第三篇 Moderate Earthquake Strikes England

　　A moderate earthquake struck parts of southeast England on 28 April 2007,toppling chimneys from houses and rousing residents from their beds. Several thousand people were left without power in Kent County. One woman suffered minor head and neck injuries.

　　"It felt as if the whole house was being slid across like a fun-fair ride," said the woman.

　　The British Geological Survey said the 4.3-magnitude quake struck at 8:19 a.m. and was centered under the English Channel, about 8.5 miles south of Dover and near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.

　　Witnesses said cracks appeared in walls and chimneys collapsed across the county. Residents said the tremor had lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds.

　　"I was lying in bed and it felt as if someone had just got up from bed next to me." said Hendrick van Eck,27,of Canterbury about 60 miles southeast of London."I then heard the sound of cracking, and it was getting heavier and heavier. It felt as if someone was at the end of my bed hopping up and down."

　　There are thousands of moderate quakes on this scale around the world each year, but they are rare in Britain. The April 28 quake was the strongest in Britain since 2002 when a 4.8-magnitude quake struck the central England city of Birmingham.

　　The country's strongest earthquake took place in the North Sea in 1931,measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale. British Geological Survey scientist Roger Musson said the quake took place on 28 April in an area that had seen several of the biggest earthquakes ever to strike Britain, including one in 1580 that caused damage in London and was felt in France.Musson predicted that it was only a matter of time before another earthquake struck this part of England. However, people should not be scared too much by this prediction, Musson said, as the modern earthquake warning system of Britain should be able to detect a forthcoming quake and announce it several hours before it takes place. This would allow time for people to evacuate and reduce damage to the minimum.

　　41. The biggest earthquake took place in Britain_____.

　　A in 1931

　　B in 1580

　　C in 2002

　　D in 2007

　　42. The word “collapsed” in paragraph 4 most probably means_____.

　　A. Fell apart

　　B. Flew off

　　C. Shook up

　　D. Blew out

　　43. The phrase “this scale” in paragraph 6 refers to_____.

　　A. 4.8-magnitude quake

　　B. 4.3-magnitude quake

　　C. 5.8on the Richer scale

　　D 6.1on the Richer scale

　　44. The following statements are true Except____.

　　A. the quake caused a power failure in Kent Country

　　B. the tremor lasted for 10-15 seconds.

　　C. people in Canterbury felt strong quake

　　D. the quake was centered under the Channel Tunnel.

　　45. It can be learned from the last paragraph that____.

　　A. moderate earthquakes often strike London in the history

　　B. earthquake warming system of Britain can predict the forthcoming quake

　　C. another earthquake is predicted to occur in England

　　D. the French also felt the earthquake taking place on 28,April

　　2015年職稱英語考試綜合類B級參考答案：

　　第4部分：閱讀理解(第31—45題，每題3分，共45分)

　　31-35.　DBDB B

　　36-40. D A BBA

　　41-45. AABDB