VOA常速英语2007年-Two Million Lights Line Christmas Villa at Ston

By Zulima Palacio
Atlanta, Georgia
20 December 2007
 

The Christmas season is celebrated¹ in communities throughout the United States. Producer Zulima Palacio recently visited Stone Mountain Park outside Atlanta in the southeast state of Georgia to take in the festivities there. Jeffrey Young narrates² it.

It is Christmas time and here, near Atlanta, Georgia, people celebrate every night from the middle of November until the end of December. 

"Stone Mountain Park is one of the largest tourists attractions in the state of Georgia.  We have over four million visitors that come to the park every year," says Christine Parker, the marketing³ manager for Stone Mountain Park.  She says this season the park expects nearly 30,000 families to visit its 18-year-old Christmas celebration.

Visitors can enjoy activities from live entertainment, to dining, and live theater.

One of the main attractions comes with the sunset: It is the Santa Claus Parade with all of the park's entertainers participating.  Visitors line the streets of the Christmas villa⁴, and floats roll by loaded with fun, one after another.

The Santa Claus float ends up at Santa's House, where children can visit, write a letter to him and get their picture taken while sitting on Santa's lap. 

Christine Parker tells us, "A lot of folks that I know actually came out as they [did when they] were a child, sat on Ed's lap and now they bring their kids back out, so it has become a family tradition."

Santa, known as Santa Ed, has been the official Santa at the park for 18 years.  That is a lot of children on his lap! "The best estimate⁵ is at least 172,000 kids,” he guesses. “You know when you pick up a kid, the average kid weighs 40 pounds [18 kilos] -- if you pick up 50 of them, that's a ton. In a night at Stone Mountain Park, I pick up 200-400 kids -- that's four tons."

On the other side of the Christmas Villa, Mrs. Claus takes care of other children.

More than two million lights line the trees, buildings and streets in the Christmas Villa at Stone Mountain Park.  Children love it. They can experience special effects, visit a candy factory and play with giant bubbles⁶. 

They also can visit with the Snow Angel. By the end of the evening the Snow Angel plays a starring role in the grand finale -- a laser⁷ show, snowfall celebration and fireworks.  For kids, young and old, it is a Christmas night to remember.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

3 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

4 villa   

n.别墅，城郊小屋

参考例句：

• We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
• We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。

5 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

6 bubbles   

泡( bubble的名词复数 )； 泡影； 肥皂泡； （欲表达的）一点感情

参考例句：

• Bubbles are rising from the bottom of the boiling water. 水泡从沸水的底部升到水面。
• The incorporation of air bubbles in the glass spoiled it. 玻璃含有气泡，使它质量降低。

7 laser   

n.激光

参考例句：

• We keep a laser record.我们保存激光唱片。
• Laser beams are also used in surgery.激光束还可用于外科手术。