2014届高考英语一轮复习话题阅读素材71.docVIP

2014届高考英语一轮复习话题阅读素材71 　　Tsunami Generation Braves Physical, Psychological Scars　　Although many people call tsunamis tidal waves, they are not related to tides but are rather a series of waves, or wave trains, usually caused by earthquakes. Tsunamis have also been caused by the eruption of some coastal and island volcanoes, submarine landslides, and oceanic impacts of large meteorites. Tsunami waves can become more than 30 feet high as they come into shore and can rush miles inland across low-lying areas. From Thailand to Somalia, more than 170,000 people died in the tsunamis. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) first estimated children made up one-third of the death toll. But that percentage, if anything, might be too low.　　In many hard-hit countries, birth rates tend to be high and life expectancies low -- 30 to 43 percent of residents are age 18 or below -- so children fatality rates somewhat mirror the population breakdown. Beyond that, children are generally more vulnerable than adults -- smaller, weaker and more susceptible to natures fury and disease. Children are much less able to run away, fight the water, hold onto or climb a tree.　　Yet, amid the tragedy, remarkable events left room for hope and faith. Off Thailands Khao Lak tourist resort, a woman discovered an 18-month-old boy from Kazakhstan floating on a mattress. His parents are thought to have perished. Twenty-day-old Suppiah Tulasi also survived. Her parents found her lying on a mattress in 5 feet of water hours after waves flushed them from a restaurant. Seattle, Washington, residents Ron Rubin and Rebecca Beddall climbed to the roof of their hotel in Phuket, Thailand, where they spotted 18-month-old Hannes Bergstrom. They took the Swedish boy -- rescued reportedly with the help of a Thai princess -- to a local hospital. Hannes eventually rejoined his father and other relatives. His mother remains missing.　　Now sleeping 40 to room, the children are both supremely unfortunate and fortunate.