Tsunami, Japanese word meaning “harbor wave,” used as the
scientific term for a class of abnormal sea wave that can cause
catastrophic damage when it hits a coastline. Tsunamis can be caused by
an undersea earthquake, an undersea landslide, the eruption of an
undersea volcano, or by the force of an asteroid crashing into the ocean.
The most frequent cause of tsunamis is an undersea earthquake.
A tsunami can have wave lengths, or widths (the distance between
one wave crest to the next), of 100 to 200 km (60 to 120 mi), and may
travel hundreds of kilometers across the deep ocean, reaching speeds of
about 725 to 800 km/h (about 450 to 500 mph). A tsunami is not one
wave but a series of waves. In the deep ocean, the waves may be only
about half a meter (a foot or two) high. People onboard a ship passing
over it would not even notice the tsunami. Upon entering shallow
coastal waters, however, the waves may suddenly grow rapidly in height.
When the waves reach the shore, they may be 15 m (50 ft) high or more.
Tsunamis can also take the form of a very fast tide or bore, depending on
the shape of the sea floor.
Tsunamis have tremendous force because of the great volume of
water affected and the speed at which they travel. Just a cubic yard of
water, for example, weighs about one ton. Although the tsunami slows
to a speed of about 48 km/h (30 mph) as it approaches a coastline, it has
a destructive force equal to millions of tons. Tsunamis are capable of
obliterating coastal settlements.
Taken from: Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All
rights reserved.
Tsunami, dalam bahasa Jepang berarti “gelombang pelabuhan”digunakan
sebagai istilah ilmiah untuk golongan gelombang laut yang tidak normal yang dapat
menyebabkan kerusakan bencana besar ketika itu mennghantam garis pantai.
Tsunami dapat disebabkan oleh gempa bumi bawah laut, tanah longsor bawah laut,
erupsi gunung berapi bawah laut, atau oleh kekuatan asteroid yang menghantam
lautan. Penyebab Tsunami yang paling sering adalah gempa bumi bawah laut
Tsunami dapat memiliki panjang gelombang atau lebar [jarak antara puncak
gelombang yang satu ke yang berikutnya]100 sampai 200 km (60 to 120 mi), dan bisa
berjalan ratusan kilometers menyebrangi lautan yang dalam, mencapaia kecepatan
725 to 800 km/h (about 450 to 500 mph). Tsunami tidak hanya 1 gelombang tapi
serangakian gelombang. Di dalam laut yang dalam gelombang nya mungkin hanya
sekitar setengah meter [1 kaki atau 2] tingginya. Orang orang diatas kapal yang
melewatinya bahkan tidak akan melihat tsunami itu. Namun saat memasuki air
pantai yang dangkal gelombang bisa tiba tiba berkembang dengan cepat
ketinggianya. Ketika gelombangnya mencapai pantai mereka bisa 15 meter [50 kaki
tingginya atau lebih. Tsunami dapat juga berbentuk pasang cepat atau ombak besar,
tergantung pada bentuk dasar lautnya.
Tsunami mempunyai kekuatan yang sangat besar karena volume airnya yang
besar yang mempengaruhi dan kecepatan dimana mereka berjalan. Hanya 1 yard
kubik air misalnya bobotnya sekitar 1 ton. Meskipun kecepatan tsunami melambat
pada kecepatan sekitar 48 km[30mp] saat mencapai garis pantai. Dia mempunyai
kekuatan yang merusak yang setara jutaan ton. Tsunami dapat melenyapkan
pemukiman pantai.
Diambil dari: Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation.
Hak cipta dilindungi undang undang
1. What is the topic of the text?
a. natural disaster b. catastrophes
c. tsunamis d. storm surges
2. The following causes tsunami, EXCEPT ….
a. flood c. undersea landslide
b. undersea earthquake d. undersea volcano eruption
3. The following is another name for tsunami:
a. storm b. tide c. wave d. tidal wave
4. The statements below are TRUE based on the text above, EXCEPT …
a. Tsunami is meant as a class of abnormal sea wave.
b. Tsunami can travel 100 to 200 km.
c. When the waves of tsunami reach the shore they may be 50 feet.
d. A cubic yard of water of tsunami weighs about one ton.
5. The most frequent cause of tsunami is…….
a. flood c. undersea landslide
b. undersea earthquake d. undersea volcano eruption
6. The word it in the last paragraph refers to…..
a. coastline
b. Tsunami
c. force
d. speed
7. It has a destructive force equal to millions of tons. The word Equal to means…..
a. the same
b. different
c. about
d. close to
8. How high is the waves in the deep ocean
a. 1 meter
b. ¼ meter
c. ½ meter
d.1 ½ meter
9. a class of abnormal sea wave that can cause catastrophic damage when it hits a
coastline. [paragraph 1]. The word it refers to…..
a. coastline
b. sea wave
c. catastrophic
d. damage
10. Why is tsunami very destructive?
a. Tsunamis are capable of obliterating coastal settlements.
b. Tsunamis can also take the form of a very fast tide or bore
c. Tsunamis have tremendous force because of the great volume of water affected
and the speed at which they travel
d. Tsunamis can be caused by an undersea earthquake
11. The writer's intention to write the text is ....
A. To describe tsunami specifically
B. To inform the readers about tsunami in general
C. To tell how tsunami is created
D. To convince the readers that tsunami is real
