It was about two o’clock in the early morning     1     21 September, 1999. Tommy was sleeping when the earthquake started. He felt a slight shake, then he     2     a loud noise like thunder. Soon the real noise came, like bombs under the ground. The earth started to     3    . People screamed in fear. Some ran out of the building. He tried his     4     to run out too, but he couldn’t.

Outside, people were running in all directions while pieces of glass and bricks were falling down. Then the     5     began to come down too!

Finally, the noise and shaking ended. It was dark and silent around him. He could not see anything at all, and he did not know if anyone else was near him. He felt     6     and his heart was beating fast. A moment of fear went through his mind, but he told     7     to calm down since he was still alive. He shouted for     8    , but no one came. He started to move slowly in the darkness. Luckily, there was just enough space for him to move.

Hours later, Tommy heard     9     noise above him. He screamed, “Help! Please help! I’m here!” Then he heard shouts from excited people. They     10     moved away the bricks. At last, Tommy was safe.

3 . It was about two o’clock in the early morning. I was sleeping when the earthquake started. At first, I felt a little shake. Then I _________ a loud noise like thunder (雷声).

Soon the real noise came, like bombs (爆炸) under the _________. The building began to shake hard. People shouted and ran out of the building. I tried my best to _________ out too, but I could not. Outside, people were running everywhere _________ pieces of glass and bricks (砖) were falling down. Then the walls began to come down too!

Finally, the noise and shaking _________. It was dark and silent around me. I could see _________, and I did not know if anyone else was near me. I felt afraid and my heart was beating fast. I knew I was in danger, but I told myself to _________.

I shouted for help, but no one came. I started to feel my way through the dark. Luckily, there was just _________ space for me to move.

Hours later, as I was _________ to find my way out, I suddenly heard some noise above me. I shouted, “Help! Please help! I’m here!” Then I heard shouts from excited people. They __________ moved away the bricks. At last, I saw the bright daylight. I was safe.

5 . People want to know when an earthquake is coming to get away safely. But now there is no sure way to know _________ it happens. It may be the best way is to watch the animals. Animals often _________ to know that an earthquake is coming, and they show their fear by _________ in strange ways. Some animals make a lot of noise before an earthquake. Dogs that are usually _________ start to bark. Horses on farms run _________ in circles. Mice leave their _________ and run away. Cows give less milk. In a town in Italy, cats ran down the street in a group. That happened _________ a few hours before an earthquake. In San Francisco, a man kept tiny pet frogs. One Sunday, _________ of the frogs jumped around more than ever. They all made loud noises, like bigger frogs. _________ an earthquake hit the city that night. Before an earthquake in China in 1975, snakes __________ from their winter sleep early. Later they died in the cold air. Some animals can get people away from the dangerous areas and save thousands of lives

8 . Earthquakes usually come without warning. What should you do if this happens to you? An earthquake is dangerous, but there is still something you can do to protect yourself.

Stay calm as the earth begins to shake.

Your chance of survival in an earthquake goes up if you can keep calm. Staying calm is not easy, but it can save your life.

If you are inside when the earthquake starts, hide under a table or a bed.

You need to have something strong over your head to protect you from falling objects. Do not stand near walls or windows and stay out of the kitchen. The kitchen is dangerous because of many glass objects.

If you are outside, get to an open area as fast as you can.

Stay away from buildings and tress. If you are in a car, pull over (靠边停) to a place where there are no trees or tall buildings and stay in the car. If you are close to the sea, try to get as far away from the water as possible. Earthquakes can cause huge waves (浪) that can really harm the people nearby.

When the earthquake is over, there is still plenty of danger.

For example, fires often come with an earthquake. If you see a fire, quickly move outdoors to an open area.

Always remember to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

9 . Everyone tries to get to school on time. But when bad weather gives you trouble, can you still make it before the bell rings?

In northern China during spring, big sandstorms (沙尘暴)often make trouble for students and everyone else. When the sky is dark with sand, buses and cars all move much more slowly. Sometimes, people can’t even see for 20 metres.

Sandstorms usually happen in spring. This year, sandstorms started in late March. They have happened in more than 10 provinces in northern China this year. More than 70 million people have had problems in those places because of the sandstorms.

People in southern China don’t have to worry about this kind of bad weather. Most of the sand comes from Gansu and Inner Mongolia（内蒙古）. In northern China, lots of places have few trees and don’t get much rain. People there have been cutting down too many trees. When there aren’t many trees, the ground can’t keep enough water. Over the years, the ground dries up and turns to sand. When spring comes and the ice melts（融化）, the ground becomes looser（更松散的）. Strong winds take the loose sand into the sky.

Sandstorms are bad for people’s health. If people breathe（呼吸）too much sand, they could cough or have asthma（哮喘）.

Sandstorms also give farmers lots of problems. Sometimes their sheep get lost in the storms and never get back home. The winds alsotear downfarmers’ houses.

What can you do to stop sandstorms? Here’s an idea: Ask your parents to help you plant some trees this spring.

If you see people cutting down too many trees, tell them about the dangers of sandstorms, and ask your government to stop them from cutting.

10 . Typhoons（台风）in the northern part of the world have girls’ names. Sometimes they have very beautiful names. Rose is a pretty name but there was nothing pretty about Typhoon Rose. It was the worst typhoon to hit Hong Kong in more than thirty years.

It began to rain early on the morning of Monday, August 16^th, 1971. At ten o’clock in the morning, Typhoon Rose was still 130 miles away but already the wind was blowing people’s umbrellas away. The wind became stronger and stronger. The typhoon shelters（避风港）were soon full of boats. Ships that were too big to go inside the shelters put down more anchors（锚）. Some very big ships went out to sea. It is safer for a big ship to be at sea in a typhoon because then it cannot be blown onto rocks. Kai Tak Airport closed. No planes were able to take off or land. At 9:00 in the evening, all lights went out.

No one slept well that night. It is difficult to sleep in such bad weather.

In Typhoon Rose, more than one hundred people died. 229 people were injured（受伤）and 66 of these had to go to hospital. 1,500 people lost their homes. The people of Hong Kong will no quickly forget Typhoon Rose!