Part A What is the meaning of infrastructure as it is used in this excerpt from “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster”?
Sometimes avoiding catastrophe is as simple as ensuring that drains aren’t clogged (one of the most common causes of urban flooding) and that infrastructure is well maintained so roads and bridges don’t crumble with the first heavy rain.
basic systems that provide proper plumbing
basic systems that keep society functioning
strategies used in disaster prevention efforts
strategies used in disaster recovery efforts
Part B Which word group from the excerpt best supports the answer to Part A?
most common causes of urban flooding
so roads and bridges don’t crumble
is as simple as ensuring
Sometimes avoiding catastrophe
According to the author of “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster,” why were there far fewer deaths in an earthquake in Chile than in a weaker earthquake in Haiti?
A large international search-and-rescue team helped people in Chile.
The earthquake in Chile occurred in a deserted area.
Chile had laws that required buildings to be more earthquake-safe.
Far fewer people live in Chile than in Haiti.
In “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster,” which step helped northern Vietnam reduce the loss of life and property during Typhoon Wukong?
evacuating most residents
building high dikes
building homes on high platforms
planting mangrove forests
According to the author of “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster,” how can a disaster help a country to prepare for a safer future?
When a country rebuilds after a disaster, it can build stronger buildings.
Disasters get attention and assistance from the international community.
After a disaster, residents are more likely to take steps leaders suggest.
Studying the disaster can help decision-makers see what they did wrong.
In “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster,” which of the following are among the steps listed by the author? Choose two options.
creating an international disaster response agency
setting aside a disaster fund
identifying risks
finding political champions
training the military in disaster response
planting urban forests
Part A What is the meaning of magnitude as it is used in this excerpt from “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster”?
The 2010 earthquake in Haiti, with a magnitude of 7.0, killed more than 220,000 people. Just a month later, the much stronger earthquake in Chile, magnitude 8.8, caused only about 500
deaths.
a measurement of fatalities
a measurement of power
a number identifying location
a number identifying date or time
Which word group from the excerpt best supports the answer to Part A?
The 2010 earthquake in Haiti
caused only about 500 deaths.
Just a month later
the much stronger earthquake in Chile
Part A What is the central, or main, idea of “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster”?
Leaders should take certain recommended steps to help their countries better survive natural disasters.
Families should take certain recommended steps to help them better cope with natural disasters.
People should take certain recommended steps to help equip their homes to withstand natural disasters.
Countries that have survived severe storms should help other countries prepare for natural disasters.
Part B Which quotation from “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster” most clearly supports the answer to Part A?
Open-source tools such as the World Bank’s Open Data for Resilience Initiative make it easy for countries to collect and share information on risk.
Even as climate change increases the risk of natural disaster, cities can be made increasingly safe, as long as public policy makers carefully prepare.
Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,000 people in the Philippines last fall, reminded us how much suffering and damage nature can cause.
[F]ormer Mayor Michael Bloomberg (the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News) personally fought for investments in preparing for climate change.
Part A According to “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster,” which step is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the worst effects of disasters?
early-warning systems
evacuating areas at risk
rebuilding unsafe buildings
replacing aging bridges
Part B Which excerpt from “Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster” best supports the answer to Part A?
Sometimes avoiding catastrophe is as simple as ensuring that drains aren’t clogged (one of the most common causes of urban flooding) and that infrastructure is well maintained so roads and bridges don’t crumble with the first heavy rain.
Countries can learn from Peru, where the head of disaster risk management reports directly to the prime minister and works closely with the ministry of finance, or from New York City, where former Mayor Michael Bloomberg . . . personally fought for investments in preparing for climate change.
Just $1 invested in early-warning systems can save as much as $35 indamages—and protect untold numbers of lives. When Cyclone Phailin hit India in the fall of 2013, a new early-warning system and a network of cyclone shelters kept 900,000 people out of harm’s way.
Open-source tools such as the World Bank’s Open Data for Resilience Initiative make it easy for countries to collect and share information on risk, and allow people with a variety of expertise to participate in the challenge of building resilience.
