UNIT9-A-passage
绝世美人儿
689次浏览
2020年08月01日 05:16
最佳经验
本文由作者推荐
关于孔子的成语-造父
Language Points
New Words
Make Euro Disney More European
Does Mickey Mouse have a beard?
No.
Does this mean that French men seeking work with the Disney organization must shave off their moustaches too?
It depends.
A labor inspector took the Disney organization to court this week, contending that the company's dress and appearance code—which bans moustaches, beards, excess weight, short skirts and fancy stockings—offends individual liberty and violates French labor law.
The case is an illustration of some of the delicate cultural issues the company faces as it gets ready to open its theme park 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Paris in five months' time.
The Disney management, which is assembling what it calls a "cast" of 12,000 to run the theme park, argues that all the employees, from bottle washers to the president, are similar to actors who have to obey rules about appearance. Anyway, a company spokesman says, no one has yet put his moustache before a job. As one new "cast member" put it: "You must believe in what you are doing, or you would have a terrible time here."
But what do people think of Euro Disney? People everywhere are wondering whether Europeans would like this form of American recreation.
For all its concern about foreign cultural invasion and its defense against the pollution of the French language by English words, France's Socialist government has been untroubled about putting such a huge American symbol on the doorstep of the capital and has been more concerned about its economic effect. It made an extraordinary series of tax and financial concessions to attract the theme park here rather than let it go to sunny Spain.
The theme park itself will be only part of a giant complex of housing, office, and resort developments stretching far into the next century, including movie and television production facilities. As part of its deal with the Disney organization, the government is laying and paying for new highways, an extension of Paris' regional express railway and even a direct connection to the high speed TGV railway to the Channel Tunnel. The TGV station is being built in front of the main entrance of Euro Disneyland, and is scheduled to come into service in 1994.
If Euro Disneyland succeeds—theme parks already in France have so far failed—a second and even a third park is likely to be built by the end of the century. Financial experts say that Euro Disneyland, the first phase of which is costing an estimated $$3.6 billion, is essential to Disney's overall fortunes, which have been hit by competition and declining attendance in the United States.
French intellectuals have not found many kind things to say about the project. The kids, however, will probably never notice. Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Peter Pan, and Pinocchio all come from European fairy tales or stories and are as familiar to children here as they are in the Un
ited States. To a French child Mickey is French. To an Italian kid he is Italian.
The Disney management is stressing this tradition in an apparent response to suggestions that it is culturally insensitive. Although the concept of the theme park is closely based on the original Magic Kingdom in California and Walt Disney World in Florida, "Euro Disneyland will be unique in a manner appropriate to its European home," the company says. "The legends and fairy tales which come from Europe figure prominently in the creative development of the theme park." Officials point out, for example, that Sleeping Beauty's castle, the central feature of the theme park, is based not on Hollywood, as some might think, but on the illustrations in a medieval European book. Also, a 360-degree movie, based on the adventures of Jules Verne, features well-known European actors.
Asked to describe other aspects of the effort to make the park more European, a spokesman mentioned that direction signs in the theme park will be in French as well as English, and that some performers will chat in French, Spanish and English. "The challenge is telling things people already know—and at the same time making it different," the spokesman said.
On the other hand, this effort is not being taken too far. Another Disney spokesman said earlier that the aim of the theme park is to provide a basically American experience for those who seek it. In this way, he said, people who might otherwise have contemplated a vacation in the United States will be happy to stay on this side of the Atlantic.
The Disney organization does seem to focus a bit too much on hair. "Main Street, USA", the heart of Euro Disneyland, it promises, will feature an old time "Harmony Barber Shop" to deal with "messy hair and hairy chins"—and perhaps even offending moustaches. One difference from California or Florida: Parts of Main Street and waiting areas to get into the attractions will be covered over as a concession to Paris' rainy weather.
Euro Disneyland's short distance to Paris is a definite attraction. Anyone tiring of American or fake European culture can reach the Louvre art museum by express railway in less than an hour—from Minnie Mouse to Mona Lisa in a flash.
