READING 1 Washington, DC

Washington, DC

Read the following article. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 2.1

Tourists from all over the world visit Washington, DC, the capital of the United States. Is DC a state? No, it isn’t. What, exactly, is DC? DC means “District of Columbia.” The District of Columbia is a special government district. More than 700,000 people live in Washington, DC.

Washington doesn’t have factories. Government and tourism are the main businesses of Washington. Washington doesn’t have tall buildings like other big cities.

Many Washington workers don’t live in Washington. They live in nearby states: Virginia and Maryland. Washington has a good subway system. It connects Washington to nearby cities in Virginia and Maryland.

Tourists come to see the White House, where the president lives. They also want to see the Capitol. The Capitol, the building where Congress meets, is on a hill. Senators and representatives from each state work on Capitol Hill. They make the country’s laws.

Besides government buildings, Washington also has many interesting museums and monuments. The Smithsonian Institution has 17 museums in Washington. Tourists don’t pay to see government buildings and museums. But people need tickets to reserve a time to see many places because they are crowded.

A trip to Washington, DC, is an enjoyable and educational experience.

The United States Capitol Building