地震，這個自然界的巨大力量，以其不可預測和破壞性而聞名。盡管我們無法阻止地震的發(fā)生，但了解它們的成因、特點和影響，可以幫助我們更好地準備和應對。

What is an earthquake?

Earthquakes, also called temblors, can be so tremendously destructive, it’s hard to imagine they occur by the thousands every day around the world, usually in the form of small tremors.

地震的另一個表達是“temblors”，是有可能造成極大破壞力的災難。但其實你知道嗎?世界上各個角落每天都在發(fā)生著的小型地震多到難以計數(shù)。

Some 80 percent of all the planet's earthquakes occur along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, called the "Ring of Fire" because of the preponderance of volcanic activity there as well. Most earthquakes occur at fault zones, where tectonic plates—giant rock slabs that make up the Earth's upper layer—collide or slide against each other. These impacts are usually gradual and unnoticeable on the surface; however, immense stress can build up between plates. When this stress is released quickly, it sends massivevibrations, called seismic waves, often hundreds of miles through the rock and up to the surface. Other quakes can occur far from faults zones when plates are stretched or squeezed.

世界上80%的地震和火山發(fā)生在環(huán)太平洋火山地震帶上。大多數(shù)地震發(fā)生在斷層帶——也就是大陸板塊的交界處，當兩塊板塊移動相撞的時候就會引發(fā)地震或火山爆發(fā)這類地質(zhì)災害。盡管我們并無法感覺到板塊之間碰撞力量的積聚，但是當板塊摩擦力量積聚到一定程度的時候就會引起迅速的釋放。當?shù)卣鸢l(fā)生的時候，地震波會通過巖石從數(shù)百里外傳達到地表引起振動。而不發(fā)生在斷層帶上的地震則屬于另一類地震，它們是由板塊擴張或壓縮所引起的。

Scientists assign a magnitude rating to earthquakes based on the strength and duration of their seismic waves. A quake measuring 3 to 5 is considered minor or light; 5 to 7 is moderate to strong; 7 to 8 is major; and 8 or more is great.

根據(jù)地震的強度和地震波的輻射范圍，科學家把地震分成不同的級別：3-5級是輕震，5-7級是中級強度，7-8級被定義為大地震，8級以上就是特大地震了。

On average, a magnitude 8 quake strikes somewhere every year and some 10,000 people die in earthquakes annually. Collapsing buildings claim by far the majority of lives, but the destruction is often compounded by mud slides, fires, floods, or tsunamis. Smaller temblors that usually occur in the days following a large earthquake can complicate rescue efforts and cause further death and destruction.

一般來說，每年都會發(fā)生一次八級地震，而年均地震死亡人數(shù)也會在1萬人的樣子。地震引起的房屋倒塌通常造成了絕大多數(shù)的傷亡，而地震帶來的危害卻不止于此，還包括由此引發(fā)的泥石流、火災、洪災和海嘯。在一次大地震過后的數(shù)日里總是會發(fā)生一些規(guī)模稍小的余震，有的余震也同樣會造成傷亡。

Loss of life can be avoided through emergency planning, education, and the construction of buildings that sway rather than break under the stress of an earthquake.

想要減少地震傷亡，一方面可以通過實施緊急預案和地震知識普及教育，另一方面，提高房屋的抗震系數(shù)也顯得同樣重要：因為高抗震系數(shù)的建筑物可以在地震來襲之時搖而不倒。

翻譯亮點

例句一
Earthquakes, also known as temblors, are natural events that can cause immense destruction. It’s hard to imagine that thousands occur daily around the world, usually as minor tremors.
翻譯亮點：通過使用“natural events”和“immense destruction”來強調(diào)地震的自然屬性和潛在破壞力，同時使用“it’s hard to imagine”來表達對地震普遍性的驚訝。

例句二
Collapsing buildings are the primary cause of fatalities, but the destruction is often compounded by mudslides, fires, floods, or tsunamis.
翻譯亮點：通過使用“the primary cause”和“compounded by”來強調(diào)建筑物倒塌是造成傷亡的主要原因，并且指出其他災害如何加劇了地震的破壞。

例句三
Loss of life can be minimized through emergency planning, education, and the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings.
翻譯亮點：通過使用“minimized”和“through”來強調(diào)通過緊急預案、教育和建筑抗震設計來減少地震造成的傷亡，同時使用“earthquake-resistant”來強調(diào)建筑的抗震能力。