The Kingdome in Seattle was destroyed on March 26, 2000. It was taken down to ma

The Kingdome in Seattle was destroyed onMarch 26, 2000. It was taken down to make room for a new stadium. The blast(爆破) from the fallingbuilding caused the earth to shake as if an earthquake had happened.

Scientists placed more than 200 earthquakerecorders in the earth to measure the movement. They found which parts of thecity shook the most. This information helped them know which parts of the citywould be damaged in a real earthquake at an early time.

A real earthquake happened on February 28, 2001 in Seattle. The Nisqually earthquake was 6.8 on the Richter scale(里氏6.8级). Itdamaged the same parts of Seattle that scientists had predicted(预测) from the pulling down of the Kingdome. It was a plate quake. Itstarted deep in the earth, 37 miles below the surface on the Juan de FucaPlate. Sometimes, huge plates under the earth cause earthquakes when the platesmove against each other suddenly.

Scientists have learned that deepearthquakes have very few aftershocks(余震). The Nisqually earthquake had only 4 ones.Another earthquake in California that was close to the surface had over 120aftershocks. Scientists do not know why the deep earthquakes have feweraftershocks.

Scientists plan to blast in the ground nearSeattle with the purpose of testing the plate. The shockwaves from the blastwill jump off the plate and give them an idea of where the plate is and how itis moving. This will give them more information in case another real earthquakehits the area.

1.Accordingto the passage, ______ have the most aftershocks.

   A．shockwaveearthquakes            B．shallow earthquakes

   C．deepearthquakes                D．earthquakes more than 6.8 Richter scale

2.Whatdo scientists hope to learn from the blast above the Juan de Fuca Plate? 

   A．They hope tolearn where the plate is and how it is moving.

   B．They want todestroy the Kingdome.

   C．They want toknow which places are likely to have the most damage.

   D．They hope tofind out how many plates there are in the ground there.

3.Whywere the scientists interested in the pulling down of the Seattle Kingdome? 

   A．They wantedto see which areas near the Kingdome would shake the hardest.

   B．They wantedto predict what might happen in a real earthquake.

   C．They wantedto measure the movement of the Earth with earthquake recorders.

   D．All of the above.

4.Whatwill happen after a deep earthquake according to the scientists? 

   A．There willbe many aftershocks.

   B．There willbe very few aftershocks.

   C．The Richterscale of the quakes will be a 6.8 or more.

D．There will be little damage.

试题答案

【答案】

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.B