After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report:the damage and death

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问题     After the violent earthquake that shook Los Angeles in 1994, earthquake scientists had good news to report:the damage and death toll(死亡人数)could have been much worse.
    More than 60 people died in this earthquake. By comparison, an earthquake of similar intensity(强度)that shook America in 1988 claimed 25,000 victims.
    Injuries and deaths were relatively less in Los Angeles because the quake occurred at 4s 31 a. m. on a holiday, when traffic was light on the city’s highways. In addition, changes made to the construction codes (法规,法典) in Los Angeles during the last 20 years have strengthened the city’s buildings and highways,making them more resistant(耐......)to quakes.
    Despite the good news, civil engineers aren’t resting on their successes. Pinned to their drawing boards are blueprints(蓝图)for improved quake-resistant buildings. The new designs should offer even greater security to cities where earthquakes often take place.
    In the past,making structures quake-resistant meant firm yet flexible materials,such as steel and wood,that bend without breaking. Later,people tried to lift a building off its foundation, and insert rubber and steel between the building and its foundation to reduce the impact(影响) of ground vibrations(振动). The most recent designs give buildings brains as well as concrete(混凝土) and steel supports, called smart buildings. The structures respond like living organisms (有机体) to an earthquake’s vibrations. When the ground shakes and the building tips forward (向前倾) ,the computer would force the building to shift in the opposite direction.
    The new smart structures could be very expensive to build. However, they would save many lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.
The smart buildings discussed in the passage______.

选项 A、would cause serious financial problems
B、would be worthwhile though costly
C、would increase the complexity of architectural design
D、can reduce the ground vibrations caused by earthquakes

答案B

解析 would be worthwhile though costly(将是值得的,尽管代价昂贵),依据文章最后一段:The new smart structures could be very expensive to build.However,they would savemany lives and would be less likely to be damaged during earthquakes.这种新型的智能型建筑造价昂贵。然而,它可以拯救许多人的生命,而且在地震中受损害的可能性将减小。
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