历年专四考试真题阅读部分

1996

SECTIONAREADINGCOMPREHENSION

TEXTA

InthepastthirtyyearsmanysocialchangesbaretakenplaceinBritain.Thegreatestof

thesehaveprobablybeenintheeconomiclivesofwomen.

Thechangeshavebeensignificant,butbecausetraditionandprejudicecanstill

handicapwomenintheirworkingcareersandpersonallives,majorlegislationtohelp

promoteequalityofopportunityandpaywaspassedduringthe1970s.

Attheheartofwomen'schangedroleinsocietyhasbeentheriseinthenumberof

womenatwork,particularlymarriedwomen.Astechnologyandsocietypermithighly

effectiveandgenerallyacceptablemethodsoffamilyplanningtherehasbeena

declineinfamilysize.Womenasaresultareinvolvedinchild-rearingforamuch

shortertimeandrelatedtothis,therehasbeenarapidincreaseinthenumberof

womenwithyoungchildrenwhoreturntoworkwhenthechildrenareoldenoughnotto

needconstantcareandattention.

Since1951theproportionofmarriedwomenwhoworkhasgrownfromjustoverafifth

toahaft.ComparedwiththeircounterpartselsewhereontheContinent,Britishwomen

comprisearelativelyhighproportionoftheworkforce,abouttwo-fifths,buton

averagetheyworkfewerhours,about31aweekThereisstillasignificantdifference

betweenwomen'saverageearningsandmen's,buttheequalpaylegislationwhich

cameintoforceattheendof1975appearstohavehelpedtonarrowthegapbetween

women'sandmen'sbasicrates.

Asmoreandmorewomenjoinedtheworkforceinthe1960sandearly1970sthere

wasanincreaseinthecollectiveincomesofwomenasawholeandamajorchangein

theeconomicroleoflargenumbersofhousewives.Familieshavecometorelyon

marriedwomen'searningsasanessentialpartoftheirincomeratherthanas"pocket

money".Atthesametimesocialroleswithinthefamilyaremorelikelytobeshared,

exchangedoraltered.

66.Thegeneralideaofthepassageisabout.

A.socialtrendsincontemporaryBritainB.changesinwomen'seconomicstares

C.equalopportunityandpayinBritainD.women'sroleswithinthefamily

67.Accordingtotheauthor,anincreasingnumberofmarriedwomenareabletowork

because.

A.theirchildrennolongerrequiretheircare

B.B.therearemorejobsavailablenowadays

C.technologyhasenabledthemtofindacceptablejobs

D.theyspendfarlesstimeonchildcarethanbefore

TEXTB

NATURE'SGIGANTICSNOWPLOUGH

OnJanuary10,1962,anenormouspieceofglacierbrokeawayandtumbleddownthe

sideofamountaininPeru.Ameresevenminuteslater,whencascadingicefinally

cametoastoptenmilesdownthemountain,ithadtakenthelivesof4,000people.

Thisdisasterisoneofthemostdevastatingexamplesofaverycommonevent：an

avalancheofsnoworice.Becauseitisextremelycoldatveryhighaltitudes,snow

rarelymelts.Itjustkeepspilinguphigherandhigher.Glaciersareeventuallycreated

whentheweightofthesnowissogreatthatthelowerlayersarepressedintosolidice.

Butmostavalanchesoccurlongbeforethishappens.Assnowaccumulatesona

steepslope,itreachesacriticalpointatwhichtheslightestvibrationwillsenditsliding

intothevalleybelow.

Evenanavalancheoflightpowercanbedangerous,butthePeruviancatastrophewas

particularlyterriblebecauseitwascausedbyaheavylayerofice.Itisestimatedthat

theicethatbrokeoffweighedthreemilliontons.Asitcrasheddownthesteep

mountainsidelikeagiganticsnowplough,itsweptuptrees,bouldersandtonsof

topsoil,andcompletelycrushedanddestroyedthesixvillagesthatlayinitspath.

