Unit 12: Earthquakes

What Is an Earthquake?

An earthquake happens when the ground shakes. It happens because parts of the Earth move. Earthquakes can be small or very strong.

Exercise Context
A simple educational scene showing the ground shaking during an earthquake, buildings moving gently, people standing safely outside, daytime city setting, clear view of cracked ground, realistic and easy for A1-A2 English learners

Scientists study earthquakes to learn more about our planet and to help people stay safe.

Target Vocabulary

Important Words

  • earthquake – a time when the ground shakes.
  • fault – a crack in the Earth's crust where movement happens.
  • tectonic plates – large pieces of the Earth's surface that move slowly.
  • Earth's crust – the outer layer of the Earth.
  • epicenter – the place on the ground above where the earthquake starts.
  • aftershocks – smaller earthquakes after the main earthquake.
  • magnitude – a number that shows how strong an earthquake is.
  • seismometers – tools that measure earthquakes.
Example Sentences
  • The earthquake shook the city.
  • The fault moved under the ground.
  • Tectonic plates move very slowly.
  • The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.0.
  • Seismometers recorded the earthquake.
🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích

earthquake = động đất.

fault = đứt gãy trong vỏ Trái Đất.

tectonic plates = các mảng kiến tạo.

Earth's crust = vỏ Trái Đất.

epicenter = tâm chấn trên bề mặt.

aftershocks = dư chấn sau động đất.

magnitude = độ lớn/cường độ động đất.

seismometers = máy đo địa chấn.

Grammar 1: Fact and Opinion

What is a Fact?

A fact is something true. We can check it.

Examples:

  • Earthquakes can shake the ground.
  • Seismometers measure earthquakes.

What is an Opinion?

An opinion is what someone thinks or feels.

Examples:

  • I think earthquakes are scary.
  • Aftershocks are very frightening.
Worked Example 1
Sentence: "The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.0."
Answer: Fact
Reason: We can measure the magnitude.
Worked Example 2
Sentence: "Earthquakes are the most interesting natural events."
Answer: Opinion
Reason: Different people may think differently.
🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích

Fact là thông tin có thể kiểm tra hoặc đo được.

Opinion là ý kiến hoặc cảm nhận cá nhân.

Các từ như "I think", "I believe", "interesting", "scary" thường xuất hiện trong opinion.

Grammar 2: Complete Sentences (Subjects)

What Is a Subject?

The subject tells us who or what the sentence is about.

A complete sentence needs:

  • A subject
  • A verb

Sentence Pattern

Subject + Verb + Other Information

Example 1
The earthquake shook the town.
Subject: The earthquake
Verb: shook
Example 2
Seismometers record earthquakes.
Subject: Seismometers
Verb: record
Example 3
Aftershocks happened yesterday.
Subject: Aftershocks
Verb: happened

Not Complete

  • Shook the town. ❌ (No subject)
  • Recorded the earthquake. ❌ (No subject)
🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích

Một câu hoàn chỉnh cần có ít nhất chủ ngữ (subject) và động từ (verb).

Chủ ngữ cho biết ai hoặc cái gì thực hiện hành động.

Ví dụ: "The earthquake shook the town." → "The earthquake" là chủ ngữ.

Summary

  • An earthquake is when the ground shakes.
  • Important words: fault, tectonic plates, Earth's crust, epicenter, aftershocks, magnitude, and seismometers.
  • A fact is true and can be checked.
  • An opinion is what someone thinks or feels.
  • A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb.