Have you ever been to the beautiful country of Holland and its capital Amsterdam? Anyone who has
traveled 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, this 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 the coffee shops, tourists gather to 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 at night party-seekers come to the
square. Hip hop or funk music (瘋狂音樂(lè)) is heard there. 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 directions. And you'll notice that half the people walking around in the streets are
on bicycles they rent. Amsterdam also has a well-planned canal system. For about 10 dollars, you can
use the canal bus or a water taxi to cruise (巡游) the "Venice of the North".
The city has a historic past. One impressive (印象深刻的) place to visit is the Anne Frank House
on Nine Street. 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.
1. What means of transport is not available to visitors in Amsterdam?
A. A carriage.
B. A bicycle.
C. A canal bus.
D. A water taxi.
2. What can you learn about by visiting the Anne Frank House?
A. The wonderful past of Amsterdam.
B. The experience of a beautiful girl survivor.
C. The life of Jewish during World War
D. The suffering of the Dutch in wars.
3. The passage is intended to _______.
A. call up people's memories of World War?
B. tell readers what A Tale of Two Cities is about
C. instruct visitors what to do and see in Holland
D. offer readers some information about Amsterdam
4. This passage is most likely taken from _______.
A. a private diary
B. a test paper
C. a travel journey
D. a history book