Earthquake

　　1 Every year earthquakes are responsible for a large number of deaths and a vast amount of destruction in various parts of the world. most of these damaging earthquakes occur either in a narrow belt which surrounds the Pacific Ocean or in a line which extends from Burma to the Alps in Europe. Some of the destruction is directly caused by the quake itself. An example of this is the collapse of buildings as a result of the quake itself. Other damage results from landslides or major fires which are initiated by the quake.

　　2 These are about a million quakes a year. Fortunately, however, not all of them are destructive. The intensity of an earthquake is measured on the Richter Scale, which goes from 0 upward. The highest scale recorded to date is 8.9. major damage generally occurs from quakes ranging upward from 6.0.

　　3 The actual cause of the quake itself is the breaking of rocks at or below the earth's surface. This is produced by pressure which scientists believe may be due to a number of reasons, two of which are the expansion and contraction of the earth's crust and continental drift. ( 職稱英語考試網(wǎng) www.yingyukaoshi.com )

　　4 In order to limit the damage and to prevent some of the suffering resulting from earthquakes, scientists are working on ways to enable accurate prediction. Special instruments are used to help people record, for example, shaking of the earth. Scientists are trying to find methods that will enable them to indicate the exact time, location and size of an earthquake.

　　5 Certain phenomena have been observed which are believed to be the signs of imminent earthquakes. These include strange behaviors of some animals, the changes in the content of mineral water, etc. The magnetic properties of rocks may also display special pattern before earthquakes happen.

　　1. paragraph 2__________ A. Earthquakes forecast

　　2. paragraph 3__________ B. Historical records of earthquakes

　　3. paragraph 4__________ C. Intensities of earthquakes

　　4. paragraph 5__________ D. Cause of earthquakes

　　E. Indications of earthquakes

　　F. Damaging earthquakes

　　5. Not all damage during an earthquake is caused by ____________.

　　6. Not all earthquakes are strong enough to cause ___________.

　　7. Scientists have been working hard to warn people of ____________.

　　8. Earthquakes can be predicted by observing ______________.

　　A. the quake itself

　　B. accurate prediction

　　C. damage of property and loss of lives

　　D. a possible earthquake

　　E. the unusual behaviors of some animals

　　F. the strong behaviors of human beings

　　答案及解析：

　　Earthquake

　　1.C。解題思路：抓住句中用詞特點(diǎn)：該段的第3句中包含intensity(強(qiáng)度)一詞，而且段中提到的也是震級(jí)強(qiáng)度數(shù)字。”。

　　2.D.解題思路：段首句中提到了cause及reasons。

　　3.A.解題思路：段首句中有prediction (預(yù)報(bào))，indicate(顯示)對(duì)應(yīng)A中的forecast(預(yù)報(bào))。

　　4. E。解題思路：段首句中的phenomena(現(xiàn)象)對(duì)應(yīng)E中的 indications(跡象)。

　　5.A.該題可直接借助句意判斷答案。也可以借助原文：利用“cause”一詞判斷，該句可能在涉及到地震損壞的語句中，于是在第1段的第3句中找到答案相關(guān)句，確認(rèn)答案。

　　Some of the destruction is directly caused by the quake itself.

　　6.C。該句也可直接借助句意判斷答案。如果借助原文：利用“strong, cause”作為答案線索詞，查看全文似乎并沒有直接涉及到這樣詞語的句子，但我們?cè)诘?段發(fā)現(xiàn)“Fortunately, however, not all of them are destructive.”，結(jié)合該句的句意判斷答案為C。

　　7.D.該句也可直接借助句意判斷答案。如果借助原文：利用“warn, scientists” 作為答案線索詞，查看全文， 在第4段中找到答案相關(guān)句：In order to limit the damage and to prevent some of the suffering resulting from earthquakes, scientists are working on ways to enable accurate prediction. 確認(rèn)答案。]

　　8.E.根據(jù)常識(shí)人類的行為變化跟地震沒關(guān)系，所以不選F。如果借助原文：利用“observe” 作為答案線索詞，查看全文，在最后一段中找到答案相關(guān)句Certain phenomena have been observed which are believed to be the signs of imminent earthquakes. These include strange behaviors of some animals, the changes in the content of mineral water, etc.