Petra is the legacy from the Nabataeans, a hard­working group of Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Admired then because of their culture, architecture and complex dams and water channels, Petra has become a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) world heritage site and listed in the New Seven Wonders of the World.

　　Petra is the most well­known site in Jordan located about 262 km south of Amman and 133 km north of Aqaba. The Dead Sea is 80 kilometers north of it. The steeply rising sides of a long, cool, dark and narrow gorge (峡谷) basically keep the sunlight out. Suddenly the gorge opens right into a natural square covered with Petra's most well­known monuments, which glows in the bright sun. The ancient city shows the visitors its beautiful look. The town is large and the quality of the architecture is surprising. It leads someone to think about the creativity from the Nabataeans who made Petra their capital.

　　Petra was the top architectural site for more than 400 years until it was occupied by the Romans in 106 AD. It was seen first when discovered in 1812 after being lost through the 10th century for nearly 300 years! Petra has 800 monuments, including buildings, tombs, baths, halls, temples, and streets, which were mostly carved in the pretty sandstone. Petra sights are in their finest in the early morning and the late afternoon. Once the sun warms the colorful stones, you will see the majesty of Petra.

　　语篇解读：本文介绍了具有悠久历史的古城佩特拉。

　　1．What do we know about Petra from the passage?

　　A．It is on the top of a mountain.

　　B．It was a palace for the king.

　　C．It is a unique site.

　　D．It was built by the Nabataeans in 106 AD.

　　解析：选C　推理判断题。根据第一段"Common sense says 'perhaps there's nothing on the planet that looks like it'．"可推断佩特拉风光的独特性，故选C。

　　2．Where is Petra according to the passage?

　　A．It is about 133 km south of Aqaba.

　　B．It is about 262 km north of Amman.

　　C．It is 80 km south of the Dead Sea.

　　D．It is in southeast Jordan.

解析：选C　细节理解题。根据第三段"The Dead Sea is 80 kilometers north of it."可知，答案为C。