对话文本
J: have you ever been in an earthquake?

M: yes, I experienced one when I was in Tokyo once. The tremors only lasted a few seconds though and then it was over.

J: do you know where it measured on the Richter scale?

M: I don't remember, but it wasn't very serious. Have you ever been in an earthquake?

J: no, but I was in quite a few tornados when I was younger.

M: where are you from?

J: I'm from the plains of the Midwest. It's a prime location for tornadoes.

M: did your house ever get damaged from the winds?

J: most of the time we were lucky, but once a tree from our front yard was ripped out by its roots and ended up in our living room.

M: wow, that must have really been scary.

J: actually, some of my fondest memories of my childhood were of spending time with my family in the basement waiting for the tornados to pass.

M: have you ever experiences a flood?

J: no, but my father's car was destroyed in a flood once. It actually happened the day after he bought the car!

M: that sure didn't last long!

参考翻译
你经历过地震吗?
经历过,我在东京的时候遇到过一次.不过那次轻微的地震大概只持续了几秒钟,然后就过去了.
你知道用里氏震级来衡量的话大概是多少吗?
我不记得了,不过不是很严重.你经历过地震吗?
没有,不过我小时候遇到过几次龙卷风.
你是哪里人?
我来自美国中西部的平原地区.那里是龙卷风的多发地带.
你家的房子在龙卷风中有损坏吗?
基本上挺走运的,不过有一次前院的树被连根拔起,砸在我们的起居室里.
哇!那一定挺恐怖的.
其实我关于童年生活印象最深的就是和家人一起躲在地下室里等着龙卷风过去.
你遇到过洪水吗?
没有,不过有一次我爸爸的车被洪水给毁了.就在他刚买了那辆车的第二天!
那一定没法用了!

核心词汇
Tremor: a small earthquake in which the ground shakes slightly 轻微地震;小震;微震

an earth tremor 地动

tornado: a violent storm with very strong winds which move in a circle. There is often also a long cloud which is narrower at the bottom than the top. 龙卷风;旋风

plain: a large area of flat land 平原

the flat coastal plain of Thassos 萨索斯岛平坦的滨海平原
the Great Plains 北美洲大平原

prime: main; most important; basic 主要的;首要的;基本的 only before noun

My prime concern is to protect my property. 我最关心的是保护自己的财产.
Winning is not the prime objective in this sport. 获胜不是这项体育运动的主要目的.
The care of the environment is of prime importance. 保护环境是最重要的.
He's the police's prime suspect in this case. 他是该案中警方的主要怀疑对象.

Rip: to remove something quickly or violently, often by pulling it 猛地扯开;突然拉开

He ripped off his tie. 他一把拽开领带.
The carpet had been ripped from the stairs. 地毯已经从楼梯上拖走了.