Communications figured largely in the Disney organization's decision to site its fourth theme park near Paris. The site is within a two-hour flight of 320 million Europeans. The opening of Eastern Europe is another prize for the company, which thinks that millions of people will put Disneyland at the top of a list of places to visit on their first trip to Western Europe.
使欧洲迪斯尼乐园更欧洲化
米老鼠有胡须吗？
没有。
这是不是说法国人要想在迪斯尼工作就必须剃掉胡子才行？
这得看情况了。
一位劳工问题督察员本周将迪斯尼公司告上了法庭， 他声称迪斯尼公司的着装规定──不准蓄胡须，不准体重超标，
不准穿短裙和花哨的袜子──侵犯了个人自由，也违反了法国的劳工法。
迪斯尼公司正准备五个月后在巴黎以东20英里 (32公里) 的地方修建一个主题公园，而这一案例正说明了该公司面临的一些文化方面的棘手问题。
迪斯尼管理层正在组织一支他们称为“演职人员”的12,000人的队伍来管理这一主题公园。管理方说所有的雇员，从刷瓶工到总裁，都得和演员一样，服从关于仪表的规定。 公司发言人说，不管怎样，还没有人把胡子看得比工作还重要。 正如一个新来的“演职人员”所说：“你必须相信你这份工作的意义，不然的话日子不好过。”
然而人们怎样看待欧洲迪斯尼乐园呢？ 各处的人们都想知道欧洲人是否会欢迎这种美国式的消遣活动。
尽管对外国文化的入侵感到不安，尽管要保护法语不受英语词汇的污染，法国的社会党政府对将这么大一个美国文化的象征放在首都门口却并不担忧，而是更多地关心其经济效果。 为了将这一主题公园留在这里，而不是建在阳光灿烂的西班牙，法国政府做出了税收和财政方面的一系列重大让步。
主题公园本身只不过是这一巨大综合项目的一部分。综合项目包括住房、办公楼，以及将一直延续到下一世纪、包括影视拍摄设施在内的度假胜地的开发。 作为与迪斯尼公司合作协议的一部分，政府正在铺设新的公路并支付建设款项，它是巴黎地区快速轨道交通的延伸，甚至可直接连接到通往英吉利海峡隧道的高速电气铁路(TGV)。 欧洲迪斯尼乐园的正门前正在建设高速电气铁路火车站，预定于1994年交付使用。
如果欧洲迪斯尼乐园获得成功──迄今为止在法国开设的主题公园都不成功──到本世纪末很可能会再建第二甚至第三个主题公园。 欧洲迪斯尼乐园的第一期工程预计将花费36亿美元，财政专家说欧洲迪斯尼乐园对迪斯尼的总体财富非常重要。迪斯尼在美国已遭遇到了竞争，游客量正在下降。
法国的知识分子们对这个项目并无好感， 然而孩子们却不管这些。 睡美人、白雪公主、彼得·潘和匹诺曹都是欧洲童话故事里的人物，这里的孩子对他们的熟悉程度丝毫不亚于美国的孩子。 在法国孩子眼里，米老鼠是法国人；在意大利孩子眼里，米老鼠是意大利人。
迪斯尼管理层强调这一传统，显然是对有人暗示迪斯尼管理层在文化传统方面麻木不仁的回应。 尽管主题公园这一概念是以加利福尼亚州的奇妙王国和佛罗里达州的沃尔特·迪斯尼世界为基础，但“欧洲迪斯尼乐园将具有适合于欧洲的独特风格。”迪斯尼公司说。 “主题公园的创新性建设突出地表现了欧洲的传说和童话故事。” 例如
，公司的官员指出，睡美人的城堡，这一主题公园的中心建筑，不像一些人所想的那样是根据好莱坞的作品建造的，而是根据欧洲中世纪一本书中的插图而造的。 同样，根据儒勒·凡尔纳所写的冒险故事拍摄的360度环形电影是由著名的欧洲演员主演的。
当被问及还有什么其他措施来使主题公园更欧洲化时，一位发言人提到，公园的指示牌会用英语和法语，一些表演者会以法语、西班牙语和英语表演。 这位发言人说：“难的是要将人们已熟知的事说得让它听起来有所不同。”
而另一方面，主题公园也不会过分欧洲化。 迪斯尼的另一位发言人早些时候说主题公园的目的就是为那些追求美式生活的人带来基本上是美国式的体验。 他说，这样，那些本来考虑去美国度假的人留在大西洋的此岸也可以体验美国度假的快乐了。
迪斯尼公司似乎对须发特别在意。 它称将在欧洲迪斯尼乐园的中心“美国大道”建一个旧时的“和谐理发店”来处理“乱糟糟的头发和胡子拉碴的下巴”，也许还要管管唇上髭须。 这一乐园与加利福尼亚和佛罗里达的乐园的一个不同之处是：这条“美国大道”的部分地区以及景点的等候区将会有遮棚，以对付巴黎的多雨天气。
欧洲迪斯尼乐园距巴黎不远，这肯定颇具吸引力。 任何厌倦了美式或仿欧式文化的人都可登上快速列车，到达卢浮宫，一瞬间就从米尼老鼠身边来到《蒙娜·丽莎》面前。
在迪斯尼公司决定将其第四个主题公园选址于巴黎附近时，交通因素起了重要作用。 这里距3.2亿欧洲人不超过两小时飞行距离。 东欧的开放对迪斯尼来说又是一大收获，他们认为将有几百万人把迪斯尼乐园列入其首次西欧之旅的首选之地。
Language Point 1
It depends. (Para. 4)
"It/That depends" is an expression used to say that you cannot give a definite answer to something because your answer will be affected by something else.
Language Point 2
The case is an illustration of some of the delicate cultural issues the company faces... (Para. 6)
Meaning: This case is a good example of some of the delicate cultural issues the company is now faced with...
Language Point 3
