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People in the nation of Haiti are struggling to recover after a powerful earthquake caused massive
destruction there.
Tens of thousands of people in the Caribbean nation were  killed, and many more were injured.
The Presidential Palace, which is like the White House in the US, was among the many government
buildings that collapsed. Hospitals were destroyed, as were countless homes. The disaster added more
suffering to  people already struggling to cope with everyday life. Haiti is one of the poorest nations in
the world.
International aid groups are rushing to provide food, water, and medical aid to Haiti. People
worldwide are donating money to help. Many nations, including the US, are sending aid as well as
money. The US is sending troops to help with rescue and relief efforts, and to police the streets. "This is
a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share, " said US President Barack
Obama.
The earthquake's epicenter-the point on the Earth's surface directly above where it happened-was
about 10 miles from Haiti's capital, PortauPrince. Experts say it was the worst earthquake in the region
in more than 200 years. The earthquake had amagnitudeof 7. 0 on the Richter scale, which is very high. More than 30 aftershocks, or smaller earthquakes, came after the big quake.
Some Americans have a special concern about the situation in Haiti-family and friends. Hundreds of
thousands of people in the US are from Haiti. They are anxiously seeking news of loved ones. And like
other Americans, they are working to help Haiti recover from this disaster.
The earthquake in Haiti occurred on a long fault, or crack in the Earth's surface, which goes across
the island. This underground crack separates two giant tectonic (地壳构造上的) plates, or slabs
( 石板) of rock that make up the Earth's outer layer. Along the fault, the plates slowly rub past one
another in opposite directions. But this movement isn't smooth. The plates'edges get stuck for long
periods of time. Eventually, they may suddenly jerk free. That sudden movement is what results in an
earthquake.
1. From the passage, we can know that the massive earthquake in Haiti did NOT________.
A. make houses collapse
B. cut the country off from outside aid
C. destroy hospitals
D. kill tens of thousands of people
2. Before the earthquake, Haitians were already struggling because________.
A. their country was in a war against the US
B. a tornado recently hit the country
C. most of them are very poor
D. a drought has ruined crops
3. The underlined word "magnitude" refers to________.
A. an earthquake's size or strength
B. how long an earthquake lasted
C. where an earthquake happened
D. when an earthquake happened
4. Which statement of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The earthquake in Haiti is the worst in Caribbean in centuries.
B. The home of the President of Haiti is called the White House.
C. The United States is trying to help Haiti only by sending troops.
D. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are leaving for the US after the earthquake.
5. The last paragraph of the passage is mainly about________.
A. the movement of the Earth
B. the structure of the Earth
C. how to make the earthquake forecast
D. what causes an earthquake

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