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Huge Earthquakes Hit Northern Venezuela
委内瑞拉北部遭强震袭击
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Huge Earthquakes Hit Northern Venezuela
委内瑞拉北部遭强震袭击
上周三，委内瑞拉发生了两次强烈地震，造成 500 多人丧生。由于震源深度较浅，震感异常强烈，许多设计脆弱的公寓楼不堪一击，纷纷倒塌。特别是拉瓜伊拉市的建筑物，因经历了如叠饼般的“饼干式倒塌”，导致人员伤亡惨重。目前，该地区已被宣布为灾区，出于对二次坍塌的恐惧，数千名居民仍不敢回家。
More than 500 people died in Venezuela
委内瑞拉已有 500 多人遇难。More than 500 500 多名 / died 遇难
after two massive earthquakes hit on Wednesday.
这是在周三发生两次强震之后的情况。massive earthquakes 强震 / hit 发生
The quakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude
经测量，两次地震的震级分别为 7.2 级和 7.5 级。measured 测量的 / in magnitude 震级
and were very close to the surface.
震源距离地表非常近。close to the surface 靠近地表
Because they were shallow, the shaking was extremely strong.
由于震源深度较浅，震感异常剧烈。shallow 浅的 / shaking 震动 / extremely strong 极其强烈
This caused many apartment towers to suffer a pancake collapse.
这导致许多公寓楼出现了饼干式倒塌，层层堆叠在一起。apartment towers 公寓楼 / suffer 遭受 / pancake collapse 饼干式倒塌
In this deadly failure, columns break and floors fall
在这种致命的坍塌中，支柱断裂，楼层像叠盘子一样坍塌。deadly failure 致命破坏 / columns break 支柱断裂 / floors fall 楼层坍塌
on top of each other like a stack.
各层建筑材料就像一叠物品一样交错堆积在一起。on top of each other 相互堆叠 / like a stack 像一叠一样
Experts say many buildings in the city of La Guaira
专家表示，拉瓜伊拉市的许多建筑，Experts say 专家表示 / city of La Guaira 拉瓜伊拉市
used weak designs that could not handle the energy.
采用了无法抵御地震能量的脆弱设计。weak designs 脆弱设计 / handle the energy 抵御能量
By contrast, countries like Chile use thick structural walls
相比之下，像智利这样的国家会使用厚实的承重墙，By contrast 相比之下 / thick structural walls 厚实的结构墙（承重墙）
to keep their buildings from falling down.
以防止建筑物倒塌。keep from 预防，防止 / falling down 倒塌
The government has now declared La Guaira a disaster zone.
政府目前已宣布拉瓜伊拉为灾区。declared 宣布 / disaster zone 灾区
Thousands of residents are afraid to go back home
数千名居民因恐惧而不敢回家。Thousands of residents 数千名居民 / afraid to 害怕…… / go back home 回家
because they fear more buildings will fall.
因为他们担心还会有更多建筑倒塌。fear 恐惧，担心 / buildings will fall 建筑倒塌
Engineers are now inspecting structures and using safety tags.
工程师们正在检查建筑结构并张贴安全标识。inspecting structures 检查结构 / safety tags 安全标识
Even if a building is standing, it may be unsafe.
即使建筑尚未倒下，也可能是不安全的。Even if 即使 / standing 矗立，未倒 / unsafe 不安全
Many of these damaged homes will soon be demolished.
许多受损的房屋很快将被拆除。damaged homes 受损房屋 / soon 很快 / be demolished 被拆除
Quiz 🧠
Q1. Earthquakes close to the surface usually cause stronger shaking on the ground.
查看答案
✅ True
发生在靠近地表的地震能量传递到地面时更为强烈，因此造成的震动也更大。
Shallow earthquakes happen near the surface, so their energy reaches buildings with much more force.
Q2. What does 'demolish' mean in 'demolish old buildings'?
