新西兰英语 442 Predicting earthquakes

 　　Some geologists² have predicted that Canterbury has a 23% chance of another major earthquake in the next year. This is based on what computers can tell them from other earthquakes around the world but it is still impossible to predict earthquakes. Nobody really knows when an earthquake will happen.

　　The first thing to notice about this prediction is that it is for the whole of Canterbury not just Christchurch. The geologists say that this could happen somewhere, anywhere, in Canterbury. The chances of a major earthquake in Christchurch are more like 6%, the same as the chance of a major earthquake in many other cities like Wellington or Napier. Another way to say this is that there is a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not happen in Christchurch in the next year.

　　The second thing we need to remember is that New Zealand is on the Pacific Ring of Fire, just like Indonesia, Japan, and the west coast of North and South America. Earthquakes and volcanoes³ are common anywhere in these areas. Yet millions of people still choose to live in these areas.

　　We also need to remember that natural disasters happen all over the world and many of them happen suddenly. There are floods, droughts⁴, volcanoes, bush fires from lightning, snow storms, tsunamis⁵. We need to be prepared as much as possible.

　　Vocabulary

　　A geologist¹ is a scientist who studies the earth.

　　To predict means to look into the future. The noun⁶ is prediction.

　　Major means very large. A major earthquake would be 6 or 7 on the Richter scale.

　　Questions

　　Do you know what to do when there is an earthquake? Children in schools are taught to drop and hold – drop to the floor under the desk and hold the legs of the desk.

　　How can you prepare for an earthquake? Think of food and water, communication with your family, and a meeting place. How can you manage without electricity?

1 geologist   

n.地质学家

参考例句：

• The geologist found many uncovered fossils in the valley.在那山谷里，地质学家发现了许多裸露的化石。
• He was a geologist,rated by his cronies as the best in the business.他是一位地质学家，被他的老朋友们看做是这门行当中最好的一位。

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 volcanoes   

n.火山( volcano的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Volcanoes and geysers erupt. 火山和间歇喷泉均能喷发。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has been able to tell us more about active volcanoes than any man alive. 他现在比任何人都能更多地向我们讲述有关活火山的情况。 来自《用法词典》

4 droughts   

n.干旱（时期）( drought的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some of these droughts must have been severe. 有一些旱灾想必是严重的。 来自辞典例句
• Farmers' problems continued, and their suffering was compounded by serious droughts in 1986 and 1988. １９８６年和１９８８年的干旱使农民的处境更是雪上加霜。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

5 tsunamis   

n.海啸( tsunami的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our oceans are alive with earthquakes, volcanoes, and more recently, tsunamis. 海中充满着地震、火山，包括最近发生的海啸。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年2月号
• Please tell me something more about tsunamis! 请您给我讲讲海啸吧！ 来自辞典例句

6 noun   

n.名词

参考例句：

• What kind of noun is this?这是哪类名词？
• This word is a collective noun.这个词是个集体名词。