EARTHQUAKES

As the name suggests, an earthquake is a shaking of the earth which may range from an
imperceptible tremor to a catastrophically violent shock. Seismology, as the scientific study of
earthquakes is called, is one of the youngest of the natural sciences, but despite its brief life span, great
progress has been made in explaining the origin and mechanics of earthquakes. Although precise
prediction of disturbances may never be realized, the knowledge mow available is sufficient to enable
the civil engineer to estimate the danger in any given locality, and, if necessary, precautionary
measures can be taken.
Structural safety and local stability of the ground . A study of past earthquakes indicates that
damage is usually much greater on soft sands and other loose materials than on hard rock. For example
in the San Francisco quake of 1906 it was found that damage was generally five to ten times greater on
soft moist sands, loose sediments, and filled land over old swamps than on hard ground.
In addition to greater vibrations occurring in loose material that in hard rock, if a structure is
placed on yielding materials, in the event of an earthquake, the inertia of the structure may cause it to
settle into the foundation medium. In certain types of structures, serious damage may result from this
cause. The process is very similar to vibrational methods of foundation stabilization in use by
engineers. In Japanese earthquakes it has been found that rigid structures on loose materials far better
than non rigid types.
Area of damage. It has been concluded from the record of past earthquakes that about 2000 to
2500 square miles is the maximum area of serious damage, even in severe shocks. Even the greatest
earthquakes seldom cause damage over 25 miles from the epicenter. Like almost every other general
statement, it would be easy to cite exceptions to this rule. The most conspicuous exception is the
Assam, India earthquake of June 1897, in which damage of clasa X Rossi-Forrel extended on an
average of 70 miles from the center of disturbance. This earthquake is, however, one of the most
violent known.
Explanatory notes:
Range rindm sir, intindere, gama, domeniu, limite
Range of the voice registru al vocii
Range of colours gama de culori
Beyond my range in afara posibilitatilor mele
Within my range cit pot eu sa cuprind
To range a alinia, a orindui,
His thoughts ranged over the past gindurile ii rataceau in trecut
Life span durata de existenta
Span deschidere
Loose material materiale necorozive, libere
Yielding materials materiale care cedeaza
Filled land rambleu, umplutura
Exercises
I.
Ask six questions about the text and answer them.
II.
Translate into English:
Repartizarea cutremurelor: Studiind repartizarea (distribution) cutremurelor in timpul perioadei
1904-1940, se va observa ca regiunile seismice active ale pamintului se impart in patru zone bine
conturate. (well-marked).

III.

Fill in the blanks:

Mr. Black is older his wife. Mrs. Black is not tall her husband. This building is much
larger our house. he is as old his cousin. The Danube is not long the Nile.
IV.
Insert the right form of the adjectives and adverbs in brackets, add conjunctions
where necessary.
Timisoara is a /small/ city Bucharest. He is the /young/ of the family. This is /good/ doing
nothing. All are pretty, but she is /beautiful/ of all. The Atlantic is /big/ the Pacific. The /long/ nights
are in winter. The /soon/ this done, the /good/. The /big/ the buildings, the /many/ flats it will have.
V.
Comment the following saying:
An archeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more he is
interested in her.