ESL Podcast 614 – Experiencing an Earthquake

Jamal: Did you feel that?

Keisha: Was that an earthquake?

Jamal: Yes, I think so. Turn on the news.

Newscaster: “Reports are coming in about an earthquake that occurred at 4:35 p.m. in the downtown area. We spoke with a seismologist at the Earthquake Center and learned that the earthquake had a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was near downtown, along one of the major faults, and the seismologist warns that there will be some aftershocks.”

Keisha: Phew! I’m glad the earthquake wasn’t a high-intensity one. I wish they could predict more accurately when those earthquakes are going to happen.

Jamal: Yeah, me, too. I’ve looked around the house and don’t see any damage, though. I guess our house won’t be declared a disaster area.

Keisha: Don’t be too sure. Considering the mess you’ve made in kitchen, it could easily be called a disaster area.

Jamal: In that case, will you be sending aid? I think I’m too tired to do the dishes.

Keisha: You won’t be getting any aid from me. If you’re hoping for a relief effort, you’d better ask the UN.


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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seismologist [saɪzˈmɑlədʒɪst] 地震學家
magnitude 震級 ; 巨大；重大；重要性
epicenter 【地】震中,中心;集中點
fault 【地】斷層
aftershock 餘震
declared 公開宣佈（或聲明、表態）的
aid 幫助；援助
relief effort 救援工作
relief（給災區或交戰地區人民提供的）救濟，救援物品 ; （不快過後的）寬慰，輕鬆；解脫