查看答案
✅ Tear down completely
'demolish'是指将建筑物或结构物彻底拆除、推倒的意思。
To demolish a structure means to destroy it or knock it down completely.
Q3. After a major earthquake, why do engineers inspect buildings that are still standing?
查看答案
✅ To find hidden damage
这是为了确认建筑物虽然外观看似完好，但内部是否存在裂缝或结构受损等倒塌隐患。
A building can look fine outside but still have broken support beams that make it dangerous.
Dialogue 🎧
Liam: I can't stop thinking about those photos from the Venezuela earthquakes.
Liam: 我脑子里全是委内瑞拉地震现场的照片，挥之不去。
Olivia: I know, the damage in La Guaira is absolutely heartbreaking to see.
Olivia: 是啊，看到拉瓜伊拉的受灾情况，真的让人心痛。
Liam: The news says over 500 people have died already.
Liam: 新闻说已经有 500 多人遇难了。
Olivia: Two massive quakes hit back-to-back on Wednesday.
Olivia: 毕竟周三接连发生了两次大地震啊。
Liam: 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude... that is incredibly powerful.
Liam: 震级分别是 7.2 和 7.5……这威力真是太惊人了。
Olivia: It is, and both were very close to the surface.
Olivia: 没错，而且两次地震的震源都离地面非常近。
Liam: So that made the shaking feel even stronger on the ground?
Liam: 所以地面感受到的震动才会那么剧烈吧？
Olivia: Exactly, these shallow quakes cause much more destruction than deep ones.
Olivia: 正是如此。这种浅源地震比深层地震的破坏力要大得多。
Liam: I saw those apartment towers just flattened into piles of concrete.
Liam: 我看到很多公寓楼完全坍塌成了混凝土堆。
Olivia: Engineers call that a pancake collapse.
Olivia: 专家把那种现象称为‘饼干式倒塌’（pancake collapse）。
Liam: So the floors just stack on top of each other?
Liam: 就是说各楼层像叠饼一样，一层接一层地垮掉了吗？
Olivia: Yes, when columns break, the floors fall like a deck of cards.
Olivia: 对，支柱一旦断裂，楼板就会像纸牌屋一样层层坠落。
Liam: That is a terrifying thought for anyone living in a high-rise.
Liam: 对住在高层建筑里的人来说，这画面光是想想都觉得恐怖。
Olivia: Experts say some buildings used weak designs that couldn't handle the energy.
Olivia: 专家分析说，拉瓜伊拉有些建筑的设计非常脆弱，根本承受不住地震的冲击力。
Liam: But I thought Chile uses a different method for their buildings?
Liam: 但我听说像智利这样的国家，建筑方式是不一样的？
Olivia: They do, they use thick structural walls to keep them standing.
Olivia: 是的，智利会使用厚实的承重墙来防止建筑物倒塌。
Liam: Now the government has declared La Guaira a disaster zone.
Liam: 政府最终还是宣布拉瓜伊拉为灾区了。
Olivia: Thousands of residents are currently too afraid to go back home.
Olivia: 数千名居民因为害怕，至今都不敢回家。
Liam: I would be terrified too if my building was full of cracks.
Liam: 如果我住的楼房到处是裂缝，我肯定也不敢进去。
Olivia: Engineers are now inspecting structures and using safety tags.
Olivia: 现在工程师们正在排查建筑结构，并张贴安全等级标识。
Liam: So even if a building is standing, it might be unsafe?
Liam: 也就是说，即使外观看着没倒，里面也可能危机四伏？
Olivia: Precisely, and many of those damaged homes will be demolished soon.
Olivia: 没错。所以很多受损严重的房屋很快就要被拆除了。
Liam: It is just so heavy to think about all those families.
Liam: 想到那些失去家园的人，心里真沉重。
Olivia: It really shows how much building safety matters for saving lives.
Olivia: 这件事让我们再次意识到，为了守护生命，建筑安全是多么重要。