Tsunami is a Japanese word which means harbor wave and is used as the scientific term for seismic sea wave generated by an undersea earthquake or possibly an undersea landslide or volcanic eruption. When the ocean floor is tilted or offset during an earthquake, a set of waves is created similar to the concentric waves generated by an object dropped into the wave. Most tsunamis originate along the Ring of Fire, a zone of volcanoes and seismic activity, 32.500 km long that encircles the Pacific Ocean. Since 1819, about 40 tsunami have struck the Hawaiian Islands.

A tsunami can have wave lengths, or widths, of 100 to 200 km, and may travel hundreds of kilometres across the deep ocean, reaching speeds of about 725 to 800 kilometres an hour. Upon entering shallow coastal waters, the wave, which may have been only about half a metre high out at sea, suddenly grows rapidly. When the wave reaches the shore, it may be 15 metres high or more. Tsunamis have tremendous energy because of the great volume of water affected. They are capable of obliterating coastal settlements.

Tsunami should not be confused with storm surges, which are domes of water that rise underneath hurricanes or cyclones and cause extensive coastal flooding when the storms reach land. Storm surges are particularly devastating if they occur at high tide. A cyclone and accompanying storm surge killed an estimated 500,000 people in Bangladesh in 1970. The tsunami which truck south and southeast Asia in late 2004 killed over 200 thousand people.

Which of the following is NOT true?

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• The phrase "a resonant hoot" is closest in meaning to ............

• The word "drastically" in line 21 is closest in meaning to ..........

• These changes in the Amercan home may ______________

ZUNIA12

• According to the passage, the banded gecko ..................

• Which of the following is true, according to the passage?

• The word “alarmingly” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ____.

• It is mentioned in the passage that many gestures .................

• What does this paragraph mainly discuss?

• What does the passage mainly discuss?

• Why did the author write the passage?

• It can be inferred from the passage that ___________.

• What does the word “it” refer to?

• The Mandans built their houses close together in order to _____.

• The word “accepting” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to________.

• The word 'sensational' is closest in meaning to __________.

• It can be inferred from the passage that .............

• M.L. was ................. by the atmosphere in which he grew up.

• The "pounds" in the second paragraph are probably ...............

• When is the most famous football game held annually?

• It can be inferred from the passage that for most Americans ______.