先抄一段美国地质勘探局（USGS）网站上的文章（翻译刘夙）：
Is Recent Earthquake Activity Unusual? Scientists Say No.USGS：最近的地震活动异常吗？科学家否认。
China’s tragic magnitude 6.9 earthquake on April 13 and the recent devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Mexico, and elsewhere have many wondering if this earthquake activity is unusual.4月13日（美国时间）发生在中国的悲剧性的6.9级地震（按：这是USGS测定的震级）以及近期发生在海地、智利、墨西哥和其他地方的灾难性地震让很多人怀疑这样的地震活动性是不是异常。
Scientists say 2010 is not showing signs of unusually high earthquake activity. Since 1900, an average of 16 magnitude 7 or greater earthquakes — the size that seismologists define as major — have occurred worldwide each year. Some years have had as few as 6, as in 1986 and 1989, while 1943 had 32, with considerable variability from year to year.科学家说，并没有迹象表明，2010年显示出了异常的高地震活动性。自1900年以来，全世界每年平均要发生16次地震学家所定义的“大地震”，也就是7级和7级以上的地震。有些年份，如1986年和1989年，大地震的数目少至6次，然而在1943年却多达32次；年与年之间的变化是非常可观的。
With six major earthquakes striking in the first four months of this year, 2010 is well within the normal range. Furthermore, from April 15, 2009, to April 14, 2010, there have been 18 major earthquakes, a number also well within the expected variation.2010年的头四个月已经发生了6次大地震，这完全在正常范围内。而且，从2009年4月15日至2010年4月14日的一年间，总共发生了18次大地震，这个数字也完全在预期的变率之内。
“While the number of earthquakes is within the normal range, this does not diminish the fact that there has been extreme devastation and loss of life in heavily populated areas,” said USGS Associate Coordinator for Earthquake Hazards Dr. Michael Blanpied.USGS的地震风险助理协调员迈克尔·布兰皮德（Michael Blanpied）博士说：“虽然地震数目在正常范围内，但是它在人口稠密地区造成了极大的破坏和生命损失，这个事实是不能忽略的。”
What will happen next? Aftershocks will continue in the regions around each of this year’s major earthquakes sites. It is unlikely that any of these aftershocks will be larger than the earthquakes experienced so far, but structures damaged in the previous events could be further damaged and should be treated with caution. Beyond the ongoing aftershock sequences, earthquakes in recent months have not raised the likelihood of future major earthquakes; that likelihood has not decreased, either. Large earthquakes will continue to occur just as they have in the past.接下来又如何呢？在今年每一场大地震的周边地区都会继续发生连串余震。这些余震的强度基本不可能大于目前已经记录到的地震，但是在之前的地震中损坏的建筑会被进一步损坏，所以应该慎重处置。除了正在进行的余震序列外，最近几个月内的地震并没有增加将来大地震的发震概率，当然，也没有减小这个概率。强震会继续发生，就像过去的情况一样。
Though the recent earthquakes are not unusual, they are a stark reminder that earthquakes can produce disasters when they strike populated areas — especially areas where the buildings have not been designed to withstand strong shaking. What can you do to prepare? Scientists cannot predict the timing of specific earthquakes. However, families and communities can improve their safety and reduce their losses by taking actions to make their homes, places of work, schools and businesses as earthquake-safe as possible. The USGS provides information on how you can prepare at the Earthquake Hazards Program Web site. 尽管近期的地震并不异常，它们还是冷酷地提醒我们，当地震袭击人口稠密地区时会造成灾难，那些建筑物在设计时没有考虑到抵御强震的地区尤其如此。你该如何预防？科学家不能预测某一特定地震的发震时间。但是，家庭和社区可以改进他们的安全系数并减少损失，办法是尽可能让隹宅、工作地点、学校和商业机构具有防震性能。
再来抄一首日本歌曲，献给敬爱的世博会：
