地震英文全攻略｜新聞必學單字、常用句型與托福閱讀實戰

CNN新聞節錄：從地震新聞學英文

Taiwan rattled by 7.0 magnitude quake, no major damage reported

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck some 32 km (20 miles) off Taiwan’s northeastern coastal city of Yilan on Saturday, the island’s weather administration said, with no immediate reports of major damage.

The quake with a depth of 73 km (45 miles) was felt across Taiwan and shook buildings in the capital Taipei, the administration said, assigning it an intensity-four category meaning there could be minor damage.

Taipei city’s government said there was no major damage reported in the immediate aftermath, with some isolated cases of damage including gas and water leakage and minor damage to buildings.

More than 3,000 homes in Yilan briefly lost power, Taiwan Power Company said.

新聞來源：CNN News

台灣遭規模 7.0 地震撼動，尚未傳出重大災情

台灣氣象局表示，週六台灣東北部宜蘭市沿海約 32 公里（20 英里）外發生規模 7.0 的地震，目前尚無重大損失的即時報告。

氣象局表示，此次地震深度約 73 公里（45 英里），全台皆有感，包括首都台北的建築物也有搖晃。地震被歸類為震度四級，表示可能造成輕微損害。

台北市政府表示，地震發生後並無重大災情，但仍有個別案例，包括瓦斯與自來水管線漏水，以及建築物輕微損壞。

台灣電力公司表示，宜蘭地區超過 3,000 戶家庭曾短暫停電。

地震新聞常用英文句型整理

報導地震發生

A magnitude [X] earthquake struck/hit [location] on [date].

（芮氏）規模 X 級地震於某日襲擊某地。

例句：A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Taiwan’s eastern coast on Monday morning.

The quake was centered [distance] from [city] at a depth of [X] kilometers.

震央位於距離某城市 X 公里處，震源深度 X 公里。

例句：The quake was centered 50 kilometers from Hualien at a depth of 15 kilometers.

Tremors were felt across [region/area].

整個地區都感受到震動。

例句：Tremors were felt across northern Taiwan and parts of Japan.

報導傷亡與損失

The earthquake has claimed [number] lives and left [number] injured.

地震已奪走 X 人性命，造成 X 人受傷。

例句：The earthquake has claimed at least 15 lives and left over 200 injured.

Dozens/Hundreds of people remain missing.

數十人/數百人仍然失蹤。

例句：Dozens of people remain missing after buildings collapsed in the city center.

The death toll is expected to rise.

死亡人數預計將會上升。

例句：The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams search through the rubble.

描述災害程度

The earthquake caused widespread/extensive damage.

地震造成廣泛/大範圍的損害。

例句：The earthquake caused extensive damage to infrastructure and historic buildings.

Power outages have affected [number] households.

停電影響了 X 戶家庭。

例句：Power outages have affected over 50,000 households in the region.

英文單字片語

托福閱讀模擬測驗

The Science and Impact of Earthquakes

Earthquakes are among the most powerful and destructive natural phenomena on Earth. They occur when energy stored in the Earth’s crust is suddenly released, typically along fault lines where tectonic plates meet. The majority of earthquakes happen at plate boundaries, where plates either collide, pull apart, or slide past one another. The sudden movement of these massive rock formations generates seismic waves that radiate outward from the earthquake’s focus, or hypocenter, which is the actual point within the Earth where the rupture begins. The epicenter, located directly above the hypocenter on the Earth’s surface, is often where the most severe shaking and damage occur.

The magnitude of an earthquake is measured using the Richter scale or the more modern moment magnitude scale (Mw), both of which quantify the energy released during the seismic event. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake releases energy equivalent to approximately 32 times that of a magnitude 4.0 quake, illustrating the logarithmic nature of the scale. However, magnitude alone does not determine the level of destruction. Factors such as the depth of the hypocenter, distance from populated areas, local soil conditions, and building construction standards all play crucial roles in determining the actual impact on human communities.

Seismologists have made significant advances in understanding earthquake mechanics, yet predicting exactly when and where an earthquake will strike remains largely impossible. Instead, scientists focus on assessing seismic hazards and creating probabilistic forecasts. These forecasts estimate the likelihood of earthquakes of various magnitudes occurring in specific regions over given time periods. Such information is invaluable for urban planning, building code development, and emergency preparedness initiatives.

The aftermath of a major earthquake presents numerous challenges. Beyond the immediate structural damage and casualties, communities often face secondary hazards such as aftershocks, landslides, fires, and in coastal areas, tsunamis. Aftershocks, which are smaller earthquakes that follow the main event, can continue for days, weeks, or even months, further destabilizing damaged structures and hampering rescue operations. Modern disaster response has evolved to include not only immediate rescue and medical care but also long-term recovery planning, psychological support for survivors, and efforts to “build back better” with improved infrastructure designed to withstand future seismic events.

1. According to paragraph 1, what is the relationship between the hypocenter and the epicenter?
   
   • (A) They are two different names for the same location
   • (B) The epicenter is located directly above the hypocenter
   • (C) The hypocenter is always closer to populated areas than the epicenter
   • (D) The epicenter is where the rupture begins inside the Earth
2. The word “quantify” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to:
   
   • (A) Measure
   • (B) Reduce
   • (C) Predict
   • (D) Explain
3. What can be inferred from paragraph 2 about the relationship between earthquake magnitude and damage?
   
   • (A) Higher magnitude earthquakes always cause more damage than lower magnitude ones
   • (B) The Richter scale is no longer used by scientists
   • (C) Multiple factors beyond magnitude determine the extent of destruction
   • (D) Soil conditions have no effect on earthquake damage

問題解答

1.根據第一段，震源（hypocenter）和震央（epicenter）之間的關係是什麼？

正確答案：(B) 震央位於震源的正上方

解析：

文章第一段明確指出：”The epicenter, located directly above the hypocenter on the Earth’s surface”（震央位於地表上，直接在震源的上方）。

• 震源（hypocenter）= 地震斷裂實際發生的地點，位於地球內部
• 震央（epicenter）= 位於震源正上方的地表位置

2.第二段中的 “quantify” 一詞意思最接近：

正確答案：(A) Measure（測量）

解析：

原文：”both of which quantify the energy released during the seismic event”（兩者都用來量化地震事件中釋放的能量）

在這個語境中，”quantify” 指的是用數字來衡量或測量地震釋放的能量大小。

其他選項為何錯誤：

(B) Reduce（減少）— 與測量能量無關

(C) Predict（預測）— 這是測量已發生的地震，不是預測

(D) Explain（解釋）— 只是測量數值，不是解釋現象

3.從第二段可以推論出地震規模和災害之間的關係是什麼？

正確答案：(C) 規模以外的多種因素決定了破壞程度

解析：

文章第二段明確表示：”However, magnitude alone does not determine the level of destruction.”（然而，規模本身並不能決定破壞程度）

接著列舉了其他重要因素：

• 震源深度（depth of the hypocenter）
• 距離人口密集區的遠近（distance from populated areas）
• 當地土壤條件（local soil conditions）
• 建築施工標準（building construction standards）