VOA慢速英语2016 阿拉斯加发生7.1级强震

AS IT IS 2016-01-26 Major Earthquake Hits Alaska

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake shook south-central Alaska Sunday.

周日阿拉斯加中南部发生里氏7.1级强震。

At least four homes were destroyed but no injuries or deaths were reported, according to the Associated Press and the Alaska Dispatch News.

据美联社和阿拉斯加通讯报道，地震造成至少四座房屋被毁，但无人员伤亡。

The earthquake was centered 85 kilometers west of Anchor Point, Alaska, and about 250 kilometers southwest of Anchorage. One eyewitness¹ said the earthquake lasted 30 seconds, according to a CNN news report.

震中位于阿拉斯加州安克波因特以西85公里，安克雷奇西南约250公里处。根据CNN新闻报道，目击者称地震持续达30秒。

Roads and building were damaged and power was out in many areas.

许多地区道路与房屋被毁，电力中断。

A resident of Kenai, Alaska, described the early morning quake.  

阿拉斯加基奈半岛一位居民描述了这场凌晨发生的地震。

“It started out as a shaking, and it seemed very much like a normal earthquake,” he said. “But then it started to feel like a normal swaying. It was unsettling. Some things got knocked over, but there was no damage.”

他说，“最开始只是震动，看起来非常像是一场普通地震。但是随后开始摇晃，这令人不安。有些东西被打翻，但是没有损坏。”

Aftershocks followed the quake, including one of 4.7 magnitude felt in Anchorage and Juneau. Anchorage residents did not report any injuries or damage, according to NBC News.

据NBC新闻报道，余震紧随而来，安克雷奇和朱诺发生里氏4.7级余震。但并无相关新闻报道安克雷奇居民人员伤亡与财产损失。

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an earthquake with a 7.1 magnitude is considered a major earthquake. These earthquakes cause damage to buildings and can be felt across long distances.

据美国地质调查局称，里氏7.1级为强震。地震破坏程度可以造成建筑物损坏，很远之外也能感到震感。

Words in This Story

magnitude – n. the size or importance of something; a number that shows the power of an earthquake

according – adv. as stated by or in

swaying – v. moving or causing to move back and forth²

aftershocks – n. waves of motion after an earthquake that can strike days or weeks later

1 eyewitness   

n.目击者，见证人

参考例句：

• The police questioned several eyewitness to the murder.警察询问了谋杀案的几位目击者。
• He was the only eyewitness of the robbery.他是那起抢劫案的唯一目击者。

2 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。