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“Beep—beep—beep.” Your phone roars in the dead of night and wakes you up. Adrenaline surges as a low rumble shakes the pictures on the nightstand. Panic threatens, but you remember the earthquake drill you practiced. You drop to the ground, take cover under your desk, and hold on tight. Though the shaking intensifies, relief washes over you because you knew it was coming thanks to the warning. How do we get these precious seconds before an earthquake hits? Enter earthquake early warning systems, life-saving tools that provide a crucial head start for taking cover or evacuating.
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Operating through a network of sensors strategically positioned in earthquake-prone regions, earthquake early warning systems detect initial seismic waves with remarkable precision. These waves are split into two categories: primary (P) and secondary (S) waves. P waves travel through the Earth at the highest speeds, preceding the slower but more destructive S waves. After the system senses P waves, it uses this information to assess the earthquake’s approximate location and strength. It then transmits this critical information to individuals and organizations in at-risk areas via mobile applications and other automated communication channels before S waves arrive.
While this system may sound reliable, it has limitations. Because of the speed of P and S waves, the window of opportunity for taking action is inevitably limited, especially in densely populated areas. Additionally, an early warning system alone cannot prevent damage or casualties from earthquakes. Its effectiveness is maximized only when it’s combined with widespread public awareness. It is imperative that the public be thoroughly educated on how to appropriately respond when earthquakes strike, including immediate actions to take, identification of safe locations, and familiarity with evacuation routes.
Earthquakes can be destructive and unpredictable. Hopefully, by combining technology with informed action, we can better protect ourselves and our communities from their devastating impact.
1. How does the author begin the passage? (A) By describing a scenario when an earthquake strikes. (B) By detailing what people should do in case of an earthquake. (C) By outlining the possible damage an earthquake might bring. (D) By providing the developing history of earthquake early warning systems. |
2. What is the correct order of how earthquake early warning systems work when an earthquake strikes? a. S waves travel through the Earth. b. Earthquake early warning systems send out warnings. c. P waves travel through the Earth. d. Earthquake early warning systems analyze the data. (A) a → c → d → b (B) c → a → d → b (C) a → d → b → c (D) c → d → b → a |
3. What aspect of earthquake early warning systems is NOT discussed in the passage? (A) What can be done to maximize their effectiveness. (B) How they help people when an earthquake occurs. (C) The cost of building one. (D) The challenges they face. |
4. Which of the following is NOT an example of “informed action” mentioned in the last paragraph? (A) Being aware of evacuation shelters nearby. (B) Learning how to design an app for earthquake warnings. (C) Finding cover as soon as receiving an earthquake warning. (D) Being conscious of the way to escape once an earthquake hits. |
It was raining, and I couldn’t find any placeto take cover.
當時正在下雨,而我找不到地方躲雨。
Hold on tight. We’re about to go on the wild ride.
抓緊囉。我們刺激的遊樂設施之旅要開始了。
When her husband showed up after she was in a car accident, a feeling of relief washed over Elaine.
依蓮的丈夫在她出車禍後出現時,她感到如釋重負。
The professor chose his words with precision. 這位教授用字遣詞很精準。
earthquake-prone a. 易於∕經常發生地震的
• Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.
日本是全世界最常發生地震的國家之一。
prone 表「有……傾向的,易於……的」,為形容詞,其前可與若干名詞並用,形成複合形容詞,“N-prone” 表「容易(發生)……的」。以下列舉其他常見的搭配:
accident-prone | 容易發生意外的 |
acne-prone | 容易長痘痘的 |
fire-prone | 容易發生意外的 |
flood-prone | 容易發生水患的 |
injury-prone | 容易受傷的 |
• Ken is quite accident-prone and often gets injured while working.
阿肯很容易發生意外,經常在工作時受傷。
• The dry weather has made the forest particularly fire-prone this season.
乾燥的天氣使這個季節的森林特別容易發生火災。
prone 亦常用於以下句型:
be prone to V 往往會∕易於……
= be inclined to V
= be liable to V
= tend to V
• If I go out in the sun for too long, I’m prone to get a serious sunburn.
假如我在陽光下待太久,就很容易嚴重晒傷。
It is imperative that the public be thoroughly educated on how to appropriately respond when earthquakes strike, ...
