阅读理解。
The Japanese coined the word tsunami to mean "harbor wave." ("tsu" means harbor, and the character
"nami" means wave). Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began has struck the north-east
coast, leading to a massive tsunami. Cars, ships and buildings were swept away by a wall of water after
the 8.9-magnitude earthquake, which struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo and caused
massive destruction, flattening whole cities, starting powerful fires, and killing hundreds.
In the wake of the Japanese tragedy, remember these tsunami survival tips:
1. A good warning sign of an approaching tsunami is "drawback," when the ocean recedes (减弱)
drastically or the water level falls unusually along the shoreline. During the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a
10-year-old girl on vacation with her family in Thailand, Tilly Smith, saved the lives of dozens of tourists
when she recognized the receding water and frothing bubbles on the surface of the water as a sign that a
tsunami was on its way. Experts believe that a receding ocean may give people as much as five minutes'
warning to evacuate the area.
2. You're not out of danger after the first wave of a tsunami. A tsunami occurs as a series of waves
known as a "wave train," and the series of surges (奔涌向前) can be five minutes or up to an hour apart.
The tsunami does not usually appear on the shoreline as a gigantic breaking wave, but rather as a rapid tide
or a wall of water. The worst mistake you can make is staying near the beach out of curiosity. Find higher
ground and go as far inland as you can. If you can see the waves, you're still too close.
3. A tsunami surge may be small at one point of the shore and large at another point. Move to higher
ground as soon as you can and don't assume that because there's minimal activity in the coastal area where
you are, it will be like that everywhere else.
4. Keep your ears peeled. Many witnesses have said that a tsunami sounds thunderous, like a freight train.
1. The underlined word "coined" is closest to "_____" in meaning.
A. invented a new word or phrase that other people then began to use
B. introduced a new word into a language
C. explained a new word
D. gave a definition to a new word.
2. What can we learn from the passage?
A. You will be out of danger if thirty minutes has passed after the first tsunami wave.
B. Tilly Smith must have a very good knowledge of science.
C. A lot of people must have been killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
D. If a tsunami surge is small at one point of the shore and it should be small at another point.
3. Which of the following statements is not true?
A. The 2011 Japanese tsunami is Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began.
B. The worst mistake you can make is staying near the beach out of curiosity after the first wave of a tsunami. C. Experts believe that a receding ocean may give people as much as five minutes' warning to escape from the
area.
D. A good warning sign of an approaching tsunami is "drawback," when the ocean recedes slightly or the water
level falls usually along the shoreline.
4. What is the best title of this passage?
A. Smart Actions during Tsunami
B. Signs of Tsunami identification
C. Methods of Avoiding Tsunami
D. Tips for Tsunami Survival
