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At least 22 people have been killed in an attack on a luxury hotel in the capital of Mali on Friday. Suspected Islamic gunmen held 170 people hostage at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako. Malian officials reported that all hostages were rescued at the hotel within a few hours of the attack.

The New York Times newspaper and the Reuters news agency report that 27 people were killed in the attack. Malian officials say at least three of the gunmen have been killed. The attackers shouted “God is great” before they opened fire.

The hotel is popular with international visitors, including United Nations workers. It is close to the airport. Malian and U.S. Special Forces reportedly moved through the hotel to rescue the remaining hostages. The U.S. military’s Africa Command says the rescued hostages include six American citizens. Earlier, people in the capital were urged to stay at home or work until the attack ended.

Officials say gunmen drove to the entrance of the hotel early in the morning in a car with diplomatic license plates. The Reuters news agency says the gunmen earlier released hostages who were able to say parts of the Muslim holy book -- the Quran. The New York Times newspaper reports “the hostage takers had been releasing Muslims and continuing to hold non-Muslims.” Citizens of the United States, France, Nigeria and China were reportedly among those who had been held hostage.

Although not confirmed, an al-Qaida terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Mali has been fighting militants and radical Islamists for several years.

The attack in Mali shows the continuing threat to the country from militants in northern and central Mali. In 2013, a French-led military force drove Islamist groups from power in northern Mali. The groups had seized power in the north after the military drove the civilian government in Bamako in 2012. An attack in the capital in March on a restaurant popular with travelers killed five people.

1.What happened to the hostages?

A 27 of them were released because of being able to say the Quran.

B All the hostages were all rescued within a few hours of the attack.

C Most of the hostages were citizens from the United States.

D The hostages were interviewed by the newspaper reporters.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据文章第一段…that all hostages were rescued at the hotel within a few hours of the attack可知，在袭击发生后的几个小时之内，人质得到解救，故选B。

2.What can we infer from the passage?

A The terrorists were very kind to the hostages.

B The terrorists wanted everyone to believe their religion.

C Terrorist attacks take place in Mali very often.

D Citizens from the West are the target of the attack.

解析：选B。推理判断题。根据文章第二段The attackers shouted “God is great” before they opened fire，结合第四段…the gunmen earlier released hostages who were able to say parts of the Muslim holy book -- the Quran可知，武装分子是宗教狂热分子，他们认为只有真主能够统治世界，还一厢情愿地希望整个世界都是伊斯兰信徒，故选B。

3.We can know from the last paragraph that _______.

A the Malian government is under the control of Islamic groups

B Mali is a country popular among international travelers

C Militants have brought great threat to the safety of Mali

D Mali is a country with many foreign forces in power

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章最后一段The attack in Mali shows the continuing threat to the country from militants in northern and central Mali可知，马里北部和中部的激进分子经常寻衅滋事，给马里带来了安全威胁，故选C。

4.What can be the best title of the passage?

A Travelers Were Attacked in a Hotel in Mali.

B Special Forces Rescued Hostages in Mali.

C Extreme Groups Held Travelers Hostage in Mali.

D Mali Is Faced with Threats from Militants.

解析：选A。文章标题题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了马里遭受恐怖袭击，游客被劫持为人质的情况，故选A。