听力原文

听力原文：App Feels Earthquakes Through Mobile PhonesFebruary 17, 2016A new phone app uses vibrations from smartphones to alert people about earthquakes.The phone app recognizes sudden shaking of the earth's surface through sensors in smartphones.The new app is called MyShake. It is the work of four researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. They said they created a worldwide warning system that would inform people and give them time to prepare.Other earthquake apps include QuakeFeed, Quakes and Earthquake. They show where earthquakes have happened, at what strength, and the aftershocks. Those use data from the U.S. Geological Survey.The MyShake app is available only for Android phones.How MyShake WorksSmart phones are equipped with accelerometers. These instruments measure movement, like that of a car or airplane. They can also measure the shaking of a machine, building or other structure.Accelerometers are used in activity trackers and apps that count steps or other exercise. They also are used in global positioning system apps, also called GPS. MyShake uses phone accelerometers to measure seismic activity. It has been programmed to know the difference between normal activity and earthquake movement. The software developers say their app is right 93 percent of the time.A smartphone sends seismic information to the app developers. If the developers receive several notifications from one area, it recognizes that an earthquake may be taking place or will take place soon.Using information sent from the app, the network then estimates the location and strength of the quake in real time. MyShake can record magnitude 5.0 earthquakes at distances of 10 kilometers or less.MyShake uses very little power, according to its developers. Only when seismic activity is sensed by the app does it become active and sends data to the network. The app works best when your phone is resting on a flat surface, like a table. The developers hope that MyShake can add to information collected by the U.S. Geological Survey. That U.S. agency has created the Earthquake Early Warning System, also known as the EEW. The EEW has deployed sensors for measuring quakes in many areas. In places where no such equipment exists, MyShake may be the only method of early quake detection.The app also shows ways to stay safer during an earthquake. The developers say it will become more effective as more people use it."Our goal is to build a worldwide seismic network and use the data to reduce the effects of earthquakes on us as individuals and on society as a whole," say the researchers.The developers say they hope to add a feature that would warn people about a possible tsunami, or the huge waves after an earthquake.I’m Kathleen Struck.______________________Words in This Storyvibration - n. movementalert - v. to inform or warndata - n. information of facts often used to plan somethingdetect - v. to discover or notice the presence of (something that is hidden or hard to see, hear, taste, etc.)network - n. a system of computers and other devicesaccelerometer - n. a device that detects its own acceleration and is used in mobile phones to determine the phone's orientationtracker - n. a device that follows and records the movements of someone or somethingseismic - adj. relating to, or caused by an earthquakeprogram - v. to give (a computer) a set of instructions to perform a particular action: to create a program for (a computer)anonymous - adj. not named or identifiedlocation - n. a place or positiontable - n. a piece of furniture that has a flat top and one or more legs magnitude - n. the size, extent, or importance of somethingfeature - n. an interesting or important part, quality, ability, etc.tsunami - n. a very high, large wave usually caused by an earthquake Hollywood studios chase Chinese audienceAmerican filmmakers are actively luring Chinese movie fans to the cinema with more Chinese plots and characters.The motion picture, Kung Fu Panda 3, is a prime example of Hollywood trying to attract more Chinese movie ticket buyers.Hollywood understands that China is the second-largest movie market in the world. The country will become the biggest movie market within a year when it overtakes the United States. Last year, cinema ticket sales in China added up to $6.6 billion.The American motion picture community has developed strategies to play a larger role in film-making and distribution in China.Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst said, “A lot of [movie] studios … in the entertainment business are tryi ng to align themselves with China. Everyone’strying to scramble and trying to figure out how best to partner with China because it’s so important as a movie market.”The premiere date for Kung Fu Panda 3 was carefully selected to get more people to the cinemas. The opening date coincided with the Chinese New Year. So the animated American movie earned more than $100 million in ticket sales that day in China.Familiar plot lines and characters are another reason for Kung Fu Panda 3’s success in China. The cast includes the voices of internationally known movie stars, like Dustin Hoffman and Jackie Chan.“As a Chinese, it feels more familiar,” said 18-year-old Yifan Li. “I feel I can see a lot of elements that are very close to me.”American film companies are making movie viewing more convenient for the Chinese public. Dreamworks is the film company that produced Kung Fu Panda 3. Dreamworks produced two versions of the film for domestic Chinese audiences. In America, theaters showed the film in both Mandarin and English. Kung Fu Panda 3 went around a bit of Chinese tradition during the new year. The film was allowed to show during the holiday. Most foreign films are not allowed to show in China during the new year celebration.The film received screen time because it was co-produced in China by Dreamwork’s Chinese partner, Shanghai’s Oriental Dreamworks.Another Chinese-themed film will get much attention in 2016. Later this year, The Great Wall will feature American Matt Damon and Hong Kong’s Andy Lau as the main actors. It will also have a Chinese director overseeing his first English-language film.I’m Jim Dresbach.____________________Words in This Storylure – v. to cause or persuade a person to go somewhere or to do something by offering some pleasure or gainovertake – v. to move up to and past someone or somethingdistribution – n. the act of giving or delivering something to peoplestrategies – n. careful plans or methods for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of timescramble – v. to move or act quickly to do, find, or get something often before someone else doespremiere – n. the first time a film is showncoincide – v. to happen at the same time as something else。