第二部分阅读理解（第一节20
小题，第二节5小题；每小题2分，共50分）
第一节：阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Marrakesh has many names —the Red City, Pearl of the South, the Heartbeat of Morocco—lives up to them all．It is an important and former imperial city in Morocco．It has a population of 1,070,838 and is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz．Marrakesh, located in central Morocco, rests at the foothills of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains．Its location and rich cultural traditions make it one of the hottest tourist destinations in North Africa today．This lively city attracts visitors with its beautiful palaces, ancient winding streets, colorful goods, and lively city square．
One of the city's leading attractions is the Medina —its walled, ancient quarter—within which lies a maze （迷宫） of small, winding streets．This district dates back to the founding of the city in the llth century．Marrakesh's earliest rulers built walls around the Medina as well as mosques （清真寺）and palaces within it．Most of those were destroyed by attackers in 1147, but the city flourished again from the 17th through the 19th centuries, when many new architectural wonders were constructed．
Today, these monuments give visitors a feel for the history and culture of the city．But the Medina is not a museum．It is a lively place, crowded with people day and night．This district still houses the city's traditional market, the largest one in Morocco．The market serves locals and visitors alike, selling spices, carpets, leather bags, and colorful scarves．Here visitors can also purchase traditional pastries and other snacks in narrow streets where slaves were once bought and sold．
The Medina is a prime example of an ancient city center．In 1985, it was named officially a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in recognition of its historical importance and the need to preserve it for future generations．
41．What does the writer imply about Marrakesh?
A．It was attacked and destroyed in the 17th century．
B．It has grown quickly and become modern in a short time．
C．It draws large numbers of tourists with its splendid history and culture．
D．It has been reconstructed and boasts good public transportation．
42．According to the writer, what were built in the Medina by the earliest rulers?
A．Large campuses． B．Places of worship．
C．Sports facilities． D．Impressive theaters．
43．According to this passage, what were sold at one time in the Medina?
A．Maps of Morocco． B．Very rare books．
C．Pack animals． D．Human beings.
44．What is the passage mainly about?
A．A brief introduction of Marrakesh．
B．The process of Marrakesh's reconstruction．
C．The recognition of Marrakesh's historical importance．
D．The description of Marrakesh's flourishing culture．
