導讀：

　　After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage and death toll(死亡人數) could have been much worse. More than 60 people died in this earthquake.(The damage and death toll could have been much worse.此句為虛擬語氣，“地震所造成的傷亡和損失本來應該更大�！闭f明實際上這次地震的損失并不大。)By comparison, an earthquake of similar M)intensity that shook America in 1998 claimed 25,000 victims.(這句的主干是an earthquake...claimed...25,000 victims。)

　　Injuries and deaths were G)relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:31 a.m. On a holiday, when traffic was light on the city’s highway. In addition, A)changes made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways, making them more I)resistant to quakes.

　　In the past, making structures quake-resist-ant meant firm yet B)flexible materials, such as steel and wood, that bend without breaking. Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to F)reduce the impact of ground vibrations. The most D)recent designs give buildings brains as well as concrete and steel supports, called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an earthquake’s vibrations. When ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer would K)force the building to shift in the opposite direction. The new designs should offer even greater N)security to cities where earthquakes ofen take place.(In the past...,Later...,The most...designs,這里是一個世間順序上的描述，說明了從以前到現在，建筑物的結構一直在不斷變化。)

　　The new smart structures could be very J)expensive to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.

　　【全文翻譯】

　　1994年洛杉磯發生強烈大地震后，地震學家報告了一個好消息：地震所造成的傷亡和損害并不大。此次地震有60多人喪生。相較而言，美國1998年發生的相似強度的地震造成的傷亡多達25，000人。

　　洛杉磯地震傷亡人數相對較少，是因為地震發生在凌晨4：31，而當天是個假日。當時城市公路上的車輛稀少。此外，在過去的20年中洛杉磯市對建筑法規所做的修訂使城市的建筑和道路系統更加堅固，增強了抗震能力。

　　在過去，防震建材指的是堅固并且有彈性的材料，如鋼材和木材，它們即使彎曲也不會折斷。后來，人們嘗試著將建筑物從地基上提起來，然后在建筑物和地基之間填充橡膠和鋼材，從而減少地面震動對建筑物的影響。最新的建筑設計不僅為建筑提供水泥和鋼筋支撐，而且還賦予它智能，從而成為智能建筑，讓建筑物能像生命有機體那樣對地震做出反應。當地面震動而導致建筑物頂部向前傾斜時，計算機將會迫使建筑物向相反方向移動。這種新的建筑設計能夠使處于地震多發區的城市更為安全。

　　這種新型的智能型建筑造價高昂。然而，它可以挽救許多人的生命，而且在地震中不大可能受到損害。

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