2 .

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 (沙子), buses and cars all move much more slowly. Sometimes, people can’t even see for 20 meters. Sandstorms usually happen in spring. They have happened in more than 10 provinces in northern China this year.

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 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 also tear down farmers’ houses.

To stop sandstorms, you can 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.

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.

5 . 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.

7 . 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