Schools across Arkansas joined in the Great Shake Out Day on Thursday, Oct. 21. It’s an earthquake drill（演练）to improve students’ knowledge and provide education on what to do if an earthquake hits.
Pam Dial, a headteacher, said they like to take part in this drill to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
“I think it makes the kids and teachers excited and it makes me feel excited to be a part of something that’s bigger than just our small school,” she said.
Students had to stop their classwork at 10: 21 a.m. that day when warnings through the speaker saying, “This is an earthquake drill. At this time, we need students to drop, cover and hold. Drop, cover, and hold.” This doesn’t come as a shock, according to Dial, because they’ve taken part in the drill for the past three years.
“I usually share the website with teachers and it just gives them ideas for how to explain it to kids. It also teaches students how to drop, cover and hold so that they will protect their heads and their backs,” she said.
“Drop, cover and hold” are three simple but important steps according to a geologist, Scott Ausbrook, since Arkansas is along an earthquake belt, and earthquakes are an unexpected disaster. “Earthquakes can happen at any time. The state has already had 34 earthquakes this year. While only 10% of those are actually felt by people, education is key for their safety,” he said.
1. What is the Great Shake Out Day?2. How do the kids and teachers feel to join in the drill?
3. Why didn’t the students feel shocked when the drill began?
4. What are the three important steps in the drill?
5. How many earthquakes has Arkansas had this year?
6. 书面表达
假设你是李华，今年5月12日防灾减灾日学校举办了一系列的相关活动。你在美国的笔友Mike对此很感兴趣，请你写信向他介绍。
内容包括：
1.简单介绍两个相关活动；
2.分享你参与活动的感受；
3.活动意义。
作文要求：
1.不得照抄原文；不得在作文中出现学校的真实名称和学生的真实姓名。
2.语句连贯，词数80个左右。 作文开头结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Mike，
On National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Day, our school held a series of activities. I would like to share two of them with you.
Best regards,
Li Hua
