【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[听力原文] 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 have numbered in the millions, and that earthquake related destruction has been beyond calculation. The greater part of such damage and loss of life has 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 the 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 Indies 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 the unknown has for centuries added greatly to the dread 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. What may cause the greater damage in earthquakes according to the speaker? 原文讲述地震的重大损失主要是由于房屋的倒塌和其他一些因素，比如岩滑、洪水、大火、疾病和海啸等等，D就是其中之一，故为答案。 短文表明带来更大损失的是其他原因，而不是地震本身，B项不对；A、C原文没有提及。符合“举例处常考”的命题规律。
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[听力原文] According to the speaker, what is the unknown element that adds dread and horror to people? 短文提到“地震随时随地都可能发生”，之后提到this element of unknown，可知unknown element指的就是上一句话。由此可知，A为答案。 B中的precise“准确的”错误；C、D在短文中找不到依据。however提示了听音重点，注意记录。符合“听到什么选什么”原则。