Anyway, a company spokesman says, no one has yet put his moustache before a job. (Para. 7)
Meaning: A company spokesman says that people will think that a job is more important than their moustaches. That is, they will agree to shave off their moustaches for the sake of job.
Language Point 4
For all its concern about foreign cultural invasion and its defense against the pollution of the French language by English words, France's Socialist government has been untroubled about putting such a huge American symbol on the doorste
p of the capital and has been more concerned about its economic effect. (Para. 9)
Meaning: In spite of the fact that the government has been worried about the negative effect of a foreign culture on the country and that it has taken measures to defend the purity of the French language, France's Socialist government has not been worried about having Disneyland, a symbol of American culture in its capital. Instead, it has been more concerned about its economic effect.
Language Point 5
French intellectuals have not found many kind things to say about the project. (Para. 12)
Meaning: French intellectuals have reacted to the project negatively. They have been critical of the project.
Language Point 6
The kids, however, will probably never notice. (Para. 12)
Meaning: The children, however, will probably never care about negative sides of the project. (What they care is the great joy that the project will bring them.)
Language Point 7
"The legends and fairy tales which come from Europe figure prominently in the creative development of the theme park." (Para. 13)
Meaning: "The legends and fairy tales which come from Europe are the basis of the creative development of the theme park."
Language Point 8
On the other hand, this effort is not being taken too far. (Para. 15)
Meaning: On the other hand, they are not going to give Euro Disneyland too much European features.
Language Point 9
In this way, he said, people who might otherwise have contemplated a vacation in the United States will be happy to stay on this side of the Atlantic. (Para. 15)
Meaning: He said that in this way people who might have thought about a vacation in the United States would be satisfied to have their vacation here in Europe.
Language Point 10
Communications figured largely in the Disney organization's decision to site its fourth theme park near Paris. (Para. 18)
Meaning: Communications played an important role in the Disney organization's decision to build its fourth theme park near Paris.
contend
vt. argue or state that sth. is true 声称；认为
The man contend that it was not his fault.
那人认为这不是他的过错。
I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point.
