学为贵雅思培训-北京雅思培训机构项目部提供：雅思口语常考话题:自然灾害。

　　早上起来看到台湾地震的消息，今天教大家用英语来描述地震相关的内容，希望大家能远离自然灾害～BTW：雅思和托福阅读也常考这个科学的文章哦～

　　Earthquakes are the most dangerous and deadly of all natural events.They occur in many parts of the world.Giant earthquakes have been recorded in Iran，China，Guatemala，Chile，India，and Alaska.Two of the biggest earthquakes that were ever recorded took place in China and Alaska.These earthquakes measured about 8.5ontheRichter Scale.

　　地震是自然灾害中最危险、最致命的，世界许多地方都曾发生过。伊朗、中国、危地马拉、智利、印度和阿拉斯加都有过大地震的记录。有记载的最大两次地震发生在中国和阿拉斯加。这两次地震经测量约为里氏8.5级。

　　The Richter Scale was devised by Charles Richter in 1935 to compare the energy level of earthquakes.An earthquake that measures a 2 on the scale can be felt but causes little damage.One that measures 4.5 on the scale can cause slight damage，and an earthquake that has a

　　reading of over 7 can cause major damage.It is important to note that a reading of 4indicates an earthquake ten times as strong as one with predict those a reading of 3.So scientists want to be able to earthquakes that have a reading of over 4 on the Richter Scale.

　　里氏震级是1935年查尔斯 • 里克特发明的，用来比较地震的能量等级。里氏地震级测出的2级地震可以感觉到，但几乎没什么破坏；测出的4.5级地震能够造成轻微破坏，等级超过7级的地震会带来重大破坏。必须注意的是，等级为4级的地震表明其强度是等级为3级的10倍。所以，科学家想要预测的就是那些等级超过里氏4级的地震。

　　How do earthquakes occur? Earthquakes are caused by the shifting of rocks along cracks，or faults，in the earth's crust.The fault is produced when rocks near each other are pulled in different directions.The best-knownfault in North America is the San Andreas fault in the state of California in the United States.

　　地震是怎么发生的呢？地震是由地壳中的裂缝，或称断层处的岩石发生移位而引起的。当

　　邻近岩石受到不同方向的拉力时便产生了断层。北美洲最著名的断层是位于美国加利福尼亚的圣安德烈亚斯断层。

　　Can earthquakes be predicted? Scientists are working on programs to predict the time and place of earthquakes.They hope to develop an early warning system that can be used to forecast earthquakes so that people can be saved.

　　地震可以预报吗？科学家们正致力于研究预报何时何地会发生地震的计划，他们希望开发一种早期报警系统用来预报地震，以挽救人们的生命。

　　The nations that are actively involved in earthquake prediction programs include Japan，China，Russia，and the United States.These countries have set up seismic networks in areas of their countries where earthquakes are known to occur.These networks are on the alert for warning signs that show the weakening of rock layers that can precede an earthquake.Many kinds of seismic instruments are used by the networks to monitor the movements of the earth's crust.The scientists also check water in deep wells.They watch for changes in the water level and temperature that are associated with movement along faults.

　　积极参与地震预测计划的国家包括日本、中国、俄罗斯和美国。这些国家在已知发生地震的地区建立了地震网络，这些网络一直处于戒备状态，搜索着告警的迹象，这些迹象显示出在地震前可能发生的岩层松动的状况。这些网络使用多种地震仪器来监测地壳的运动。科学家还检查深井里的水，观察与断层运动有关的水位与温度的变化。

　　注：本篇文章摘自学为贵逄博老师的新浪微博（@逄博-学为贵）。

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