Rather than investing in expensive scientific equipment to predict earthquakes, perhaps scientists should spend more time watching their pets.
Many scientists now believe that the behaviour of certain animals could help them to predict certain natural disasters. For example, Chinese scientists in the 1970s thought that reports of farm animals running round in circles might indicate an impending disaster. They decided to evacuate the city of Haichin, which shortly afterwards was hit by a huge earthquake. Thousands of lives were probably saved as a result.
Japanese scientists have also discovered that catfish become livelier several days before moderately strong earthquakes. Many scientists now accept that this can't be pure coincidence; they believe that the explanation may be linked to slight changes in the Earth's magnetic field. Although human beings can't perceive such changes, it is thought that the sensitive nervous systems of some animals must be affected by them. Now scientists must discover exactly which animals are affected in this way, so that more lives can be saved in the future.
1 What is the article about? Answer
A. Using animal behaviour to predict earthquakes.
B. Scientific equipment for predicting earthquakes
C. Saving animals from natural disasters
2 How did Chinese scientists save thousands of lives in Haichin? Answer
A. They heard that farm animals were behaving strangely.
B. They decided to stop the earthquake.
C. They decided to evacuate the city.
3 What have Japanese scientists studied? Answer
A. The behaviour of catfish before earthquakes.
B. The behaviour of catfish during earthquakes.
C. The Earth’s magnetic field.
4 What do many scientists now believe? Answer
A. Animals may be sensitive to changes in the Earth’s magnetic field which occur before earthquakes.
B. Animals are trying to warn people about earthquakes which are going to occur.
C. Animals run around in circles during earthquakes.
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