READ THE PASSAGE AND CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER (14PTS) AN EARTHQUAKE IS A SHAKING MOVEMENT OF THE GROUND, (12) BY THE SLIPPAGE OR RUPTURE OF A FAULT WITHIN THEEARTH'S CRUST

11. A. honor

B. hedge

C. exhaust

D. honest

C. Reading: Read the passage and choose the best answer (14pts)

An earthquake is a shaking movement of the ground, (12) by the slippage or rupture of a fault within the

Earth's crust. Every year more than 3 million earthquakes take place, most of these unnoticed by humans. In

(13) , a severe earthquake is the most frightening and can occur anywhere on the surface of our planet!

(14) usually lasting only seconds, a severe earthquake in a densely populated area may have

effects causing the (15) of hundreds of people, injuries, destruction and enormous damage to the

economies of the affected areas.

A lot of people have been killed (16) earthquakes although scientists (17) able to predict and

forewarn in advance and engineers construct earthquake-safe buildings. (18) , earthquakes often occur in

countries which are unable to afford earthquake-safe construction.