【推荐1】Earthquakes may happen anywhere on the earth. When some plates(版块) of the earth move suddenly, an earthquake happens. Many earthquakes begin under the sea. They often happen near the mountains (山脉), too.

During an earthquake, the shakings make rocks rise suddenly and even crack(断裂) open. Houses fall, people are killed or hurt, and sometimes the whole villages or cities are destroyed(破坏).

Can we do something to keep ourselves safe from earthquakes? Scientists have studied earthquakes and made maps that show the “earthquake belts”. In areas in these belts, it’s possible for earthquakes to happen. In these areas we should build strong houses to fight against (对抗) earthquakes.

In the future, scientists will be able to tell when and where an earthquake will be before they happen. They can also tell people what to do and how to do it.

Do you know what makes lightning（闪电）?Why does lightning strike（击打）?

Lightning strikes happen when ice and water in clouds rub（摩擦）together, and cause atmospheric（大气层的）changes. When this happens, it creates a static charge（静电）．Lightning can strike inside the cloud, between two clouds or between a cloud and Earth. It’s the last kind of strike that is the most dangerous for humans.

Lightning can be very dangerous. Every year, lightning kills people because it can start big fires or because it reaches a temperature of 28, 000 ℃. About 1, 000 people are hit by lightning every year in the United States, and about 100 of them die as a result.

Lightning makes people shocked, and it happens all over the world! Scientists think that there are more than three million lightning strikes every day in the world—that’s thirty strikes every second（秒）. An American man Roy Sullivan, who worked in a park, survived from the most lightning strikes. Between 1942 and 1983, he was hit seven times! And he keeps the highest world record.

Lightning is sure not something to play with. When lightning strikes, it’s best to stay inside a large building. To stay safe, do not stand under trees, on hills or near water. Also, do not lie down on the ground, or the electricity may go through you and cause a heart problem.

【推荐3】Ben could hear strong winds outside his home that afternoon. Black clouds were making the sky very dark. With no light outside, it felt like midnight. The news on TV reported that a heavy rainstorm was in the area.

Everyone in the neighborhood was busy. Ben’s dad was putting pieces of wood over the windows while his mom was making sure the flashlights and radio were working. She also put some candles and matches on the table.

Ben was helping his mom make dinner when the rain began to beat heavily against the windows. After dinner, they tried to play a card game, but it was hard to have fun with a serious storm happening outside.

Ben could not sleep at first. He finally fell asleep when the wind was dying down at around 3:00 a.m. When he woke up, the sun was rising. He went outside with his family and found the neighborhood in a mess. Fallen trees, broken windows and rubbish (垃圾) were everywhere. They joined the neighbors to help clean up the neighborhood together. The storm broke many things apart, but it brought families and neighbors closer together.