Head-banging snakes may predict earthquakes

时间：2006-12-29 01:05:38

（单词翻译:单击）

Dec. 28 - China has come up with an earthquake prediction system which relies on the behavior of snakes, Chinese official China Daily said on Thursday, two days after two quakes struck off Taiwan Province.

 

The earthquake bureau in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi autonomous1 region in southern China, had developed its system using a combination of natural instinct and modern technology.

 

Experts at the bureau monitor snakes at local snake farms via video cameras linked to a broadband Internet connection. The video feed runs 24 hours per day.

 

"Of all the creatures on Earth, snakes are perhaps the most sensitive to earthquakes," bureau director Jiang Weisong said.

 

Jiang said snakes, a popular restaurant dish in the south in the winter, could sense an earthquake from 120 km (70 miles) away, three to five days before it happens. They respond by behaving strangely.

 

"When an earthquake is about to occur, snakes will move out of their nests, even in the cold of winter," Jiang said.

 

"If the earthquake is a big one, the snakes will even smash into walls while trying to escape."

 

China is struck by frequent earthquakes, with most hitting remote rural areas.

 

Two people were killed and 42 injured on Tuesday when three buildings collapsed2 in earthquakes that shook southern Taiwan.

 

While a tsunami3 warning came to nothing, the quake damaged undersea telecommunication4 cables, affecting users across Asia.

 
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1 autonomous DPyyv     
adj.自治的；独立的
参考例句：
  • They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
  • This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。
2 collapsed cwWzSG     
adj.倒塌的
参考例句：
  • Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
  • The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。
3 tsunami bpAyo     
n.海啸
参考例句：
  • Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
  • Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。
4 telecommunication 5gMzg5     
n.电信，远距离通信
参考例句：
  • Telecommunication is an industry of service.电信业是一个服务型的行业。
  • I only care about the telecommunication quality and the charge.我只关心通信质量和资费两个方面。

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