A lot of earthquakes happen in the world every year. Why do earthquakes happen? Scientists tell us the outside of the earth is made of a number of different plates (板块). The plates move very slowly. Sometimes they stop and don‘t move for a long time. When some of the earth‘s plates move suddenly, an earthquake happens. Many earthquakes happen under the sea. Sometimes they happen near mountains. In fact, earthquakes may happen anywhere on the earth. During an earthquake, the shakings make rocks rise suddenly and even break open. Houses fall. People are killed or hurt. Sometimes whole villages or cities are destroyed. Can we do something to keep ourselves safe from earthquakes? Scientists have studied earthquakes and made maps that show"earthquake belts". In the areas in these belts, it‘s possible for earthquakes to happen. In these areas we can make houses strong enough to stand against earthquakes. In the future, scientists will be able to predict exactly when and where an earthquake will happen. They can tell us what to do and how to do it as well. Few earthquakes happen in the world every year. The outside of the earth is made of a number of different plates. We can do nothing to keep ourselves safe from earthquake.