America??s Oldest Park—Lake Compounce Theme Park

陈浩

If you are ever in Connecticut， you need to be sure to take the family to Lake Compounce Theme Park. The park lies in Bristol， Connecticut. It has been opened since 1846 and is known as Americas oldest park. It is the biggest water park. In this case， its easy to say that the park has gotten better with age.

In October， they open the park for an event called Haunted Graveyard which is open at night. The rates are $34.99 for regular tickets， $25.99 for kids and $17.99 for those over the age of 60. If you go before 5：00 pm， you only pay $17.99. Kids under the age of three are free and parking is $8.00.

The rides at the theme park are so much fun. The ride liked by all is the Boomerang with the top speed of over 45 miles per hour. The drop on this ride is 125 feet. Another popular ride is the Pirate Ship. These two rides are great for thrill seekers because you actually feel as if youre falling out of your seat.

The park also has plenty of water rides for those who love water fun， such as water guns and water slides. Lights Out is a fast water slide that is all in the dark. It goes around what looks like a lighthouse. Besides the rides， the park also has fun shows for the whole family. They have a great show and a cool circus. There are also some great places to eat at the park.

You can stop at the entrance to get a map first. You wont be able to visit the whole park in a day， so you should have your family choose what you want to and have fun！

【难句解析】

1. It has been opened since 1846 and is known as Americas oldest park.

釋义：它（布里斯托尔公园）于1846年开放，以美国最古老的公园而著称。

点拨：it has been opened使用了现在完成时的被动式，因为时间状语是由since引导的。如果时间状语有recently， this week， these days， before（放在句末）， so far， lately， many times， for / in / over / during the past / last few years， by this time， since， up to now， for a long time等，主句通常使用现在完成时。

Great changes have taken place in China in the last ten years. 在过去的十年中，中国发生了巨大变化。

2. In this case， its easy to say that the park has gotten better with age.

释义：既然这样，我们不难判断，随着时间的流逝，公园变得越来越好。

点拨：在此句中，it作形式主语，不定式作真正的主语，还可以用名词性从句作真正的主语。

It was surprising that she passed the difficult exam. 真让人惊讶，她居然通过了这次有难度的考试。

3. In October， they open the park for an event called Haunted Graveyard which is open at night.

释义：在十月，他们因“闹鬼的墓地”这个事件在晚上开放公园。

点拨：在此句中，called Haunted Graveyard是过去分词作定语，修饰an event;which is open at night是定语从句，修饰先行词the park。

Here are the seats reserved for you. 这儿是给你们留的座位。

The shop which sells all kinds of sports shoes has closed down. 那家出售各种运动鞋的商店已经关闭。

4. There are also some great places to eat at the park.

释义：在公园里有一些可以吃饭的好地方。

点拨：There be +主语+ to do... 通常表示动作尚未发生;There be+主语+ doing... 通常表示动作正在发生。当其中的宾语与其后的不定式为被动关系时，可用主动表被动，也可用被动式。

There is much homework to do. 有许多作业要做。

=There is much homework to be done.

【阅读链接】

I. Choose the right answer.

1. A young couple with a six-year-old child driving to the Haunted Graveyard at night will have to pay ____.

A. $95.97             B. $68.98              C. $105.98               D. $103.97

2. What does the underlined phrase “thrill seekers” in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. People who are very brave.                   B. People who look for adventure.

C. People who like visiting parks.           D. People who want to learn a lot.

3. The passage is written mainly to ____.

A. tell readers some information of the theme park

B. persuade more and more people to visit the theme park

C. tell readers the theme park is the oldest in the US

D. make the theme park better known to the world

4. Why do you plan your visit to the whole park before visiting it？

A. Because it has a lot of visitors.

B. Because there are also some great places to eat.

C. Because it is very large and has too much amusement.

D. Because the rates are expensive.

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. There are many boys ____ ____ （打籃球）.

2. I hate to see letters ____ ____ ____ （用铅笔写）.

3. So far a third of these students ____ ____ ____ （来自） abroad.

4. They planted many flowers， ____ ____ （比如） roses， sunflowers， etc.

5. Theyve done ____ ____ ____ （他们能够做的） to help her.

6. ____ ____ ____  （有必要） young and old people should communicate more with each other.