Earthquake Shakes Catania Area in Sicily
Listen to the story
An earthquake hit the Catania area in Sicily, Italy. The earthquake had a magnitude of 3.8. People in the area felt the earthquake.
The earthquake happened at night. Many small earthquakes happened together. This is called a seismic swarm.
Another earthquake happened near the town of Bronte. This earthquake had a magnitude of 3.2. Bronte is in the province of Catania.
A scientist from INGV spoke about the earthquakes. INGV is an Italian institute that studies earthquakes. The scientist's name is Florindo.
Florindo said the earthquakes came from the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. He said a plate called the Ionian plate is moving. This plate is going under Calabria. Calabria is a region in Italy.
No big damage was reported. People felt the ground shake. The situation is still happening.
Vocabulary15 words
- earthquake
- when the ground shakes
- magnitude
- how strong an earthquake is
- seismic swarm
- many small earthquakes in a short time
- institute
- a place that studies science
- Tyrrhenian Sea
- a sea near Italy
- plate
- a big piece of the Earth's surface
- province
- a part of a country
- region
- a big area of a country
- tremor
- a small shaking of the ground
- scientist
- a person who studies nature
- south
- the direction down on a map
- ground
- the land we walk on
- damage
- harm to something
- situation
- what is happening now
- report
- to tell people about something
Quiz
Answer key
1. 3.8 2. โ 3. Yes
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
An _____ hit the Catania area in Sicily, Italy. The earthquake had a magnitude of _____.
The earthquake happened at _____. Many small earthquakes happened together.
Another earthquake happened near the town of _____. This earthquake had a magnitude of _____.
A scientist from _____ spoke about the earthquakes.
Florindo said the earthquakes came from the southern _____ Sea.
He said a _____ called the Ionian plate is moving under Calabria.
No big _____ was reported.


