Earthquakes usually happen on the edges of large sections of the Earth's plates. These plates slowly move over a long period of time. Sometimes the edges, which are called fault lines, can get stuck, but the plates keep moving. Pressure slowly starts to build up where the edges are stuck and, once the pressure gets strong enough, the plates will suddenly move causing an earthquake.
Generally, before and after a large earthquake there will be smaller earthquakes. The ones that happen before are called foreshocks. The ones that happen after are called aftershocks. Scientists don't really know if an earthquake is a foreshock until the bigger earthquake occurs.
Shock waves from an earthquake that travel through the ground are called seismic waves (地震波). They are most powerful at the center of the earthquake, but they travel through much of the earth and back to the surface. They move quickly at 20 times the speed of sound.
Scientists use seismic waves to measure how big an earthquake is. They use a device called a seismograph to measure the size of the waves. The size of the waves is called the magnitude.
To tell the strength of an earthquake scientists use a scale called the Moment Magnitude Scale or MMS (it used to be called the Richter scale). The larger the number on the MMS scale, the larger the earthquake. You usually won't even notice an earthquake unless it measures at least a 3 on the MMS scale. Here are some examples of what may happen depending on the scale:
4. 0— Could shake your house as if a large truck were passing close by. Some people may not notice.
5. 0—If you are in a car, it may shake. Glasses and dishes may rattle. Windows may break.
6. 0— Items will fall off shelves. Walls in some houses may crack and windows break. Pretty much everyone near the center will feel this one.
7. 0— Weaker buildings will collapse and cracks will occur in bridges and on the street.
8. 0— Many buildings and bridges fall down. Large cracks in the earth.
9. 0 and up— Whole cities flattened and large-scale damage.
Vietnam aims to solve the relations between economic development and cultural preservation. Vietnamese cultural departments and activists have tried to preserve the historical and cultural relics in the country.
Vietnam now has more than 40,000 historical relics. These relics of various forms and history are treasures for future generations.
However, hundreds of relics are severely damaged due to the negative influence of time, war and human activities. Head of Hanoi Relics Management Board, Nguyen Doan Tuan, says rescue work must preserve the relics' soul: "We cannot replace ruined construction with new materials. We must preserve its shape, size and style. We need to pay attention to every brick replaced so that it looks exactly like the original. "
Most relics have to rely on tourist fee for repair and rescue work. Director of Van Mieu Cultural and Science Center, Dang Kim Ngoc, says that the relics must be promoted widely to attract more visitors and bring in more income for repair and preservation: "We provide constant guide services for visitors so that they understand more about our relics. At the same time, a natural surroundings of the relic has been ensured, including the grass field and garden to improve its scenic value. "
The local government agreed that the relics must be turned to the community for shared efforts in the preservation work. Director of Vietnam Revolution Museum DangQuoc Quan, said that the community must be guided in the preservation and protection, "The UNESCO aims to let local community take part in the preservation of relics. We have seen limitations in the preservation of relics, especially festival related groups of buildings. This requires management and guidance by the government. "
Nguyen ThiMinh Ly from the Department of Heritage says the community should be guided in proper behaviors towards relics: "This will ensure the protection of cultural relics in later generations. Creative restoration (修复) must be based on previous values. "
Experts have called for a systematic (系统的) guidance by the state in local level preservation while promoting creative thinking in restoration for each relic.
Today tropical rainforests are disappearing from the face of the globe. Despite growing international concern, rainforests continue to be destroyed at a pace over 80,000 acres per day. World rainforest cover now stands at around 2.5 million square miles. Human activities have had an effect on much of this remaining area.
Deforestation of tropical rainforests has a global effect through species extinction, the loss of important ecosystem services and renewable resources, and the reduction of carbon sinks. However, this destruction can be slowed, stopped, and in some cases even reversed. Most people agree that the problem must be solved, but the means are not as simple as building fences around the remaining rainforests or banning the wood trade. Economic, political, and social pressures will not allow rainforests to continue to exist if they are completely closed off from use and development.
So, what should be done? The solution must be based on what is practical, not completely idealistic and depends on developing a conservation approach built on the principle of sustainable use and development of rainforests. Beyond the responsible development of rainforests, efforts to restore damaged forest lands along with the establishment of protected areas are key to securing rainforests for the long-term benefits they can provide for mankind.
Historic approaches to rainforest conservation have failed, as shown by the increased rate of deforestation. In many regions, closing off forests as untouchable parks and reserves has neither improved the quality of living or economic opportunities for the rural poor, nor stopped forest clearing by illegal woodcutters and developers.
The problem with this traditional approach to preserving wildlands in developing countries is that it fails to develop proper economic motives for preserving the forest. Local people and the government itself must see financial returns to prove the costs of maintain parks from economic activities.
