新西兰英语 353 More Earthquake after-shocks

　　Yesterday, Christchurch experienced one of the strongest after-shocks, more than six weeks after the major earthquake of Sept 4th. Listen to Sept 4th 2010 and news stories the following two weeks. Although this after-shock was only 5.0 on the Richter scale, it was near the city and shallow – only 5km deep – so it felt strong. It happened at 11.30am, when people were at school, work or shopping; in fact many men were on roofs repairing chimneys, and in one case, some workmen were on top of a seven-storey building, starting to demolish¹ it. However, no one was injured. There have been more than 2,000 after-shocks in the last six weeks, most of them small. Geologists² have said that after-shocks will continue for some months yet, although they will not be so often.
On the same day, 1200 people received phone calls from the Earthquake Commission telling them that their houses could be re-built after the land has been stabilised. Only 16 homes cannot be re-built because it is impossible to stabilise the land. Tomorrow, all these people will receive detailed³ information from the Earthquake Commission by courier post. These people have so many questions: Will my house have to be demolished⁴? How can the soft land be stabilised? How long will it take? Will insurance companies insure my new house? and so on.
We will not know all these answers for a long time.
Questions1. How do you think people feel after so many after-shocks?
2. How do Geologists know that after-shocks will continue?

1 demolish   

v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等)

参考例句：

• They're going to demolish that old building.他们将拆毁那座旧建筑物。
• He was helping to demolish an underground garage when part of the roof collapsed.他当时正在帮忙拆除一个地下汽车库，屋顶的一部份突然倒塌。

2 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

3 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

4 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。