40. How to Lessen the Damage Made by Earthquakes

After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report: The damage and 1)______could have been much worse.

More than 60 people died in this earthquake. By comparison, an earthquake of similar intensity that shook America in 1988 claimed 25,000 2) _____.

Injuries and deaths were 3) _____ less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:31 a.m. on a holiday, 4) ____. In addition, changes made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways, making them more 5) ____ earthquakes.

Despite the good news, civil engineers aren’t resting on their successes. Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints for improved quake-resistant buildings. The new designs should offer even greater 6) ___ to cities where earthquakes often take place.

In the past, making structures quake-resistant meant firm yet flexible materials, such as steel and wood, that 7) ____. Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and 8) ____ rubber and steel between thebuilding and its foundation to reduce the impact of ground vibrations. The most recent designs give buildings brains as well as concrete steel supports. Called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an earthquake’s vibrations. When the ground shakes and the building 9) _____, the computer would force the building to 10) ____.

The new smart structures could be very expensive to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.