Atpresentthereisnowaytopredictoravoidsuchenormousavalanches,but,lucidly,

theyareveryrare.Scientistsareconstantlystudyingthesmaller,morecommon

avalanches,totrytounderstandwhatcausesthem.Inthefuture,perhapsdangerous

massesofsnowandicecanbefoundandremovedbeforetheytakehumanlives.

68.Thefirstparagraphcatchesthereader'sattentionwitha.

A.first-handreportB.dramaticdescriptionC.talltaleD.vividwordpicture

69.Inthispassagedevastatingmeans.

A.violentlyruinousB.spectacularyinterestingC.stunningD.unpleasant

70.Thepassageismostlyabout.

A.avalanchesB.glaciersC.PeruD.mountains

TEXTC

IwasborninTuckahoe,TalbotCounty,Maryland.Ihavenoaccurateknowledgeofmy

age,neverhavingseenanyauthenticrecordcontainingit.Byfarthelargerpartofthe

slavesknowaslittleoftheirageashorsesknowoftheir,anditisthewishofmost

masterswithinmyknowledgetokeeptheirslavesthusignorant.Idonotremember

havingevermetaslavewhocouldtellofhisbirthday.Theyseldomcomenearertoit

thanplanting-time,harvesting,springtime,orfalltime.Alackofinformation

concerningmyownwasasourceofunhappinesstomeevenduringchildhood.The

whitechildrencouldtelltheirages,IcouldnottellwhyIoughttobedeprivedofthe

sameprivilege.Iwasnotallowedtomakeanyinquiresofmymasterconcerningit.He

consideredallsuchinquiriesonthepartofaslaveimproperandimpertinent.The

nearestestimateIcangivemakesmenowbetweentwenty-sevenandtwenty-eight

yearsofage.Icometothis,fromheatingmymastersay,sometimeduring1835,I

wasaboutseventeenyearsold.

MymotherwasnamedHarrietBailey.ShewasthedaughterofIssacandBetseyBailey,

bothcolored,andquitedark.Mymotherwasofadarkercomplexionthaneithermy

grandmotherorgrandfather.

Myfatherwasawhiteman.HewasadmittedtobesuchbyallIeverheardspeakofmy

parentage.Theopinionwasalsowhisperedthatmymaserwasmyfather,butofthe

correctnessofthisopinion,Iknownothing；themeansofknowingwaswithheldfrom

me.MymotherandIwereseparatedwhenIwasaninfantbeforeIknewherasmy

mother.Itisacommoncustom,inthepartofMarylandfromwhichIranaway,topart

childrenfromtheirmothersataveryearlyage.Frequently,beforethechildhas

reacheditstwelfthmonth,itsmotheristakenfromit,andhiredoutonsomefainta

considerabledistanceoff,andthechildisplacedunderthecareofanolderwoman,

toooldforfieldlabor.Forwhatthisseparationisdone,Idonotknow,unlessitbeto

hinderthedevelopmentofthechild'saffectiontowardsitsmother.

71.Theauthordidnotknowexactlywhenhewasbornbecause.

A.hedidnotknowwhohismotherwasB.therewasnowrittenevidenceofit

C.hismasterdidnottellhisfatherD.nobodyonhisfarmknewanythingaboutit

72.Inthemid-nineteenthcentury,slavesoften.

A.markedtheirbirthdaysbytheseason

B.B.didnotreallycarehowoldtheywere

C.forgottheexacttimewhentheywereborn

D.pretendednottoknoweachother'sbirthdays

73.Theauthor'smothertoldhim.

A.hisfatherwasblackB.hisfatherwaswhite

C.nothingabouthisfatherD.hismasterwashisfather

74.Accordingtothepassage,whentheauthorwasveryyounghismother

A.runawayB.waslightskinned

C.hadseveralchildrenD.wassenttoworkelsewhere

75.Theauthorbadnotspentmuchtimewithhis.

A.motherB.masterC.grandfatherD.grandmother

76.Theauthorwasmostprobablyraised.

