Earthquakes 【S1】At two minutes to noon in September 1 of 1923, the great clock in Tgkyo st

Earthquakes are probably one of the most frightening and

destructive happenings of nature that man experiences. They

have caused the death of many human beings, much suffering

and greatly damage to property. Today, the study of earthquake 【S1】________.

has grown greatly with scientists all over the world 【S2】________.

investigating the causes of earthquakes. Scientists hope that their

studies will improve ways of predicting earthquakes and also

develop ways to reduce its destructive effects. 【S3】________.

The scientific study of earthquakes is fairly new. Until the

18th century many factual descriptions of earthquakes were 【S4】________.

recorded. In general, people did not understand the cause of

earthquakes. Many believe they were a punishment from God 【S5】________.

and a warning for them to repent (忏悔). One early theory was

that earthquakes were caused by air rushed out caves deep in the 【S6】________.

interior of the earth.

On Nov. 1, 1755, a serious earthquake occurred near Lisbon,

Portugal. Shocks from the quake had felt in many parts of the world. 【S7】________.

After the quake, Portuguese priests were asked to observe and to

make written records. These records were the first system attempt 【S8】________.

to document the effects of an earthquake. Since that time, detailed

records have been kept to almost every major earthquakes. 【S9】________.

Currently, scientists are making studies to enable them to

predict earthquakes. But at the present time, the ability to predict the

time, place, and size of earthquakes are very limited. 【S10】________.

【S1】

Why do earthquakes worry people so much？

A．Because they can't be predicted.

B．Because they happen very often.

C．Because they kill more people than other disasters do.

According to the passage, which of the following is not true？

A．Stronger materials will be developed to fight against serious earthquakes.

B．Scientists will still have difficulty in predicting earthquakes accurately.

C．It won't be long before earthquakes can be predicted accurately.

D．Factors unpredictable will prevent scientists from predicting earthquakes.

All the following statements are TRUE except that _____ according to the passage.

A．stronger materials will be developed to withstand serious earthquakes

B．seismic engineering has been greatly improved in the past years.

C．it won't be long before earthquakes can be predicted accurately.

D．something unpredictable may still happen beyond the expectations of the seismologist.

According to the interviewee, what brings South Central Asia higher risk？

A．The building codes don"t suit the development.

B．The big earthquakes take place where people live.

C．The population of that area is too dense.

D．The frequency of earthquakes is getting higher.

The best tide for this passage could be ______.

A．Nature Is Beyond Human's Control

B．No Method or Stronger Structures Are Founds to Predict and Withstand Quakes

C．Can't We Predict Earthquakes？

D．Earthquake, Hard to Predict!

The speaker says that the periods of seismic activity are increasingly complex and may cause the earth to wobble.

A．正确

B．错误

What did P and S waves help scientists discover about the layers of the earth？

A．How deep they are.

B．Where earthquakes form.

C．How hot they are.

D．What purpose they serve.