Earthquake Hits Indonesia and Solomon Islands
Up to 2000 people are feared dead on Indonesia’s Nias island of the west coast of Sumatra following at 8.7 magnitude earthquake that struck overnight. The shock came just before midnight destroying most of the buildings on the island. Death toll estimates vary widely from about 200 to ten times the original number. Ten of thousands of people in Malaysia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka had fled their houses in panic at the first tremors, fearing a repeat of last year’s devastating tsunami that killed over 200000 people. People grabbed small bags of clothes as they fled their tents and homes. Many were crying and jumping into cars and onto motorbikes and pedicabs to head for higher ground, the associated press reported. Governments from Malaysia to Sri Lanka ordered mass evacuations of their coastlines. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said the quake had the potential to cause a “widely destructive tsunami” and authorities should take “immediate action” including evacuating coastline within 600 miles of the epicenter. However, before dawn, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India had cancelled the alerts. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told reporters a few hours after the quake that the UN offices throughout the area hit by last year’s tsunami were immediately put on alert and the government acted appropriately in warning the people. He said that although no tidal wave was reported this time, the shocks were a wakeup call for an effective early – warning system. Another report said that a strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake in the Solomon Islands caused panic in the capital. The quake struck at a depth of just 1.8 kilometers below the sea and 73 kilometers southwest of Honiara, the capital of the Pacific island. They said there was violent shaking for nearly a minute when the quake struck at 7.39 pm. The houses were shaking, people were shouting, there was a bit of panic. Most of the families moved away from the coastline in the capital in the immediate aftermath of the quake. The western Solomon Islands were hit by a massive 8.0 – magnitude earth-quake and tsunami not long ago, leaving more than 50 dead and thousands displaced. Grammar study: Participle I. Present Participle Active кроме функции определения к существительному выполняет функцию обстоятельства образа действия и в этом случае соответствует русскому деепричастию (с окончаниями –я, -а). Sample: The shock came just before midnight destroying most of the buildings on the island. – Толчок произошел как раз около полуночи, разрушая многие здания на острове. Exercise 2 . Translate Participle I in the sentences: 1. Thousands of people fled their houses, fearing a repeat of last year’s devastating tsunami. 2. The islands were hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami, leaving a number of dead and thousands displaced. 3. The authorities should take “immediate action” including evacuating coastline.
Exercise 3 . Define the form of the – ing words in the text: building, fearing, devastating, crying, jumping, warning (twice), including, evacuating, shaking (twice), shouting, leaving.
Exercise 4. Insert the proper word into the sentence. 1. Not long ago earthquake (большой силы) hit Indonesia. 2. (Толчок) came before midnight and (разрушать) most of the buildings. 3. People fled their houses at the first (толчки). 4. Last year’s (опустошительный) tsunami killed over 200000 people. 5. (Власти) ordered mass evacuations of their (береговая линия). 6. The government (быть наготове) and acted (предупреждать) the people. 7. There was (ужасный толчок) for nearly a minute when (землетрясение) struck. 8. A massive earthquake and tsunami left thousands of people (без крова). Exercise 5 . Translate into English. 1. В южных частях земного шара часто случаются землетрясения. 2. Землетрясения могут быть большой силы и вызывать разрушения. 3. Как правило, результатом землетрясения являются цунами. 4. Последствиями этих природных явлений становятся разрушения и гибель людей. 5. Люди боятся толчков и покидают дома в спешке. 6. Очень важно быть наготове и предупредить людей об опасности. 7. Своевременное предупреждение может спасти многие жизни. 8. Последствия землетрясения или цунами могут быть разрушительными.
Exercise 6. Read the additional text and translate it without dictionary.
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