In a world surrounded by bad news, it may feel like an unhappy place sometimes.
If you make even one person smile today, you can help make this world a better place. Here is list of ideas to help you.
In this day and age where everything is sent via the Internet, it's a shock to receive a letter through the post. Putting pen to paper and writing a few words to a friend can be an easy way to make a positive impact.
Requiring some time and research to find the perfect project, volunteering is one of the nicest things you can do. Whether you volunteer at your local youth group or take dogs from shelters for a walk, the simple fact that you are giving up your time to help someone else is incredible. There are so many opportunities.
Tell someone "I love you". It can be anyone. Perhaps you can tell a friend that you appreciate all they are to you, or remind your mum that it's her birthday. Sometimes, in our busy lives we forget to take a moment to tell people what they mean to us.
Whether you're creative or not, taking time to make something for someone else shows how much you appreciate them. Even if you think you're not creative, the recipient will feel lucky to get such a unique gift that you put your precious time into. Some ideas could include a card, painting, drawing, song, poem or cake!
A. However, you can make a difference.
B. It's a surprise to send a handwritten letter.
C. And you don't even have to say "I love you".
D. So you are sure to find one that is right for you.
E. And it doesn't necessarily have to take up all your life.
F. Making something for a special person is always unique.
G. Even a postcard with a couple of sentences could really make someone's day.
One of my neighbors used to have a beautiful tree in her front yard. Her dad had planted it for her 1 it was nothing more than a little branch and several years later it started to 2towards the sky at an amazing speed. Soon it blessed her with cooling shade in the 3 and glorious, golden leaves in the fall.
When the two-day snowstorm struck our town, heavy snow 4 the tree's branches that were still full of leaves. The weight split that lovely tree down the 5. It was so sad seeing half of it 6 on the ground after the storm. When I talked to my neighbor later, she said that the damage had been too much and that the 7 tree would have to be cut down. 8 she had saved a few seedlings from it that she hoped to 9 in the future.
Still, it was a shock to drive by her house the other day and see 10 but a stump (树桩) in her front yard. I missed that tree. I missed its branches, its leaves 11 in the afternoon sun. I missed seeing its limbs reach towards the heavens. I thought that the stump would be a sad 12 of its loss for a long time to come. My wonderful neighbor, 13, had another plan. When I drove by her home today I saw a tiny bird feeder sitting on that stump and a colorful songbird having its14. It was such an affirmation (肯定) of 15. It was such a joy to see. I could feel my heart 16.
Life by its very nature is a 17 bag. It hands us both beauty and tragedy, love and loss, 18 and pain. What we do with it, however, is up to us. We can let it 19 us in two, or we can use even its hardest times to make our 20 stronger and our hearts more loving. We can spend it complaining or we can use it to help others.
In Asia, especially the so-called "rice bowl" cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, food is usually eaten with(chopstick).
Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also (make) of plastic or mental. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. (true) elegant chopsticks might be with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hardwoodsmetal to create special designs.
Five thousand years ago, Chinese people probably cooked their food in large pots,(use) branches to remove it. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with branches gradually turned into chopsticks.
Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, who lived 551 to 479 BC, influenced the (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and (be) too violent for use at the table.
Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, most people traditionally eat their hands.
Friends are special people who we share our lives with, and who share their lives with us in return. But seeking friends and keeping the friendship going are never easy. According to research recently published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, the key is to use "we-talk".
The research reviewed and analyzed 30 different studies involving over 5,000 participants. This largest-ever analysis of "we-talk" suggested that the frequent use of "we" and "us" is linked to happier and healthier relationships. The word "we" moves people from an individual position into a partnership, which makes us more interdependent (相互依赖的). "The pronouns offer an insight into whether people see themselves as individuals or as part of a whole. Word use is a window into what people are thinking and feeling without asking them," Megan Robbins told Science Daily. The research also found that "we-talk" is helpful for resolving conflicts. The primary point is that interdependence may bring about supportive and relationship-centered behaviors and positive acknowledge of the partner — especially important in times of stress and conflict.
Contrary to "we-talk", there is "I-talk", which refers to the frequent use of first singular pronouns, such as "me", and "mine", when writing or speaking. Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Arizona, US, analyzed a set of data that came from 4,700 people in Germany and the US. They found that too much "I-talk" was an accurate verbal marker for the likelihood that someone is feeling stressed or experiencing negative emotions.
As you can see from the studies, too much "I-talk" can make you feel depressed. But "we-talk" can encourage you to become more positive and created a chain action of healthy interdependence with others. So next time you're talking to a friend, try using more "we-talk". You may find yourself feeling more positive — and the effect it will have on your friend will be positive as well.
