Passage Two
文章二

The Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction is a program designed to reduce the impact of natural disasters throughout the world.
国际减灾十年是一个致力于减少全球自然灾害所带来负面影响的活动。
With support from the United Nations, countries will be encouraged to share information about disaster reduction,
在美国的支持下，各国要积极分享些减灾方面的信息，
for instance, information about how to plan for and cope with hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters.
比如说怎么样预防和应对飓风、地震以及其他的自然灾害。
One of the most important things the program plans to do is to remind us of what we can do to protect ourselves.
该活动最重要的目的就是时时刻刻提醒我们，灾害来临时怎么保护自己。
For example, we can pack a suitcase with flashlights, a radio, food, drinking water and some tools.
例如，紧急情况发生时，要记得带上手电筒，收音机，食物，饮水和其他必要的工具。
This safety kit may help us survive a disaster until help arrives.
这套装备可能在救援人员到来前是你逃生的唯一指望。
Besides, the program will encourage governments to establish building standards, emergency response plans and training programs.
此外，该活动倡议政府部门制订大楼安保机制和应急方案以及一些逃生训练活动等。
These measures can help to limit the destruction by natural disasters.
这些举措可以有效地减轻自然灾害造成的破坏程度。
The comparatively mild effects of the northern California earthquake in 1989,
1989年，在加利福尼亚北部发生了一次地震，其破坏程度微乎其微，
are good evidence that we do have the technology to prevent vast destruction.
这正是因为运用科学方法防御而避免受到更大破坏的最好证明。
The recent disasters, on the other hand, prove that people will suffer if we don't use that technology.
而反观近期发生的自然灾害则充分说明没有了科学措施的代价是多么惨痛。
When a highway collapsed in northern California, people were killed in their cars.
当时，加利福尼亚北部的一处高速公路上因地震塌陷后，导致多人遇难。
The highway was not built according to today's strict standards to resist earthquakes.
而根据现今严格的抗震标准，那条高速路到现在还被搁置。
Individuals and governments have to be farsighted.
无论是个人还是政府都需要有远见。
We should take extra time and spend extra money to build disaster safety into our lives.
我们应该多花点时间和资金规划灾害防御的体系及建立可以抵御灾害的设施。
Although such a program can't hold back the winds or stop earthquakes, it can save people's lives and homes.
虽然该活动无法抵挡强风和地震的侵袭，但是却可以挽救上千万人们的性命和他们的财产。

Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.
问题20到22是根据上面文章所提出的问题
Question 20. What is the purpose of the program mentioned in this passage?
问题20 文中所提及的活动的目的是什么？
Question 21. What can we learn from the northern California earthquake in 1989?
问题21 从1989年发在加利福尼亚北部的地震的经历中，我们可以得到什么启示？
Question 22. Why did the highway in northern California collapse?
问题22 为什么加利福尼亚北部的一处高速公路会发生塌陷？