More than 2,000 people have died after a powerful earthquake hit the North African country of Morocco on Friday night. Thousands have been injured. Here’s what we know so far.

The earthquake came at around 11:11 p.m. local time. Its epicenter (震中) was about 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, a city of about 840,000 people and a popular tourist and economic center. 

The earthquake had a magnitude (震级) of 6.8, meaning it is classed as “strong”. It also hit at a relatively shallow (浅的) depth, making it more destructive. Earthquakes of this size in the area are uncommon, but not unexpected. Nine earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 or higher have hit the area since 1900, but none of them have had a magnitude higher than 6. The earthquake is Morocco’s strongest since 1960 when an earthquake killed more than 12,000 people. 

More than 300,000 people have been influenced in Marrakech and neighbouring areas. Historic sites (历史遗迹) have been destroyed, but the hardest-hit areas are those nearest to the Atlas Mountains. People at the foot of the mountains said some towns are completely destroyed, with almost all the homes in an area of the village of Asni broken. More than a thousand people have died in the province of Al Haouz and more than 400 died in the southwestern Moroccan city of Taroudant.

1.Where did the earthquake happen?

A In Asia.

B In Europe.

C In Africa.

D In North America.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第一段第一句的“a powerful earthquake hit the North African country of Morocco”可知，地震发生在北非国家摩洛哥，即这次地震发生在非洲。故选C。

2.Which word has the closest meaning to the underlined word “destructive”?

A Common.

B Harmful.

C Peaceful.

D Strange.

解析：选B。B词义猜测题。根据第三段的“The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8, meaning it is classed as ‘strong.’”可知此次摩洛哥地震6.8级，属于强震；结合后一句“It also hit at a relatively shallow (浅的) depth”震源深度浅，因此这次地震造成的破坏性非常大。由此推断划线单词“destructive”表示“破坏性的，毁坏性的”，与harmful意思最接近。故选B。

3.When did the earthquake causing over 12,000 deaths happen in Morocco?

A In 1900.

B In 1960.

C In 1905.

D In 1972.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句“The earthquake is Morocco’s strongest since 1960 when an earthquake killed more than 12,000 people.”可知，造成12000人死亡的地震发生在1960年。故选B。

4.Where is the worst damage (破坏)?

A In the city centre of Marrakech.

B In Marrakech’s neighbouring areas.

C In the city of Taroudant.

D In areas near the Atlas Mountains.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。根据第四段的“but the hardest-hit areas are those nearest to the Atlas Mountains.”可知，受灾最严重的地区是最靠近阿特拉斯山脉的地区。故选D。

5.The passage mainly talks about ______.

A a popular country

B a natural disaster

C some beautiful cities

D some poor people

解析：选B。B主旨大意题。根据全文内容可知，文章围绕摩洛哥最近发生的一次严重地震展开，属于自然灾害。故选B。