新西兰英语 563 Memorial Service for earthquake victims

 　　Feb 22nd 2011 is a day that no Christchurch person wants to remember but it is also a day that every Christchurch person feels they need to remember. That was the day when a 6.3 earthquake near the central city, caused many buildings to collapse¹. 18 people died in one building and 115 in the CTV building. 28 people died in the street from buildings that collapsed² on top of them. 8 people died in buses when buildings collapsed on top of them. Some died from rocks which fell from the Port Hills. In total, 185 people died that day or soon afterwards as a result of the earthquake.

　　A Memorial Service is planned from midday in Hagley Park. The names of all 185 people who died will be read out. Then at 12.51pm, the time of that earthquake, there will be two minutes silence.

　　At the end of the service, 185 Monarch³ butterflies will be set free.

　　Later in the afternoon, the people who risked their lives to rescue others will receive a bravery award.

　　Grammar

　　This is written about a future event, an event that will happen tomorrow. Can you re-write the last three paragraphs in the past? Start this way: A Memorial Service was held …

　　Questions

　　If you lived in Christchurch, would you attend this service?

　　What do you think is the best way to remember the victims of the earthquake?

1 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

2 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

3 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。