Module 3　The Violence of Nature

　　【美文阅读】　

　　Four natural disasters

　　A natural disaster is defined as a natural

　　hazard，which has a negative effect on human beings.Though some of the natural disasters are geological，many of them are due to changes in the climatic conditions.Given below are some of the very important natural disasters.

　　Blizzard(暴风雪)

　　A severe winter storm is known as a blizzard.Strong winds，heavy snowfall and low temperatures characterize a blizzard.A blizzard that occurred in 1888 killed over 400 people in the northeastern States.This blizzard is known Great Blizzard of 1888.

　　Flood

　　A flood is a natural disaster as it results in the death of human beings and animals.Crops are destroyed in the flood，which gradually results in increased food prices due to food

　　 shortages.In a flood situation，drinking water becomes scarce because water is polluted.Due to this，many diseases can spread.

　　Fire

　　 Fire is terrible especially forest fire.Forest fire is also known as wildfire.It is a natural disaster caused by a volcanic eruption or by human carelessness.Wildfire can threaten wildlife and the human habitation close to the forest.

　　Earthquake

An earthquake occurs when the tectonic(地壳构造的) plates that form the upper crust of the earth collide or slide against each other.When the tectonic plates collide against each other，the stress is released.It is true that animals can sense earthquakes before they occur. However，the behavior of animals cannot be used as a method to predict an occurrence of an earthquake.