Question

Why do earthquakes happen？Scientists explain that the outside of the earth is made of a number of different plates(板塊)．For example，at San Francisco the Pacific(太平洋的)Plate which is moving towards the northwest meets the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate is moving very slowly—at 5.3 centimeters a year. Sometimes these two plates stop and do not move for years. Then suddenly，they jump and an earthquake is felt. As a result of the movement of these plates，West America near the sea has always been a bad place for earthquakes. When the 1906 earthquake happened，the Pacific Plate jumped 5－6 meters to the north.

We cannot stop earthquakes，but we can do things to make sure they don't destroy(毀壞)the whole cities. First，it is not a good idea to build houses along the lines，where two of the earth's plates join together. Second，if you think there may be an earthquake，it is better to build houses on rock not on sand. Third，you must make the houses as strong as possible. Weak buildings will fall down in an earthquake，but strong ones may stay up.

1.An earthquake can be felt ______．

A. when two plates push each other B. when one plate becomes a bad place

C. when one plate meets the sea D. when two plates don't move for years

2.An earthquake shook San Francisco in the past because ________．

A. San Francisco stands along between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate

B. San Francisco stands near the Pacific

C. the plate of San Francisco always moves slowly

D. the city of San Francisco wasn't built very well

3.What can we do to make sure earthquakes don't destroy the whole cities?

①Build houses far from the earthquake lines.

②Build houses on rock not on sand.

③Make the houses as strong as possible.

④Stop weak earthquakes.

A. ①②③ B. ②③④ C. ①③④ D. ①②③④

4.Where can we find the passage?

A. In a history book. B. In a science book.

C. In a tour guide for America. D. In a safety guide for common people.

Answer 1