A.byhisgrandparentsB.byanoldwomanslave

C.withhismaster'ssupportD.togetherwithotherchildren

TEXTD

PLEASERECYCLETHATBOBSLEDRUN（大雪橇滑道）

Forthe1992WinterGames,Frenchorganizersconstructedanewmotorway,parking

lotsandrunsforskiingintheAlps.Environmentalistsscreamed"Disaster!".Thus

warned,theNorwegianshaveadopted"green"adviceandavoidedgreatblotsonthe

landscape.Thespeed-skatingwasbuilttolooklikeanoverturnedship,andplacedso

asnottodisturbabirdsanctuary.Dugintoamountainside,thehockeyarenaiswell

concealedandenergyefficient.Thebobsledrunisbuiltoutofwoodnotmetaland

hiddenamongtrees.NowonderthepresidentoftheInternationalOlympicCommittee

hascalledthesethefirst"GreenGames".

Lillehammer'sopeningceremoniesfeaturedagiantOlympicTorchburningbiogas

producedbyrottingvegetation.Duringconstruction,builderswerethreatenedwith

$7,500finesforfellingtreesunnecessarily.Ratetreeswerecarefullytransplanted

fromhillsides.Foodisbeingservedonpotato-basedplatesthatwillbefed,inturn,to

pigs.Smokinghasbeenbannedoutdoorsaswellasin,withenforcementbypolite

requests.

Environmentalistshavedeclaredpartialvictory,thoughCoca-Cola'splantodecorate

thetownwithBannershasbeenscaledback,therearestilltoomanybillboardsfor

strictgreentastes.Perhaps,butaftertheGames,athletehousingwillbeconverted

intovacationhomeorshippedtothenorthlandsforstudentdormitories.Bulletswillbe

pluckedfrombiathlontargetsandrecycledtokeeptheleadfrompoisoningground

water.Andthesetrickswon'tbeforgotten.Embarrassedbyenvironmentalprotests,

theI.0.C.claimsthatgreenawarenessisnowentrenched-alongwithsportand

culture-asapermanentdimensionoftheOlympicCharter.

Indeed,Sydneywassuccessfulinbecominghostforthe2000SummerGamesinpart

onthestrengthofitsendorsementfromGreenpeace.Aspiringhostcitiesarepicking

upthecode.SaltLakeCity,biddingforthe2002Games,mayopttousethebobsled

runthatCalgarybuiltforthe88Games.Afterthat,whocoulddenythatrecyclingisan

Olympicmovement?

77.Whichofthefollowingcountrieshasnotpaidenoughattentiontothe"green"

issues?

A.Norway.B.France.C.Arnica.D.Australia.

78.InwhichareadidtheenvironmentalistsfailinLillehammer?

A.Energy.B.Smoking.B.Housing.D.Advertising.

79.WhichofthefollowingdescribestheI.0.C.'sattitudetowardsthe

environmentalists1protests?

A.Tryingtocommitthemselves.B.Showingindifferenceandcontempt.

C.Arguingforpracticaldifficulties.D.Negotiatingforgradualchanges.

80.The2002Gamesmightbeheldin.

A.OsloB.CalgaryC.SydneyD.SaltLakeCity

SECTIONBSKIMMING&SCANNING(45MIN)

TEXTE

Firstreadthefollowingquestion.

81.Theschoolboywasreportedtohavehadanaccidentwith.

A.atrainB.fireC.electricityD.traffic

Now,skimTEXTEbelowandmarkyouransweronyouranswersheet.

SCHOOLBOYJOHNDOYLEsuffereda25,000-voltelectricshockandlived.Lastnight

hesatupinahospitalbedandlearnedhowluckyhewastobealive.John,11,had

gonetrain-spottingforthefirsttimeinhislifeonafootbridgenearhishome.Hefell

offthe20ft-highbridge,landedamongpowercablesandendeduponthemils.He

wasdraggedclearbyhisfriendsjustbeforeanexpresstrainroaredpast.Hehasbums

tooneankleandwillneedaskingraft.Hismothersaidtheaccidenthasputherson

offtrain-spottingforlife.

TEXTF

Firstreadthefollowingquestion.

