Bam! The bathroom door slamming against the wall woke me out of a sound sleep. Groggily wending my way in the dark to the bathroom, I secured the door latch to make sure I would have no further interruptions of much-needed sleep. I then lumbered back into bed and started to drift off.
砰！浴室门重重关上的声响惊醒了熟睡中的我。我摸黑一路摇摇晃晃地走到浴室将门栓闩好，免得再次打断我宝贵的睡眠，然后又蹒跚地回到被窝进入梦乡。
Not for long. My body, the bed and the whole bedroom began shaking. After a few confused and frightening seconds, I realized "Earthquake!" "Big one," I added, noting that the neighborhood dogs had joined in the weird sounds the hills around my house were making. Within moments I was out of bed and on my feet, contemplating leaving the house. "I'll wait," I comforted myself. "Even these big ones pass in a few seconds." 不一会儿，我的身体、床和整个卧室开始摇晃。在搞不清状况下害怕了几秒钟后，才了解到是“地震”。“而且是个大地震！”我接着又道，注意到附近的狗狂吠着加入房子四周山丘所发出的怪声。我很快地下床站起来，考虑要不要往屋外移动。“等一下吧！”我安慰自己。“就算大地震也不过几秒钟就结束了。”
This one wouldn't. It kept coming; everything was shaking and trembling, rattling. I heard a pane of glass crash onto the floor. The walls of the house and the things attached to them seemed to heave, not just shudder. I then noticed that the street lights had failed and my heart was pounding harder than when I used to lift weights. I acknowledged my fear.
但这次不一样。它不停地摇晃；每样东西都在摇动而且震得嘎嘎作响。我听见一片玻璃掉到地板上摔碎的声音。房子的墙壁及附在墙上的东西似乎不只是颤动，而是上下猛烈晃动。然后我注意到路灯都已熄灭，而我的心跳得比我过去举重时还剧烈。我承认自己很害怕。
Realizing that there was no time to flee the house, I simply waited and waited. The nearly one-minute long temblor finally subsided, and my reasoning came back to me. All was well, or well enough. I walked unsteadily to another room and looked outside. A neighbor with a flashlight was checking on his and others' homes for damage.
我了解到已经来不及逃到室外，便乖乖地等着。将近一分钟的地震终于平息，我的理智也逐渐恢复。一切平安，或者说还好吧。我步履不稳地走到另一个房间往外一瞧。一位邻居拿着手电筒正在检查他家及邻舍有否损坏。
I knew it had been a major quake, though not centered where I lived. The next day I learned that a 7.6 Richter-scale earthquake had devastated the lovely rural communities of central Taiwan. For the next few weeks, everyone's life was centered around the quake due to the constant media coverage and electricity rationing.
虽然我住的地方并非震央，但我知道这是个大地震，。第二天我得知台湾中部许多偏远而可爱的乡间都遭到里氏七点六级大地震的蹂躏。接下来的几个礼拜，因为媒体报道及限电措施，每个人的生活重心都围绕在地震这件事上。
Taiwan is but one of many places situated along the "Ring of Fire" encircling nearly half the globe around the Pacific Ocean. Constant volcanic and earthquake action occurs here, sometimes with cataclysmic results. In this century alone, major earthquakes have taken more than one million lives. Many more have been injured and made homeless. The economic, social, and personal costs are immeasurable.
台湾是诸多太平洋边缘环绕近半个地球的“火环”地区之一。这地区频繁的火山活动及地震时而造成惨重的后果。光是在廿世纪就有一百多万人在大地震中丧命；有更多人因地震受伤或无家可归；对经济、社会及个人更造成难以估计的损失。
Over the past quarter century, many countries in earthquake-prone areas have begun to educate their citizens on how to take appropriate precautions for earthquakes. The following list has been compiled from experience.
过去二十五年来许多位于地震频繁地区的国家已开始教育其人民如何采取适当的防震措施。以下是从经验中得出来的防震措施。
Before the earthquake:
Prepare an "earthquake kit" near everyone's bed; these kits should include drinking water, a flashlight with fresh batteries, and dry food.
Place an extra pillow, blanket, or quilt near the bed to be placed over the head during the earthquake and for warmth if trapped afterwards.
地震前：
在每人床边准备一个“地震包”，内有饮水、备有新电池的手电筒及干粮。
在床边额外准备一只枕头、毛毯或棉被；地震发生时可用来保护头部，震后若遭困亦可用来保暖
During the earthquake:
If possible, get out of the building you are inside of and into a clear area.
If escape from a building is impossible, get away from windows and doors; try to find shelter under structural beams or under any heavy piece of furniture, like a large table or bed.
地震时：
若可能，立即离开室内到空旷处。
来不及逃离建筑物时，应远离门窗；并在主梁或较重的家具下寻找掩护（例如大型桌子或床）。
After the major earthquake (remember that aftershocks will occur):
When shaking ends or subsides, turn off gas lines.
Leave the building (never use elevators) quickly but not in a panic.
If uninjured, be ready to assist rescue workers with information or labor.
When a Big One happens, there is little anyone can do. The above contingency preparations, however, could make the difference between life and death.
主震过后（别忘了余震）：
地震停止或平息后，关闭煤气管道。
尽速镇静地离开建筑物（不可搭乘电梯）。
若未受伤，随时准备协助救难人员提供信息或出力援救。
当特大地震发生时，任何人都无能为力，但上述防范措施却能决定一个人的生与死。