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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.
Two worlds
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. These 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 directions.
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.
Canal tour
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 Rijksmuseum.
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.*
Vocabulary
descend v. £¨Ò¹Íí¡¢ºÚ°µ¡¢ÇéÐ÷µÈ£©½µÁÙ£»À´ÁÙ
In the tropic area, night descends quickly.
funk n. Ïç´å¾ôÊ¿ÀÖ£»¿Ö¾å£¬ÓÇÂÇ
blare v. ·¢³ö´Ì¶ú¶øÏìÁÁµÄÉùÒô
The radio is blaring out rock music.
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elaborate adj. ¾«ÐÄÖÆ×÷µÄ
She had prepared a very elaborate meal for her husband and kids.
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dwell v. ¾Óס£»ÆÜÉí
For ten years, he has been dwelling in a ruined cottage near the town.
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poignant adj. ÁîÈ˳ÁÍ´µÄ£»±¯²ÒµÄ
For billions of Chinese, Nanjing is a poignant place where thousands of Chinese civilians were slaughtered by the Japanese invaders in 1937.
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Making sense
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".
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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.
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Background
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Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the proper forms of words given. descend elaborate dwell poignant
This Valentine's day, he received the most ____ present he had ever got.
After the rebellion took place, the country was ____ into chaos.
When he was a kid, he used to ____ in the countryside.
Columbine is a ____ place for many parents whose kids were shot dead on that horrible day.
True or false
As the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam attracts tourists from everywhere in the world for its romantic nightlife.
Tourists should know some Dutch language before coming to Amsterdam, for few people in this country understand English.
Discussion
With some other supplementary information you may get on the Internet, answer the questions below. Why do so many people go to the Netherlands and what's the impact of tourism on the country's economy?
Keys:
I elaborate, descended, dwell, poignant
II T, F