82.Themainpurposeoftheletteristo.

A.applyforanadvertisedjobB.makefurtherinquiriesaboutajob

C.toapplyforaPh.D.D.getinformationaboutmedicalresearch

Now,skimTEXTFbelowandmarkyouransweronyouranswersheet.

38MorganRoad,

Harbury,Lincolnshir

TheAdministrativeOfficer,

SwissMedicoLtd,

POBox1263

Zurich,Switzerland.17March199

DearSir,

Iamwritingtorespondtoyouradvertisementinthe"DailyGlobe".

Iamatpresentemployedasatranslatorinamedicalresearchorganizationandalso

actasinterpreterthere.Ijoinedthisorganizationtwoyearsago.

Iam31andsingle.IreadFrenchandGermanatHowlandCollege,Cambridgeand

stayedtheretotakemyPh.D.inthedialectsofNorth-EastFrance

Ishouldbeinterestedinworkingforyourcompanyfortworeasons,Firstly,Ishouldlike

toliveabroadandsecondly,theworkwouldinvolvemedical/scientifictranslation

whichismyparticularfield.

Ishalllookforwardtohearingfromyou.

Yourssincerely,

RupertJohnson

TEXTG

Firstreadthefollowingquestion.

88.Themainpurposeofthepamphletisto.

A.providecarownerwithcartheftstatistics

B.givedetailsaboutcostsincrimeprevention

C.portraytheprofileofcertaincarthieves

D.raisecarowners'awarenessagainstcartheft

Now,skimTEXTGbelowandmarkyouransweronyouranswersheet.

Cartheftsaccountforaquarterofallrecordedcrime.Togethertheyimposecostson

everyone-thecostofthepolice'stimetakenupindealingwiththeoffenses,thecost

oftakingoffendersthroughthecriminaljusticesystem,andthecosttomotoristsof

increasedinsurancepremiums.

Over460,000carsarereportedmissinginthiscountryeachyearandmanyofthese

areneverrecovered.Manyofthosewhicharefoundhavebeendamagedbythe

thieves.Astolencarisalsofarmorelikelytobeinvolvedinanaccidentthanthesame

cardrivenbyitsowner；carthievesareoftenyoungandsometimesdrunk.Yetcar

crimecanbecutdrasticallyifmotoristsfollowafewsimplerulestokeepthievesoutof

theircarsinthefirstplace.

Mostcarthievesareopportunistunskilledpettycriminals；manyareunder20.So

makeyourowncaralessinvitingtarget,todiscouragethievesfromtrying.

TEXTH

Firstreadthefollowingquestion.

84.Whatisthewriter'smainmessageinthepassage?

A.Unemploymentbringsdownwardchangesinpeople'slives.

B.Oneshouldtrytomakethebestofunemployment.

C.Unemploymentresultsinnegativepsychologicaleffects.

D.Manypeoplehavenoproblemswithunemployment.

Now,skimTEXTHbelowandmarkyouransweronyouranswersheet.

Asmoreandmorepeoplelosetheirjobs,nowisperhapsthetimetoconsiderthe

experienceofunemployment.Whatarethefirstfeelings?Well,losingajob,thefirst

feelingisoftenoneofshock.Aswellasthelossofincome,manypeoplefindthe

wholeroutineoftheirlifeiss,theircontactwithotherpeoplereduced,theirambitions

haltedandtheiridentityasaworkerremoved.

Atfirsttheremaybegoodfeelingstoo-anewandbetterjobisjustaroundthecomer

-it'snicetobeabletolieinbedinthemorningorspendmoretimewiththechildren；

havemoretimetothink.But,unlessabetterjobdoesturnup,thechancesarethe

daysstartgettinglongerandtimebecomehardertofill.

Manypeoplepassthroughperiodsofdifficultyinsleepingandeating.Theyfeel

irritableanddepressed,oftenisolatedandlonely.

Despitealltheseproblemsthough,unemploymentcanbeachanceforfreshstart.

