The Big One原版英文小故事內(nèi)容：

According to geologists1, a huge earthquake will probably hit California within the next 20 years. If it hits a populated area, the number of deaths will greatly exceed the 1,070 deaths caused by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

Three California quakes between 1987 and 1994 killed more than 100 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. From 1994 to 2000, the state spent several billion dollars reinforcing bridges, overpasses2, and buildings. But budget problems have halted these repairs. Today, more than 1,000 schools and hospitals—not to mention thousands of other government and private structures—throughout the state do not meet earthquake standards. Many of these buildings will collapse3 like a house of cards if they are in the immediate4 area of a quake.

As usual, the state is between a rock and a hard place. If schools use their budgets to reinforce their buildings, they will have little money for teachers. Classes will be discontinued. Everyone’s priority, of course, is to keep the schools open.

“All we’re doing is crossing our fingers,” said a state legislator. “But that’s exactly what they did in Louisiana. They could have fixed5 the levee system for about $10 billion. But they didn't; they just crossed their fingers. Now it’s now going to cost $100 billion to rebuild New Orleans. Here in California, we’re saying that we can’t afford the $10 billion. But where are we going to get the $100 billion to rebuild everything afterward6? People never learn. They always close the barn door after the horse escapes.”

1 geologists 地質(zhì)學(xué)家，地質(zhì)學(xué)者( geologist的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )

參考例句：

Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地質(zhì)學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)了地下的寶藏。

Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地質(zhì)學(xué)家研究巖石結(jié)構(gòu)。

2 overpasses n.立交橋，天橋，高架道路( overpass的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )

參考例句：

Is that why they're constructing so many underpasses, overpasses and highways? 那就是他們建這么多天橋、地下通道和公路的原因嗎? 來(lái)自辭典例句

I also find more overpasses and elevated highways have been built. 我也發(fā)現(xiàn)建造了更多人行天橋和高架道路。 來(lái)自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)

3 collapse vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷

參考例句：

The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.國(guó)家的經(jīng)濟(jì)已到了崩潰的邊緣。

The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程師對(duì)橋的倒塌做了一次徹底的調(diào)查分析。

4 immediate adj.立即的;直接的，最接近的;緊靠的

參考例句：

His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近鄰認(rèn)為他們有責(zé)任去拜訪。

We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我們主張立即召開(kāi)這個(gè)會(huì)議。

5 fixed adj.固定的，不變的，準(zhǔn)備好的;(計(jì)算機(jī))固定的

參考例句：

Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你們倆選定婚期了嗎?

Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目標(biāo)一旦確定，我們就不應(yīng)該隨意改變。

6 afterward adv.后來(lái);以后

參考例句：

Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 讓我們先去看戲，然后吃飯。

Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后來(lái)，這男孩成為一個(gè)很有名的藝術(shù)家。