我倒认为部长的想法在这一点上有漏洞。
vi. compete against sb. in order to gain sth. 竞争
Three armed groups were contending for power.
三个武装集团在争夺权力。
contemplate
v. think carefully about sth. for a long time 思量；仔细考虑
contemplate the problem from all sides
从各方面慎重考虑这个问题
You are too young to cotemplate retirement.
你考虑退休还太年轻。
shave off
remove hair with sth. sharp 剃掉
I've decided to shave off my beard.
我决定剃掉胡子。
During
that time he was ordered by those criminals to shave off his beard to change his appearance.
那时，那帮罪犯命令他把胡子剃掉，改变外貌。
take sb. to court
begin a case against sb. 起诉某人
She threatened to take them to court if they didn't publish an immediate apology.
如果他们不马上发表一个道歉，她扬言要诉讼他们。
He was stunned last week to receive a letter from his former neighbors accusing him of "damaging" their land and threatening to take him to court.
上周他感到很震惊：他收到他以前几个邻居的一封信，指控他“破坏”他们的土地，并威胁要把他告上法庭。
put sth. before sth.
consider sth. more important than sth. else 认为...比...更重要
He puts his health before all other considerations.
他认为他的健康比别的什么都重要。
Putting yourself before anyone else is very selfish.
把你自己看得比任何人都重要，这是很自私的。
for all
despite 尽管，虽然
For all her privilege and wealth, life had not been easy and the experiences of childhood had left an indelible mark on her mind.
尽管她享有特权和财富，可是她的生活一直很不容易，童年的经历在她的脑海中留下了一个抹不去的印记。
For all the talk of "cuts", state spending on health has increased by nearly a third in real terms since 1979.
尽管一直在谈“削减”，但实际上政府在健康问题上的开支从1979年以来上涨了近三分之一。
come into
begin to be in a state 开始进入某种状态
The ship had come into service only weeks before the rescue mission.
这条船在救援任务开展前几个星期刚开始投入使用。
The planned cable is set to come into service by the end of 1999.
计划中的电缆定在1999年底前投入使用。
so far
until now; up to this point 到目前为止；迄今为止
Meanwhile, health campaigns have largely failed so far to change their behavior.
同时，健康运动到目前为止总体上没能改变他们的行为。
The authorities have so far managed to prevent a chain reaction.
到目前为止，当局已经设法避免了连锁反应。
in response to
as a reply or reaction to an event or sth. that is said 作为对...的答复；作为对...的反应
The product was developed in response to customer demand.
此产品的开发是为了满足客户的需要。
The law was passed in response to public pressure.
该法规在公众的压力下通过了。
in a flash
quickly or suddenly 转眼间
It happened in a flash, although in retrospect everything seemed to occur in slow motion.
这是眨眼间发生的，尽管回想起来一切
似乎都是慢慢出现的。
She thought she saw a flicker of admiration in his eyes, but it was gone in a flash.
她想她看到了他眼神里微微流露出的一丝羡慕，但转眼间它又消失了。
Euro Disneyland
欧洲迪斯尼乐园
Mickey Mouse
米老鼠（迪斯尼创造的雄性老鼠动画形象）
TGV
高速电气铁路
Sleeping Beauty
睡美人（法国童话中因着魔而昏睡100年的公主）
Snow White
白雪公主
Peter Pan
彼得·潘（苏格兰剧作家 James Barrie 所著同名剧本中的主角，一个不肯长大的小孩）
Pinocchio
匹诺曹（同名故事和电影中的主角，一个木偶男孩，说谎时，他的鼻子就变长）
Walt Disney World
沃尔特·迪斯尼世界
Jules Verne
儒勒·凡尔纳（1828-1905，法国小说家，现代科幻小说的奠基人）
the Louvre
卢浮宫（法国国立美术博物馆，位于巴黎）
Minnie Mouse
米尼老鼠（迪斯尼创造的雌性老鼠动画形象）
Mona Lisa
《蒙娜·丽莎》（欧洲文艺复兴时期意大利画家达·芬奇所作的一幅著名肖像画）