介紹意志形容詞的用法
意志形容詞就是表示「有必要的」、「適當的」等形容詞,常用的此類形容詞如下:
advisable | 明智的,值得建議的 |
crucial | 至關重要的 |
desirable | 可取的,令人嚮往的 |
essential | 必要的,不可或缺的 |
imperative、necessary | 必要的 |
important | 重要的 |
recommendable | 值得推薦的 |
urgent | 刻不容緩的,緊急的 |
vital | 極其重要的 |
以上形容詞與 that 子句形成下列句型時,that 子句恆使用助動詞 should,而 should 往往予以省略。
• It is advisable that your password contain no personal information.
你的密碼不包含個人資料的做法是明智的。
• It is necessary that the project (should) be carried out immediately.
該計畫有必要立刻執行。
• It is urgent that everybody conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.
大家節能減碳是刻不容緩的。
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精選試題
It is imperative that everyone _____ the guidelines in the manual.
(A) follows (B) follow
(C) to follow (D) following
答案:B
「嗶 ── 嗶 ── 嗶。」你的手機在深夜裡大叫著,把你吵醒了。一陣低沉的轟隆聲搖晃著床頭櫃上的照片時,你的腎上腺素激增。驚慌的感覺襲來,但你想起了你曾演練過的地震演習。你趴到地上、在桌子下找掩護,並緊緊抓牢。雖然搖晃愈發劇烈,但你鬆了一口氣,因為幸虧有了警報,你知道地震要來了。我們是如何得到地震來襲前這寶貴的幾秒鐘呢?來看看地震預警系統 ── 這些救命工具提供了找掩護或撤離的關鍵優勢。
地震預警系統透過策略性布置在地震多發區域的一系列感測器來運作,能夠非常精準地偵測到初期的地震波。這些地震波分為兩類:縱波(P 波)和橫波(S 波)。P 波以最快速度穿過地球,在速度較慢但更具破壞性的 S 波前到來。系統在感知到 P 波後,利用這些資訊評估地震的大致位置和強度。系統接著會透過手機應用程式和其他自動化通訊管道,將這個關鍵資訊傳送給處於風險區域的人和組織,趕在 S 波到來之前發出預警。
儘管這個系統可能聽起來很可靠,但它有限制。由於 P 波和 S 波的傳播速度,採取行動的短暫時機必然是有限的,特別是在人口密集的地區。此外,單靠預警系統無法防止地震造成的損害或人員傷亡。只有當預警系統與大眾對地震廣泛的意識結合時,其效用才能最大化。大眾必須完整地學習在地震來臨時如何適當應對,包括要立即採取的行動、辨識安全地點和熟悉疏散路線。
地震可能會是具有破壞性且無法預測的。希望透過結合科技和充分知情的行動,我們可以更好地保護自己和我們的社區,免於遭受地震毀滅性的影響。
1. 作者是如何開始本文的?
(A) 透過描述地震來襲的情景。 (B) 透過詳述萬一發生地震,人們應該做什麼。
(C) 透過概述地震可能會帶來的潛在損害。 (D) 透過提供地震預警系統的發展史。
2. 何者是地震預警系統在地震來襲時正確的運作順序?
a. S 波穿過地球。 b. 地震預警系統發出警報。 c. P 波穿過地球。 d. 地震預警系統分析資料。
(A) a → c → d → b (B) c → a → d → b (C) a → d → b → c (D) c → d → b → a
3. 本文並未討論到地震預警系統的哪個面向?
(A) 可以做什麼來最大化它們的效用。 (B) 它們在地震發生時如何幫助人們。
(C) 建造一個預警系統的成本。 (D) 它們所面臨的挑戰。
4. 下列何者不是最後一段提到的 “informed action” 的例子?
(A) 知曉附近的避難收容所。 (B) 學習如何設計地震警報的應用程式。
(C) 在收到地震警報時盡快找掩護。 (D) 知道一旦發生地震時的逃離路線。
題解: 此處的 informed action 指的是第三段提到的要立即採取的行動、辨識安全地點和熟悉疏散路線等,並未提及學習設計地震警報的應用程式,故選 (B)。
答案: 1. A 2. D 3. C 4. B