Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Nature147 words1 min read

Small Earthquake Hits Okinawa, Japan

gray concrete road between green grass field under blue sky during daytime
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Listen to the story

An earthquake happened in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa is a group of islands in the south of Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency gave the news. This is the government group that checks weather and earthquakes.

The earthquake happened at 2:32 in the afternoon on the 25th.

The intensity of the earthquake was 2 in some places. Intensity means how strong the shaking feels.

The towns of Nago, Motobu, and Onna felt this shaking. These are places in Okinawa.

Another small earthquake also happened near Miyakojima. Miyakojima is another island in Okinawa.

That earthquake had an intensity of only 1. This is a very small number.

In Japan, intensity numbers go from 1 to 7. A small number like 1 or 2 means people feel only light shaking.

No one reported big damage from these earthquakes.

Japan often has small earthquakes like this. People there are used to them.

Vocabulary15 words

earthquake
shaking of the ground
Japan Meteorological Agency
the group that watches weather and earthquakes in Japan
intensity
how strong something feels
prefecture
a big area like a state, in Japan
island
land with water all around it
damage
harm or breaking of things
shaking
moving fast side to side
report
to tell people news
government
the group that runs a country
afternoon
the time after midday
town
a small place where people live
south
one direction on a map
weather
sun, rain, wind, and so on
used to
not surprised because it happens often
small
not big

Quiz

1. Where did the earthquake happen?
2. What was the maximum intensity in Nago, Motobu, and Onna?
3. True or false: The earthquake caused big damage.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

An _____ happened in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa is a group of islands in the south of Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency gave the _____.

The earthquake happened at 2:32 in the _____ on the 25th.

The _____ of the earthquake was 2 in some places.

The towns of Nago, Motobu, and Onna felt this _____.

Another small earthquake also happened near _____.

That earthquake had an intensity of only _____.

In Japan, intensity numbers go from 1 to _____.

No one reported big _____ from these earthquakes.

Japan often has small earthquakes like this. People there are _____ to them.

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