考研英语（阅读）模拟试卷91.pdf
考研英语(阅读)模拟试卷91
一、阅读(常规阅读理解)(本题共2。题，每题
分,共20分。)
Allnationsagreethatcooperativeeffortsareneededtoshareinresearch(ostudyand
predictearthquakes.InJuly1956thefirstWorldConferenceonarthquakengineering
washeldinTokyo.Althoughvvearealongwayfromconsensusonhowfarweshouldgo
intermsofaddressingscientificquestionswithpotentialapplicationtoearthquake
prediction,manypointoutthatlow-probabilityshort-termforecasts,whilenotjustifying
massevacuationofcities,mayhelpmaintainastateofpreparednessbeneficialin
earthquake-proneareas.Time-dependenthazardmapsalreadyinuseinCaliforniahave
ledtosignificantpracticalbenefitsintermsofincreasedinvestmentinaseismatic
buildingconstruction.However,thereisalsoapotentialdownsidetoidentifyingsome
areasasbeingathighrisk,inthesensethatthismayleadtounwarrantedcomplacencyin
areasidentifiedasbeingatlowrisk.Weremainalongwayfromprovingthatany
earthquakepredictionschemecansucceedbetterthanpredictionsbasedonthestatistics
ofearthquakes,butthisdebatehashighlightedintheclearesttermspossiblethatwhen
scientistsspeakofearthquakeprediction,(heydonotimply(hetypeofaccurateshort
termpredictionthatmightallowpublicevacuationsbeforeanindividualevent.Instead
(hepredictionsimpliedcomeunderthegeneralcategoryofprobabilisticforecastsfora
populationofearthquakes.Aldepthsofseveralmilesinsidetheearth,theweightofrocks
causesgreatpressurewhichsometimescausesrockstobreakandslip,forming
faults(greatcracks).Whenslippageoccurs,shockwavesarefeltandcanbedetectedwith
seismographsthousandsofmilesaway,butitisimportanttonotethatintheend,itisthe
collapseofman-madestructuresthatcausesmostofthedeathanddamage.Whilewe