Geologic Journey 地質之旅‏

People in Taiwan know firsthand the effects of shifting tectonic plates1. To put it simply, the island's residents have survived numerous earthquakes as a result of the Earth's crust2 moving. Who can forget the massive 7.3-magnitude3 quake that destroyed much of the island on September 21, 1999? What's more, images of the death and destruction from the 7.0-magnitude quake in Haiti and the one that registered 8.8 in Chile, both occurring in 2010, also come to mind. 台灣民眾對板塊移動所帶來的影響有親身的體驗。簡單來講，這座島上的居民已經逃過了無數次由於地殼變動所導致的地震。有誰能忘得了那場發生於1999年九月二十一日、重創了泰半寶島的規模7.3的大地震？此外，人們也會憶起同在2010年發生的兩場地震所造成的各種死亡及滿目瘡痍的景象，一是發生在海地的規模7的地震，另一是智利8.8的強震。 　　Some believe the Earth is suffering the wrath4 of Mother Nature, while others claim it is the start of the end of the world. The truth is that these movements in the Earth's crust are easily explained by science. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the Earth's crust consists of big rigid plates that are 80 to 100 kilometers thick. These plates change size and position over time, which causes intense geologic5 activity at the plate edges. These include volcanic eruptions6, tsunamis7, and earthquakes. National Geographic Channel and expert geologist, Dr. Nick Eyles, are on the case as they document the geologic forces that shape our world and our lives in "Geologic Journey." 有些人相信地球正遭受大自然的憤怒反撲，而其他人則聲稱這是世界末日的開端。事實上，這些地殼運動很容易就能用科學來解釋。根據板塊構造學說，地殼是由厚達八十至一百公里的巨大堅硬板塊所組成。這些板塊的大小和位置會隨著時間漸漸改變，因此在板塊邊緣會造成各種劇烈的地質活動。這些地質活動包括火山爆發、海嘯和地震。在《地質之旅》節目中，國家地理頻道和地質專家尼克‧艾爾斯博士正負責把塑造出我們這個世界和當中種種生活面貌的地質力量記錄下來。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. shift　vi. & vt. 移動；轉移（本文中以現在分詞作形容詞用）
My mother shifted her gaze from me to my brother, trying to find out who was lying.
我媽把目光從我身上移到我弟，試著要找出誰在說謊。
2. survive　vt. 倖存於，自……活下來
Kate was thankful that her son survived the accident.
凱特十分慶幸她兒子自意外中生還。
3. massive　a. 大規模的；巨大的
The road was blocked by a massive tree that had fallen.
這條路被一棵倒下來的巨大樹木給堵住了。
4. destruction　n. 毀壞，破壞
The floods brought destruction to the area, leaving many people homeless.
水患摧殘了這片地區，導致許多人無家可歸。
5. register　vt.（儀器）記錄，測得
The thermometer registered as low as -11ºC last night.
昨晚溫度計上所記錄到的最低氣溫為攝氏零下十一度。
6. rigid　a. 堅硬的，堅固的
This huge structure is held up by a rigid steel frame.
這個巨大的結構體是用堅固的鋼鐵骨架支撐起來的。
7. document　vt. 記載，記錄
The film documents the tribe's traditional rituals.
這部影片記錄了那個部落的各種傳統儀式。
8. shape　vt. 使成為某種形狀；使成形
The military has shaped many boys into real men.
當兵讓許多男孩成長為真正的男子漢。

Extra Words

1. tectonic plate　n. 板塊
　 tectonic　a. 地殼（構造）的
　tectonics　n. 地殼構造學
2. crust　n.（某物的）硬外層
3. magnitude　n.（地震）震級，規模
4. wrath　n. 憤怒，狂怒
5. geologic　a. 地質的
　 geologist　n. 地質學家
　 geology　n. 地質學
6. volcanic eruption　n. 火山爆發
7. tsunami　n. 海嘯

Tips In Use

...the 7.0-magnitude quake in Haiti and the one that registered 8.8 in Chile... （……一是發生在海地的規模7的地震，另一是智利8.8的強震。） 　　地震發生後，氣象局通常會立刻發布該次地震的規模，所謂的『地震規模』，指的是一個地震所釋放出來的能量大小，故每個地震只有一個規模值。目前世界通用的地震規模，為美國地震學家芮氏（C. F. Richter）於 1935 年所創立的芮氏規模（Richter magnitude scale），不過一般在使用時，通常只會寫出"Richter scale"。要表達某地震的『芮氏規模為……』，其完整寫法為"register + 數字 + on the Richter scale"。或者如本文中直接寫成"數字-magnitude"亦可。 　The earthquake registered 6.5 on the Richter scale. （這場地震的芮氏規模為6.5。）