An earthquake strikes without warning. When it does, its power is immense. If it strikes a modern city, the damage it causes is as great as if it has struck a primitive village. Gas mains burst, explosions are caused and fires are started. Underground railways are wrecked. Whole buildings collapse. Dams burst. Bridges fall. Gaping crevices appear in busy streets. If the quake strikes at sea, huge tidal waves sweep inland. If it strikes in mountain regions, avalanches roar down into the valleys. 

Consider the terrifying statistics from the past. In the year 1755 : Lisbon, capital of Portugal-the city destroyed entirely and 450 killed; 1970 : Peru - 50,000 killed.

(from 'Can We Stop Earthquakes?' in World of Wonder)

Question: In earlier sections we analysed some of the paragraphs for you. The following exercise will help you understand the organization of the paragraph above

Cause : The power of ............................... (i) ...............................................................

Main effect: The great ................................ (ii) ..................... it causes.

Details of the effect :