Strong Earthquake Hits Near Tokyo, Japan
A strong earthquake hit near Tokyo, Japan. The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9. Magnitude tells us how strong an earthquake is.
The epicenter was in the Ibaraki region. The epicenter is the place where an earthquake starts. Ibaraki is near Tokyo.
The earthquake happened on the coast of eastern Honshu. Honshu is the biggest island in Japan. Tokyo is on this island.
There is no risk of a tsunami. A tsunami is a very big wave in the sea. Risk means a chance of danger.
Japan often has earthquakes. The country has special systems to check them fast.
Vocabulary15 words
- earthquake
- a sudden shaking of the ground
- magnitude
- a number that shows how strong an earthquake is
- epicenter
- the place on the ground above where an earthquake starts
- coast
- the land next to the sea
- Honshu
- the biggest island of Japan
- risk
- a chance that something bad can happen
- tsunami
- a very big, dangerous wave in the sea
- region
- a part of a country
- strong
- having a lot of power
- hit
- to happen suddenly and cause an effect
- island
- land with water all around it
- shaking
- moving quickly from side to side
- danger
- the chance of being hurt
- sea
- a big area of salt water
- system
- a way of doing or checking something
Quiz
Answer key
1. Magnitude 5.9 2. Ibaraki region 3. No
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A strong _____ hit near Tokyo, Japan.
The earthquake had a _____ of 5.9.
The _____ was in the Ibaraki region.
Ibaraki is near _____.
The earthquake happened on the _____ of eastern Honshu.
Honshu is the biggest _____ in Japan.
There is no _____ of a tsunami.
A tsunami is a very big _____ in the sea.
Japan often has _____.
The country has special _____ to check them fast.