(2)
Anyone who has travelled to Amsterdam would probably agree on one thing: Amsterdam’s story is a tale of two cities -- one during the day and a completely different one at night. When the sun is up, the largest city in the Netherlands sits quietly on the Amstel River. You can rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water taxi. But when the sun goes down, the partying begins. In the big clubs and in coffee shops, tourists gather to hang out, talk politics and smoke.
Several areas of the city clearly show the two worlds that rule Amsterdam. And they’re all within a short cab ride of each other.
For example, Dam Square attracts daytime sightseers to its festivals, open markets, concerts and other events. Several beautiful and very popular hotels can be found there. And there’s the Royal Palace and the Magna Plaza shopping mall.
But as evening descends on Dam Square so do the party-seekers. Hip hop or funk music begins blaring from Club Paradiso and Club Melkweg. They are two of the most popular clubs in Europe. So if you come, be ready to dance. The clubs don’t shut down until 4 am.
And while you’re there, check out the various inexpensive ways to tour the city. Don’t worry about getting lost. Although Dutch is the official language, most people in Amsterdam speak English and are happy to help you with directidns.
And you’ll notice that half the people in the streets are on bicycles. They rent for US$17 to $20 for a whole day.
Amsterdam also has an elaborate canal system. From anywhere between US$2 and $9.50, you can use the canal bus or a water taxi to cruise the “Venice of the North”.
You can take in the picturesque canal house architecture: The rows of neat, narrow four-story dwellings of brownstone with large windows are well-worth seeing. Many of them are several centuries old.
You might also want to jump out of the canal bus at the Museum Quarter and start walking. Masterpieces by Dutch artists such as Rembrandt, Bruegel, Van Gogh and others are on display at the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandt House and the Rijks Museum.
The city has an appreciation of its historic past. One poignant place to visit is the Anne Frank House on Nine Streets. It was there that the young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary during World War II. Visitors can view Anne’s original diary and climb behind the bookcase to the room where she and her family hid from the Nazis for two years.
21. Amsterdam is a city ______.
A. famous for two tales
B. ruled by two principles from two different urban areas
C. which is small but elaborate, within a short cab ride
D. which is quiet at daytime and noisy at night
22. What mode of transportation is NOT suggested by the author in the text?
A. By bicycle. B. On foot.
C. By taxi. D. By canal bus.
23. How many museums can tourists visit in Amsterdam?
A. Four. B. Five.
C. Six. D. Seven.
24. Which of the following statements about Dam Square is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Dam Square is a famous shopping center for tourists.
B. Dam Square is an attraction to both sightseers and party-seekers.
C. Dam Square is a mixing place for both folk music and classic music.
D. Two clubs most famous in Europe are located here.
25. The word “poignant” in the last paragraph Line 1 means ______.
A. touching B. interesting
C. pitiful D. sympathetic
