“Beep—beep—beep.” Your phone roars in the dead of night and wakes you up. Adrenaline surges as a low rumble shakes the pictures on the nightstand. Panic threatens, but you remember the earthquake drill you practiced. You drop to the ground, take cover under your desk, and hold on tight. Though the shaking intensifies, relief washes over you because you knew it was coming thanks to the warning. How do we get these precious seconds before an earthquake hits? Enter earthquake early warning systems, life-saving tools that provide a crucial head start for taking cover or evacuating.
Operating through a network of sensors strategically positioned in earthquake-prone regions, earthquake early warning systems detect initial seismic waves with remarkable precision. These waves are split into two categories: primary (P) and secondary (S) waves. P waves travel through the Earth at the highest speeds, preceding the slower but more destructive S waves. After the system senses P waves, it uses this information to assess the earthquake’s approximate location and strength. It then transmits this critical information to individuals and organizations in at-risk areas via mobile applications and other automated communication channels before S waves arrive.
While this system may sound reliable, it has limitations. Because of the speed of P and S waves, the window of opportunity for taking action is inevitably limited, especially in densely populated areas. Additionally, an early warning system alone cannot prevent damage or casualties from earthquakes. Its effectiveness is maximized only when it’s combined with widespread public awareness. It is imperative that the public be thoroughly educated on how to appropriately respond when earthquakes strike, including immediate actions to take, identification of safe locations, and familiarity with evacuation routes.
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
Earthquakes can be destructive and unpredictable. Hopefully, by combining technology with informed action, we can better protect ourselves and our communities from their devastating impact.
「嗶──嗶──嗶。」你的手機在深夜裡大叫著，把你吵醒了。一陣低沉的轟隆聲搖晃著床頭櫃上的照片時，你的腎上腺素激增。驚慌的感覺襲來，但你想起了你曾演練過的地震演習。你趴到地上、在桌子下找掩護，並緊緊抓牢。雖然搖晃愈發劇烈，但你鬆了一口氣，因為幸虧有了警報，你知道地震要來了。我們是如何得到地震來襲前這寶貴的幾秒鐘呢？來看看地震預警系統──這些救命工具提供了找掩護或撤離的關鍵優勢。
地震預警系統透過策略性布置在地震多發區域的一系列感測器來運作，能夠非常精準地偵測到初期的地震波。這些地震波分為兩類：縱波（P波）和橫波（S波）。P 波以最快速度穿過地球，在速度較慢但更具破壞性的 S 波前到來。系統在感知到 P 波後，利用這些資訊評估地震的大致位置和強度。系統接著會透過手機應用程式和其他自動化通訊管道，將這個關鍵資訊傳送給處於風險區域的人和組織，趕在 S 波到來之前發出預警。
儘管這個系統可能聽起來很可靠，但它有限制。由於 P 波和 S 波的傳播速度，採取行動的短暫時機必然是有限的，特別是在人口密集的地區。此外，單靠預警系統無法防止地震造成的損害或人員傷亡。只有當預警系統與大眾對地震廣泛的意識結合時，其效用才能最大化。大眾必須完整地學習在地震來臨時如何適當應對，包括要立即採取的行動、辨識安全地點和熟悉疏散路線。
地震可能會是具有破壞性且無法預測的。希望透過結合科技和充分知情的行動，我們可以更好地保護自己和我們的社區，免於遭受地震毀滅性的影響。
What Did You Learn?
1. How does the author begin the passage?
(A) By describing a scenario when an earthquake strikes.
(B) By detailing what people should do in case of an earthquake.
(C) By outlining the possible damage an earthquake might bring.
(D) By providing the developing history of earthquake early warning systems.
2. What is the correct order of how earthquake early warning systems work when an earthquake strikes?
a. S waves travel through the Earth.
b. Earthquake early warning systems send out warnings.
c. P waves travel through the Earth.
d. Earthquake early warning systems analyze the data.
(A) a → c → d → b
(B) c → a → d → b
(C) a → d → b → c
(D) c → d → b → a
3. What aspect of earthquake early warning systems is NOT discussed in the passage?
(A) What can be done to maximize their effectiveness.
(B) How they help people when an earthquake occurs.
(C) The cost of building one.
(D) The challenges they face.
4. Which of the following is NOT an example of “informed action” mentioned in the last paragraph?
(A) Being aware of evacuation shelters nearby.
(B) Learning how to design an app for earthquake warnings.
(C) Finding cover as soon as receiving an earthquake warning.
(D) Being conscious of the way to escape once an earthquake hits.
答案：
1. A
2. D
3. C
4. B
Word in Use
1. take cover 找到掩護處
It was raining, and I couldn’t find any place to take cover.
當時正在下雨，而我找不到任何地方躲雨。
2. hold on tight 緊緊抓住
Hold on tight. We’re about to go on the wild ride.
抓緊囉。我們刺激的遊樂設施之旅要開始了。
3. wash over sb （感覺）向某人襲來
When her husband showed up after she was in a car accident, a feeling of relief washed over Elaine.
依蓮的丈夫在她出車禍後出現時，她感到如釋重負。
4. with precision 精準地，精確地
precision n. 精確（性），準確（性）
This robot is able to carry out the task with precision.
這臺機器人可以十分精確地執行任務。
5. split sth into... 將某物（劃）分成……
The cake was split into two parts.
這個蛋糕被切成兩塊。
Practical Phrases
1. threaten vi. （不利的事）可能發生∕逼近
The clouds are dark, hinting that a storm is threatening.
烏雲很黑，暗示著暴風雨正在逼近。
2. intensify vi. 變激烈，增強
The drought intensified throughout the month.
那場旱災在這整個月裡加劇。
3. evacuate vi. & vt. 撤離
evacuation n. 撤離
The residents were evacuated to safe areas before the volcano erupted.
居民在火山爆發前被撤離到安全地帶。
The chemical spill prompted an emergency evacuation of local residents.
這次化學物質外洩促使當地居民緊急撤離。
4. precede vt. 先於
Lunch will be preceded by a discussion session.
午餐之前會有一場討論會。
5. destructive a. 毀滅性的
= devastating a.
The greenhouse effect is destructive to the ecology of the Arctic region.
溫室效應對於北極地區的生態具有毀滅性。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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