擒贼擒王：英语四级阅读主题题（三）

More than 60 people died in this earthquake. By comparison, as earthquake of similar intensity that shook America in 1988 claimed 25,000 victims.

　　Injuries and deaths were relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4:31 a.m. on a holiday, when traffic was light on the city's highways. In addition, changes made to the construction codes in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city's buildings and highways, making them more resistant to quakes.

　　Despite the good new, civil engineers aren't resting on their successes. Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints（蓝图）for improved quake-resistant buildings. The new designs should offer even greater security to cities where earthquakes often take place.

　　In the past, making structures quake-resistant meant firm yet flexible materials, such as steel and wood, that bend without breaking. Later, people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to reduce the impact of ground vibrations. The most recent designs give buildings brains as well as concrete and steel supports. Called smart buildings, the structures respond like living organisms to an earthquake's vibrations. When the ground shakes and the building tips forward, the computer would force the building to shift in the opposite direction.
前三段全部在谈地震的影响及死亡人数少的原因，不知道文章中心在哪儿，第四段开头出现：Despite the good new, civil engineers aren't resting on their successes.紧跟着出现文章主题：Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints（蓝图）for improved quake-resistant buildings.所以在做主题题时关键在与把这一句读出来。这样在做最后一题的时候就不会出错了。

　　25. The author's main purpose in writing the passage is to ________.

　　A) compare the consequences of the earthquakes that occurred in the U.S.

　　B) encourage civil engineers to make more extensive use of computers

　　C) outline the history of the development of quake-resistant building materials

　　D) report new developments in constructing quake-resistant buildings