Small Earthquake Hits Kumamoto in Japan
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A small earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, including the city of Minamata.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the quake.
The JMA is the government body that monitors weather and earthquakes across the country.
According to the agency, the earthquake had a maximum seismic intensity of 1.
In Japan, seismic intensity is measured on a special scale that shows how strongly the ground shakes in different places.
A level of 1 is very weak, and many people might not even notice it.
The report was released at 18:20 on the 16th of the month.
It listed the intensity level for different cities and towns, ranked from strongest to weakest.
No damage or injuries were mentioned in the report.
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes because it sits on several tectonic plates.
These are huge pieces of the Earth's surface that move slowly over time.
When they shift, they can cause the ground to shake.
Because of this, Japan has a detailed system for tracking even small quakes like this one.
The JMA regularly publishes updates so that residents can stay informed about seismic activity in their area.
This kind of monitoring helps authorities respond quickly if a stronger earthquake occurs in the future.
Vocabulary5 words
- earthquake
- a sudden shaking of the ground
- Japan Meteorological Agency
- the government group that checks weather and earthquakes in Japan
- seismic intensity
- a number showing how strong an earthquake feels in a place
- ranked
- put in order from highest to lowest
- tectonic plates
- huge pieces of the Earth's surface that can move
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A small earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture 2. The earthquake was very weak 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A small _____ struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, including the city of Minamata.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the _____.
The JMA is the government body that monitors weather and earthquakes across the country.
According to the agency, the earthquake had a maximum seismic _____ of 1.
A level of 1 is very _____, and many people might not even notice it.
The report was released at 18:20 on the 16th of the month.
It listed the intensity level for different cities and towns, _____ from strongest to weakest.
No damage or _____ were mentioned in the report.
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes because it sits on several tectonic _____.
The JMA regularly publishes updates so that residents can stay _____ about seismic activity in their area.
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