译林牛津版初中英语8年级上册Unit 8 Reading课文朗读录音mp3+电子课本

Reading

An earthquake

There was an earthquake in Taiwan in 1999. Timmy survived. Read Timmy’s story and find out what happened to him.

The Taiwan earthquake

It was about two o’clock in the early morning. I was sleeping when the earthquake started. At first, I felt a slight shake. Then I heard a loud noise like thunder.

Soon the real noise came, like bombs under the ground. The earth started to shake. People screamed in fear. Some ran out of the building. I tried my best to run out too, but I could not. Outside, people were running in all directions while pieces of glass and bricks were falling down. Then the walls began to come down too!

Finally, the noise and shaking ended. It was dark and silent around me. I could not see anything at all, and I did not know if anyone else was near me. I felt nervous and my heart was beating fast. “I’m trapped,’ I said to myself. A moment of fear went through my mind, but I told myself to calm down since I was still alive.

I shouted for help, but no one came. I started to pull myself slowly through the dark. Luckily, there was just enough space for me to move.

Hours later, as I was trying to find my way out, I suddenly heard some noise above me. I screamed, “Help! Please help!I’m here!” Then I heard shouts from excited people. They quickly moved away the bricks. At last, I saw the bright daylight. I was safe.