Youcandiscoverthatitprovidesanopportunitytosortoutorrethinkwhatyouwant

fromlifeandhowbestyoucangetit.Youcanusethetimetoplanhowtofindanew

job,learnanewskill,developyourhobbiesorseeifyoucanrunyourownbusiness.

TEXTI

Firstreadthefollowingquestions.

85.TheSaverreturnticketisNOTvalidfor.

A.SaturdaysB.SundaysC.anypublicholidaysD.certainpeaktrains

86.YoumustbookyouSaverreturnticketdaysinadvance.

A.8B.7C.31D.50

Now,scanTEXTIbelowandmarkyouranswersonyouranswersheet.

SAVER

TheSaverreturnisourmostflexibleleisureticket.Itcanbeusedonalltrainson

Saturdays,Sundaysandpublicholidays.OnMondayandFridaysitcanbeusedon

mosttrainsexceptsomepeaktrains.

CONDITIONSOFTRAVEL

—Youmustbookyourticketatleastsevenfulldaysbeforeyoustartyourjourney.

-Youmustreturnwithinthirty-onedays.

—Breakofjourneyisnotallowed.

—TherearenoreductionsonSaverreturnticketsforchildrenundertheageofsixteen.

—Saverreturnticketsareonlyavailableforjourneyoverfiftymiles.

TEXTJ

Firstreadthefollowingquestions.

87.Pupilscanbringtoschool.

A.chewinggumB.jewelryC.pursebeltsD.radios

88.Pupilsintheschoolcan.

A.walkontherightinsidetheschoolbuilding

B.wearoutdoorclothinginsidetheschool

C.gototheStaffroomatlunchbreak

D.watchvideosduringthelunchbreak

Now,scanTEXTJandmarkyouranswersonyouranswersheet.

LEIGHTONSCHOOL

SCHOOLRULES

EVERYPUPILINTHESCHOOLISOLDENOUGHTOHAVEASENSEOF

RESPONSIBILITY.WEDEPENDONYOURGOODMANNERS,COMMONSENSEAND

COOPERATION.

1.Pupilsmustbringthecorrectbooksandwritingmaterialstoeachlesson.

2.Otheritems,forexample,P.E.Kit,mustbebroughttopracticallessons.

3.Eatinganddrinkinginclassroomsisforbidden.Chewinggummustnotbebrought

toschool.

4.Pupilsmustnotbringvaluablestoschools,e.g.radios,taperecordersorjewelry.

MoneyshouldbekeptinpursebeltsandlargesumsmustbehandedtotheOffice.

5.Thecorrectschooluniformmustbeworn.Outdoorcoatsarenottobewornin

school.

6.Pupilsmustkeeptotherightinthecorridorsandonthestairs；theymustmove

quietlyaroundtheschoolatalltimes.

7.PupilsarenotpermittedtogototheStaffroomduringthelunchbreak.Thereis

alwaysamemberofstaffonduty.

8.Pupilshavinglunchinschoolarenotallowedtoleavetheschoolpremiseswithout

aprintedpermissionslip.

J.Watkins

Principal

TEXTK

Firstreadthefollowingquestions.

89.MargaretMeewentonherfirstexpeditiontotheAmazonin.

A.1952B.1968[Cl1947D.1956

90.Thenight-flowingAmazonMoonflowerwaspaintedattheageof.

A.47B.79C.36D.68

Now,scanTEXTKandmarkyouranswersonyouranswersheet.

MargaretMee：EnglishExplorerandPainterofAmazonFlora

BorninChesham,England,inMay1909.

StudiedatStMartinsSchoolofArtandlaterattheCamberwellSchoolofArt.

WenttoBrazilwithherhusbandGreville,acommercialartist,in1952.

MadeherflintexpeditiontotheAmazonin1956attheageof47.

Made15furtherexpeditionstotheAmazon.ThelastexpeditiontookplaceinMay

1988.

Sheneverpaintedordrewfromphotographs.Shepaintedwhatshesaw.

Shepublishedtwobooksofherpaintingsin1968and1980.

Sheachievedanambitionof36yearstopaintthenight-flowingAmazonMoonflower

onlyin1988.

Herdiaries,InSearchoftheFlowersoftheAmazonForest,werepublishedin1988.

Abotanistwhoknewherwelldescribedherasfollows："Manypeoplehavetravelled

Amazonianwaters,manypeoplehavepaintedAmazonianplants,butMargaretMee

outranksthoseothertravellersandartistssimplybecauseshe,withherwatercolors,

went,sawandconqueredtheregion.Shehasbeenabletofillhersubjectswiththe

realityoftheirenvironment

1997

SECTIONAREADINGCOMPREHENSION

TEXTA

UniversityteachingintheUnitedKingdomisverydifferentatbothundergraduateand

graduatelevelsfromthatofmanyoverseascountries.

Anundergraduatecourseconsistsofaseriesoflectures,seminarsandtutorialsand,

inscienceandengineering,laboratoryclasses,whichintotalaccountforabout15

hoursperweek.Artsstudentsmaywellfindthattheirofficialcontactwithteachersis

lessthanthisaverage,whilescienceandengineeringstudentsmayexpecttobe

timetabledforupto20hoursperweek.Studentsstudyingforaparticulardegreewill

takeaseriesoflecturecourseswhichruninparallelatafixedtimeineachweekand

maylastoneacademictermorthewholeyear.Associatedwitheachlecturecourse

areseminars,tutorialsandlaboratoryclasseswhichdrawupon,analyze,illustrateor

amplify,thetopicspresentedinthelectures,lectureclassescanvaryinsizefrom20

to200althoughlargersizedlecturestendtodecreaseasstudentsprogressintothe

secondandthirdyearandmoreoptionsbecomeavailable.Seminarsandtutorialsare

onthewholemuchsmallerthanlectureclassesandinsomedepartmentscanbeona

one-to-onebasis(thatis,onememberofstafftoonestudent).Studentsarenormally

expectedtoprepareworkinadvanceforseminarsandtutorialsandthiscantakethe

formofresearchingatopicfordiscussion,bywritingessaysorbysolvingproblems.

Lectures,seminarsandtutorialsareallonehourinlength,whilstlaboratoryclasses

usuallylasteither2or3hours.Muchemphasisisputonhowtospendasmuchtime

ifnotmorestudyingbythemselvesasbeingtaught.IntheUKitisstillcommonfor

peopletosaythattheyare“reading"foradegree!Eachstudenthasatutorwhom

theycanconsultonanymatterwhetheracademicorpersonal.Althoughthetutorwill

help,motivationforstudyisexpectedtocomefromthestudent.

66.Accordingtothepassage,scienceandengineeringcoursesseemtobemore

thanartscourses.

A.motivatingB.variedC.demandingD.interesting

67.Whichofthefollowingisthelengthoflecturesorseminarsortutorials?

A.1hourB.2hours.C.3hours.D.15hours.

68.InBritishuniversitiesteachingandlearningarecarriedoutin.

A.avarietyofwaysB.laboratoryclasses

C.seminarsandtutorialsD.lecturesandtutorials

TEXTB

Whosaidtheonlywaytolearnaboutacountryyoucan'tvisitisbyreadingabook?

DanEckberg'stelevisionstudentsatHopkinsHighSchoolknowbetter.They'reseeing

countriesandlearningaboutcultureswiththeaidofelectroniccommunications.

Usingcomputers,satellitehookups,andtelephonehotlines,Eckberg'sstudentshave

alreadyfollowedateamofcyclists11,500milesacrossthecontinentofAfrica,sat

atopMountKilimanjaro,andswelteredintheSaharaDesert.

Thiswinterthey'llinteractwithanexpeditionexploringCentralAmericainsearchofthe

classicMayaculture.

Youcanjointhem.

How?ByfollowingEckbergandhisclassastheytracktheadventuresofDanand

SteveBuettner,twoworld-classbicyclistsfromUS

A.Startinglastmonththesetwobicyclists,joinedbyarchaeologistsandatechnical

supportteam,areinteractingwithstudentsviatheInternet,theworldwidecomputer

network.

