English Listening B1 Episode 27 - Track 01
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
TRACK 1
T: Now, as you know, we're doing a project on
and
buildings and we're lucky to have a
today from Robert Weston, who's an
and an expert on this subject. He's here to tell us about the latest
on designing buildings and how we can
buildings from these
disasters. Please welcome Robert.
R: Thanks very much. I'm happy to answer any
you have
for your project. Well, as we all know, earthquakes can cause thousands of
. The one in Haiti in January 2010 killed over
people. But the
reason so many people died is not the earthquake itself. It's the fact that
many buildings
, crushing and trapping people. What interests me and
other engineers is how we can build
in developing countries that
don't collapse during strong earthquakes.
T: That's interesting. Now, has anyone got any questions? Put
your hands up
Yes.
Can you tell us... are there any
when you construct buildings in
richer countries? I mean, to make the buildings
from earthquakes...
R: Yes, there are. Modern concrete buildings are made
with steel, but this is
so many poorer countries don't have the
for it. They just can't afford to pay for this. That's why engineers
are looking at
solutions to protect buildings.
S 2: So, what sort of things are engineers
?
R: Well, one
is to use more suitable building
. Let's think about a country like Haiti. Roofs on houses are often
made of heavy
and this collapses easily if there is an earthquake.
But engineers have discovered that
roofs supported on wood are
stronger.
S 3: What other kind of
are best, then?
R: We need to use materials that are as
as possible,
because these are less likely to
when the ground is shaking. In
Pakistan, walls can be made from
...
T: Straw?! Really?
R: That's right. The straw is
into blocks and then
plastic
holds the walls together. We put this on the
of the
wall of course the outside of the wall is painted and looks completely normal.
S 1: Is it
that some brick walls aren't strong enough
if there is an earthquake?
R: That
. In Peru they use a kind of brick which is
locally-produced and
to build walls, but these walls crack and
collapse very easily. Again, plastic netting can
these walls together
better so that people can
when there is an earthquake.
T: So Robert, what other
materials do developing
countries use?
R: Well, in India engineers are using
to make
concrete stronger. And in Indonesia they're trying to protect houses from
. They put old
filled with sand under the building and then
construct the house on top.
S 3: Sorry, but are these cheap and local materials really
in an earthquake?
R: Generally, yes. Some of them are not as
as more
expensive methods, but they're better than
at all and something that
poorer countries can afford.
T: So finally Robert, do you think these new ideas will help
people in these countries?
R: Well I
so, but so far progress has been
.
Some of these new types of houses have been built, but sadly many millions of
people are still in
.
T: Well, let's hope that many more houses will be safer in the
future. Robert, many
for coming to talk to us today.
R: My pleasure.
