環球影城最初稱為寰宇之都，是第一個開放遊客觀賞電影製作過程的片廠。從那時起，環球影城便發展成一個包含主題樂園、餐廳、旅館與購物中心等的地方。遊樂園大受歡迎的程度促使佛羅里達州的環球影城在 1990 年開幕，而去年大阪的環球影城也歡慶五週年。
在發展過程中有這麼多成功的經驗，難怪環球影城對最新的擴建計劃如此雀躍。先前的計劃因複雜的都市區域劃分和環境法規而流產。現在，他們已經準備好全力衝刺了。
雖然為擴建計劃增設的新設施正在動工，環球影城也保留了一些舊設施，像是電影《驚魂記》中的貝茲豪宅和《大白鯊》中的機器鯊魚。這些設施能提供電影工業史的一面。保留這些設備可以說明製片技術這幾年來的進步。除了保存過去，許多新穎的高科技有聲電影攝影棚、乘坐設備和劇場都正在興建中。五月時，結合購物、餐飲和娛樂設施的環球街市開始重新整修。SkyVenture 也於春季開幕，遊客可以時速 125 英里的風速在 40 英尺的高空漂浮。對曾被稱為『地球上最奇怪的地方』而言，這還真不賴。
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