2009年12月英语四级考试巅峰阅读训练(23)

　　科普：自然资源 295词

　　Every year, earthquakes are responsible for a large number of deaths and 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 vibration. Other damage results from landslides, tsunamis (large ocean waves) or major fires which are initiated by the quake.

　　There 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 magnitude recorded to date is 8.9. Major damage generally occurs from quake ranging upwards from 6.0. Exceptions to this are those whose epicenters are located far from the inhabited areas.

　　The actual cause of the quake itself is the breaking apart 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.

　　In order to minimize the damage and lessen some of the suffering results from earthquakes, scientists are working on ways to enable accurate prediction. Two of the instruments presently in use to achieve this goal are seismograghs and tiltmeters. The former records any shaking of the earth: by means of calculations seismologist can accurately indicate the exact time, location and size of an earthquake. The latter, as the name suggests, is used to record any changes in the title of the land.

　　1. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?

　　A. Earthquakes

　　B. The Cause of Earthquakes

　　C. Earthquakes and Their Damages

　　D. How to Predict Earthquakes

　　2. What kind of damages may not be resulted from an earthquake?

　　A. The collapse of buildings

　　B. A large number of deaths.

　　C. Vast amount of destruction

　　D. Landslides, tsunamis and major fires

　　3. In the last sentence of Para.2, the word “this” refer to ______.

　　A. the highest magnitude

　　B. major damage

　　C. date

　　D. the previous earthquake

　　4. According to the passage, the sequence before an earthquake is _______.

　　A. the breaking apart of rocks — the production of pressure — the expansion and contraction of the earth’s crust — and continental drift and the quake itself.

　　B. the expansion and contraction of the earth’s crust and continental drift — the breaking apart of rocks — the production of pressure — and the quake itself.

　　C. the expansion and contraction of the earth’s crust and continental drift — the production of pressure — the breaking apart of rocks — and the quake itself.

　　D. the production of pressure — the breaking apart of rocks — the expansion and contraction of the earth’s crust and continental drift — and the quake itself.