How to Do with Earthquake?

Ideally,people wouldlike to know when an earthquake is going to happen and how bad it will

be.In both Japan and China,people have long believedthat earthquakes can be forecast. In Japan, scientists have wired theEarth and sea to detect movements.The Chinese

have traditionallywatched animals and plants for warning signs of earthquakes.For example,theChinese have noted that before an earthquake,hens' behavior changes一they

refuse to entertheir cages at night. They have also noticed that snakes come out of the groundto freeze to death and that dogs bark a lot,even normally quiet dogs.Before the

Hanshin earthquakein Japan,therewere reports of large schools of fish swimming near the surface of the water.Certain birds,like pigeons,also seemed to be especially noisy

and were reported tobe flying in unusual patterns before the earthquake.

Perhaps mostinteresting,and most easily measured,is a chemical change in ground waterbefore a quake.Experimental data seem to indicate that the amount ofradon(Rn)in

the water under thesurface of the Earth waxes before an earthquake.

People would alsolike to be able to prevent the great destruction of property caused byearthquakes.After all,most of the people who die in earthquakes are killed byfalling

buildings.Therefore,buildingstructures that can withstand the power of earthquakes is a major concern.Steelseems to be the best material,but not if it is welded to form a

rigid structure.

Many new structuresare built with a new type of steel joint,an I-joint,which appears to be themost durable type of joint. These joints of steel can move without breaking.

Also,to preventproperty damage,architects now design buildings so that the building's columnsand horizontal beams are of equal strength,and vertical support columns are

inserted deep intosolid soil.In addition,many new houses have relatively light roofs and strongwalls.Concrete pillars for highway bridges that previously only had steel rods

inside are nowenclosed in steel.

Besides working toimprove building structures,people in areas where earthquakes are common needto prepare for the possibility of a great earthquake.They should regularly

check and reinforcetheir homes,place heavy objects in low positions,attach cupboards and cabinetsto walls,and fasten doors so that they will not open accidentally during an

earthquake.Why are buildingstructures a major concern for people?

A.Because they canmake buildings pleasing to people's eyes.

B.Because people areoften killed by falling buildings in earthquakes.

C.Because sometimesthey are costly.

D.Because peoplewant to cut budget by designing new types of buildings.