NBC晚间新闻 大地震25年后加州建筑现状

The 6.7 Northridge earthquake killed nearly 60 people in Southern California and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings, damage top 25 billion dollars. Now 25 years later is California better prepare? Much more ready than we were and not nearly as ready as we need to be. There are still cities in California that haven't even gotten rid of their brick buildings.

Buildings that we absolutely know both will fall down and will kill people because they're so heavy. After the quake, 10 billion was spent retrofitting freeways but thousands of older buildings, like many in downtown Los Angeles, still desperately¹ need seismic² upgrades³. Today scientists warn a 7.8 earthquake on Southern California San Andreas Fault could bring down 1,500 buildings and kill 1800 people. 25 years after the big one, many are still living on shaky ground.

当年，发生在美国加州南部的北岭地震导致近60人死亡，摧毁了成千上万座建筑，总损失高达250亿美元。现在，25年过去了，加州准备得更加充足了吗？许多方面准备的比25年前更好了，但是还没有到我们需要的程度。加州的一些城市甚至还没有拆除他们的砖墙建筑。我们绝对知道这种建筑在地震时会倒塌，会造成人员伤亡，因为它们太重了。北岭地震后，有100亿美元被用于改造高速公路，但是数千座老建筑，尤其是洛杉矶市区的很多建筑，仍然迫切需要做抗震升级。今天，科学家们警告说，如果南加州圣安德烈亚斯断层发生7.8级地震，它可以摧毁1500座建筑，导致1800人死亡。虽然北岭大地震过去25年了，但是现在许多人仍然生活在不稳固的地方。

1 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

2 seismic   

a.地震的，地震强度的

参考例句：

• Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves.地震产生两种地震波。
• The latest seismic activity was also felt in northern Kenya.肯尼亚北部也感觉到了最近的地震活动。

3 upgrades   

提升( upgrade的第三人称单数 )； 使（机器、计算机系统等）升级； 提高（设施、服务等的）档次； 提高（飞机乘客、旅馆住客等）的待遇

参考例句：

• Freight trains travel slowly on upgrades into the hills. 火车徐徐向山上驶去。
• This support protocol upgrades all aircraft in a couple of important ways. 这项支援协议对所有的空军单位在很多重要方面上提供了升级。