Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake Hits Panama in Central America
Listen to the story
A big earthquake hit Panama. Panama is in Central America. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.6. Magnitude shows how strong an earthquake is.
The earthquake was first reported as magnitude 8.0. Later, experts changed the number to 7.6.
Japan is very far from Panama. But Japan checked for a tsunami. A tsunami is a big dangerous wave from the sea.
Officials said there might be small changes in sea level in Japan. Sea level is how high the water is.
But officials said there is no danger. There is no risk of tsunami damage in Japan.
People in Panama may have felt strong shaking. The news did not give more details about damage there.
Vocabulary15 words
- earthquake
- shaking of the ground
- magnitude
- a number that shows how strong an earthquake is
- tsunami
- a very big, dangerous sea wave
- sea level
- how high the water in the sea is
- Central America
- a small part of land between North and South America
- officials
- people who work for the government
- risk
- the chance something bad will happen
- damage
- harm or destruction
- reported
- told to the public
- shaking
- moving quickly side to side
- experts
- people who know a lot about something
- dangerous
- able to hurt people
- changes
- when something becomes different
- strong
- powerful
- details
- small pieces of information
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Panama 2. 7.6 3. No
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A big _____ hit Panama.
Panama is in _____ America.
The earthquake had a _____ of 7.6.
It was first reported as magnitude _____.
Japan checked for a _____.
A tsunami is a big dangerous _____ from the sea.
There might be small changes in sea _____ in Japan.
Officials said there is no _____ of tsunami damage.
People in Panama may have felt strong _____.
The news did not give more _____ about damage.
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