Fromclassroomorhomecomputer,studentscanmakeresearchproposalstothe

BuettnersorthearchaeologistsatthevariousCentralAmericanlocationsthey'vebeen

exploringaspartoftheirMayaQuestexpedition.

“Wehopethatsomeonewillaskaquestionthatcan'treadilybeanswered,nsays

HopkinsHighSchoolstudentBarryAnderson,“andthroughtheonlineactivities,an

answerwillbefound-adiscovery”.

Havingstudents“discover”whyacivilizationasadvancedastheMayacollapsedinthe

9thcenturyisonekeygoalfortheleadersoftheMayaQuestexpedition.Themore

importantgoalisusinginteractivelearningtodiscoverthecauseofthedeclineand

compareittoissueswefacetoday-naturaldisasters,environmentalproblems,and

war.

Tenlessonplans-ontopicsrangingfromtheMayalanguagetotheMayacreation

myth-havebeendevelopedfortheinteractiveexpedition.

"Throughacombinationoflivecall-intelevisionandtheInternet,"saysEckberg,

“we'rehopingtobuildexcitementandengagementinlearninginourschool.,s

69.DanEckbergandhisstudentslearnaboutAfricaby

A.readingbooksB.watchingvideotapes

C.interactingviatheInternetD.cycling11,500miles

70.WhichofthefollowingactivitiesisNOTinvolvedinDanEckbergandhisstudents1

expedition?

A.GoingtovisitvariousCentralAmericanlocations.

B.Gettinginformationthroughelectroniccommunications.

C.DiscussingdifferenttopicsontheMayacivilization.

D.Formingresearch,proposalsanddiscoveringtheanswers.

TEXTC

Mostearthquakesoccurwithintheupper15milesoftheearth'ssurface.But

earthquakescananddooccuratalldepthstoabout460miles.Theirnumber

decreasesasthedepthincreases.Atabout460milesoneearthquakeoccursonly

everyfewyears.Nearthesurfaceearthquakesmayrunashighas100inamonth,but

theyearlyaveragedoesnotvarymuch.Incomparisonwiththetotalnumberof

earthquakeseachyear,thenumberofdisastrousearthquakesisverysmall.

Theextentofthedisasterinanearthquakedependsonmanyfactors.Ifyoucarefully

buildatoyhousewithanErectorset,itwillstillstandnomatterhowmuchyoushake

thetable.Butifyoubuildatoyhousewithapackofcards,aslightshakeofthetable

willmakeitfall.AnearthquakeinAgadir,Morocco,wasnotstrongenoughtobe

recordedondistantinstruments,butitcompletelydestroyedthecity.Manystronger

earthquakeshavedonecomparativelylittledamage.Ifabuildingiswellconstructed

andbuiltonsolidground,itwillresistanearthquake.Mostdeathsinearthquakeshave

beenduetofaultybuildingconstructionorpoorbuildingsites.Athirdandveryserious

factorispanic.Whenpeoplerushoutintonarrowstreets,moredeathswillresult.

TheUnitedNationshasplayedanimportantpartinreducingthedamagedoneby

earthquakes.Ithassentateamofexpertstoallcountriesknowntobeaffectedby

earthquakes.Workingwithlocalgeologistsandengineers,theexpertshavestudied

thenatureofthegroundandthetypeofmostpracticalbuildingcodeforthelocalarea.

Iffollowed,thesesuggestionswillmakedisastrousearthquakesalmostathingofthe

past.

Thereisonetypeofearthquakedisasterthatlittlecanbedoneabout.Thisisthe

disastercausedbyseismicseawaves,ortsunamis.(Theseareoftencalledtidal

waves,butthenameisincorrect.Theyhavenothingtodowithtides.)Incertainareas,

earthquakestakeplacebeneaththesea.Thesesubmarineearthquakessometimes

giverisetoseismicseawaves.Thewavesarenotnoticeableoutatseabecauseof

theirlongwavelength.Butwhentheyrollintoharbours,theypileupintow