单选题 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(gigantic sea waves), 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 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 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 earthshakes are observed, scientists have shown increasing success in expecting when and where earthquakes will strike. As a resuit, 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.
单选题 Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 这是一道判断题。从文章第三段第二句“…scientists have shown increasing success in the expecting when and where earthquakes will strike．”意思为：科学家对地震发生时间和地点的预测越来越准确。也就是说地震预测得到改进。故D项准确。
单选题 We can infer from the passage that quakes ______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查考生的推理能力。文中所举的两个地震带一个在海洋地区一个在山脉地区，由此我们可以借此推测出地震多发生在海洋和山脉地区。故选D。
单选题 The phrase" this element of the unknown" ( paragraph 3 ) refers to ______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[解析] 释义题。结合上文来看，上文提到地震可能发生在任何地点任何时间，所以这里所说的不确定性指的是地震发生的时间和地点。故选A。
单选题 Man"s research on earthquake forecast at present is to ______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。由文章最后一句话“人类越来越有能力在地震发生之前处理地震可能造成的损失。”与C项表述一致。故答案为C。
单选题 Which of the following describes the author"s purpose in writing the passage?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 这道题主要是考查考生对文章主旨的提炼能力。本文是一篇科普性文章。先后阐述了地震的破坏力、发生的主要区域及预测，目的是向读者告知一些地震方面的知识。故 C项“给读者提供信息”正确。