The Great Hanshin earthquake, or the Kobe earthquake as it is more commonly known overseas, was an earthquake in Japan that measured 7.3 on the Japan Meteorological Agency magnitude scale. It occurred on January 17th, 1995 at 5:46 a.m. in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, and lasted for approximately 20 seconds. The epicenter of the earthquake was on the northern end of Awaji Island near Kobe, a cosmopolitan city of over 1.5 million people. A total of 6,434 people, mainly in the city of Kobe, lost their lives. Additionally, it caused approximately ten trillion yen in damage. It was the worst earthquake in Japan since the Great Kantō earthquake in 1923, which claimed 140,000 lives. 36. The word overseas in the text is closest in meaning to __________. A.abroad B.at sea C.by sea D. foreign 37. The word occurred in the text is closest in meaning to __________. A.ended B.happened C.started began 38. It is stated in the passage that the number of deaths in the city of Kobe __________. A. was greater than that of the Great Kantō earthquake B. was not as high as in the Great Kantō earthquake C. exceeded that of any known earthquake. D. It wasnt the worst earthquake in Japan ever. 39. The northern end of Awaji Island was the place where __________. A. the effects of the earthquake were felt most strongly B. there was no damage to people and property C. 1.5 million people lost their lives. D. no foreign people live. 40. We understand from the passage that the Kobe earthquake __________. A. is internationally known as the Great Hanshin earthquake B. didnt cause any damage in the neighborhood of Kobe C. is not the deadliest earthquake in the history of Japan D. didnt have any effects on Japan.