B

The largest earthquake (magnitude里氏 9.5) of the 20th century happened on May 22, 1960 off the coast of South Central Chile.

It generated(生成) one of the most destructive Pacificwide tsunamis(海啸). Near the generating area, both the earthquake and the tsunami were very much destructive, particularly in the coastal area from Concepcion to the south end of Isla Chiloe.

The largest tsunami damage occurred at Isla Chiloe－the coastal area closest to the epicenter(震中). Huge tsunami waves measuring as high as 25 meters arrived within 10 to 15 minutes after the earthquake, killing at least two hundred people, sinking all the boats, and flooding half a kilometer inland.

There was large damage and loss of life at Concepcion, Chile's top industrial city. Near the city of Valdivia, the earthquake and following aftershocks generated landslides which killed 18 people. At the port city of Valparaiso, a city of 200 000, many buildings collapsed. A total of 130 000 houses were destroyed－one in every three in the earthquake zone and nearly 2 000 000 people were left homeless.

Total damage losses, including to agriculture and to industry, were estimated(估计) to be over a half billion dollars. The total number of death related with both the tsunami and the earthquake was never found accurately for the region. Estimates of deaths reached between 490 to 57 002 with no distinction(差别) as to how many deaths were caused by the earthquake and how many were caused by the tsunami. However, it is believed that most of the deaths in Chile were caused by the tsunami.

6. Where did the largest tsunami damage occurred?

A. Concepcion.       B. Isla Chiloe.          C. Valdivia.          D. Valparaiso.

7. What can we learn about the tsunami waves generated by the earthquake?

A. The tsunami waves as high as 25 meters arrived immediately after the earthquake.

B. The tsunami waves killed 200 people and sank all boats.

C. The tsunami waves were very destructive.

D. The tsunami waves flooded half of the inland.

8. What is generally thought the main cause of deaths in Chile?

A. Landslides.        B. The tsunami.        C. Aftershocks.        D. The magnitude 9.5 earthquake.

9. What is the total number of deaths in the earthquake?

A. 2 000 000.      B. Between 490 and 57 002.      C. 200 000.       D. It was hard to know.

10. What does the underlined word “collapsed” probably mean?

A. Was destroyed.       B. Caught fire.         C. Was flooded.         D. Sank.

答案及解析：

6．B.细节题。从文章第二段第三句“The largest tsunami damage occurred at Isla Chiloe－the coastal area closest to the epicenter(震中)．”可以得到答案。

7．C.本题为细节题，考查文章第二段的最后几句。海啸不是arrived immediately而是10～15分钟以后到来，至少200人死于海啸，海啸淹没了half a kilometer inland,故A、B、D3个选项均有误。

8．B.最后一段的最后一句However, it is believed that most of the deaths in Chile were caused by the tsunami.说明本题答案。

9．D。细节题。2 000 000为无家可归人的数目；200 000为the city of Valparaiso的人口数；490 to 57 002为地震和海啸共同导致的死亡数。

10．A.由本段的下一句“A total of 130 000 houses were destroyed...”可以推测出答案。