Earthquakes may rightly be ranked as one of the most destructive forces known to man: since records began to be written down, it has been estimated that earthquake-related fatalities (死亡) have numbered in the millions, and that earthquake-related destruction has been beyond calculation. The greater part of such damage and loss of life had been due to collapse of buildings and the effects of rockslides, floods, fire, disease, tsunamis, and other observable events resulting from earthquakes, rather than from quakes themselves.
The great majority of all earthquakes occur in two specific geographic areas. One such area covers the Pacific Ocean and its bordering landmasses. The other extends from the East Indians to the Atlas Mountains, including the Himalayas, Iran, Turkey and the Alpine regions. It is in these two great belts or zones that ninety percent of all earthquakes take place; they may, however, happen anywhere at any time.
This element of unknown has for centuries added greatly to the dead and horror surrounding earthquakes, but in recent times there have been indications that earthquake forecast may be possible. By analyzing changes in animal behavior, patterns of movements in the earth's shell, variations in the earth's force of attraction, and the frequency with which minor earth shakes are observed, scientists have shown increasing success in expecting when and where earthquakes will strike. As a result, a worldwide earthquake warning network is already in operation and has helped to prepare for (and thus lessen) the vast destruction that might otherwise have been totally unexpected.
It is doubtful that man will ever be able to control earthquakes and get rid of their destructiveness altogether, but as how and why earthquakes happen become better understood, man will become more and more able to deal with their possible damage before they occur.
60. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Earthquakes destruction is declining.
B. Man is capable of conquering earthquakes.
C. Man is no longer fearful of earthquakes.
D. Earthquake forecast is improving.
61. We can infer from the passage that quakes _______ .
A. mostly strike in oceans and mountains
B. may happen anywhere at any time
C. are unperceivable in masses of land
D. are hardly the direct cause of fatalities
62. The underlined phrase "This element of unknown" in Paragraph 3 refers to__.
A. the extension of earthquake zones
B. the percentage of earthquake occurrences
C. when and where earthquakes may occur
D. what big damage earthquakes may cause
63. Man's research on earthquake forecast at present is to _________ .
A. lower the frequency of earthquakes
B. release the energy that causes earthquakes
C. reduce the loss from earthquake disasters
D. analyze the relationship between different earthquakes
