1. Introduction to the text
This article discusses the unusual appearance of four whales washed ashore on a Japanese beach, which some have speculated may be a precursor to an earthquake. The article provides context and expert opinions on the incident.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 전조 | jeonjjo | precursor, harbinger | Could the beached whales be a precursor to an earthquake? |
| 징후 | jinghu | sign, indication | Some are speculating that the beached whales could be a sign of an impending earthquake. |
| 떠밀려온 | tteomilllyeoon | washed ashore, drifted in | Four whales were washed ashore on the Japanese beach. |
| 고래 | gorae | whale | The four whales that drifted in were identified as humpback whales. |
| 발칵 | balkkak | in an uproar, in a commotion | The appearance of the four beached whales caused quite a commotion on social media. |
| 향유고래 | hyangyuggorae | humpback whale | The Japanese national museum confirmed that the beached whales were humpback whales. |
| 다테야마시 | Dateyamasi | Tateyama City | The humpback whales are commonly sighted in the Tateyama City area. |
| 비영리단체 | biyeongridanche | non-profit organization | A representative from a non-profit organization that investigates beached whales stated that there is no evidence to link the incident to an earthquake. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
도쿄 교도=연합뉴스 일본 해변에 떠밀려 온 고래 4마리와 러시아 캄차카반도 강진을 연결 짓는 게시물이 소셜미디어(SNS)를 중심으로 확산 중이다.
The news of four whales that were washed ashore on a Japanese beach has been widely circulated on social media, linking the incident to a strong earthquake that occurred in the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.
이후 이날 오전 8시 25분쯤 캄차카반도에서 규모 8.8의 강진이 발생하자, SNS에서는 이들 고래가 지진의 징조였다는 주장이 확산했다.
After a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula around 8:25 AM that day, claims on social media suggested that the beached whales were a precursor to the earthquake.
일본 국립과학박물관 측은 고래 4마리가 향유고래로 보인다면서, 다테야마시에서 자주 목격되는 종이지만 4마리가 함께 밀려온 것은 처음인 듯하다고 밝혔다.
The Japanese National Science Museum stated that the four whales appear to be humpback whales, a species commonly sighted in the Tateyama City area, but it is unusual for four of them to be washed ashore together.
또 지진 전 해저에서 평소와 다른 소리가 들리는 상황이었다면 어떤 영향이 있었을지 알 수 없다고 전했다.
The museum also mentioned that if there were unusual sounds heard from the seafloor prior to the earthquake, the impact on the whales is unknown.
해변에 밀려온 고래를 조사하는 비영리단체 관계자도 고래가 뭍에서 확인되는 사례는 하루에 1건 정도 있다면서 “지진의 징조라고 볼 근거는 없다”고 강조했다.
A representative from a non-profit organization that investigates beached whales stated that cases of whales being found on land occur about once a day, and there is no evidence to suggest that the beached whales were a precursor to the earthquake.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What connection was made between the beached whales and the earthquake in Kamchatka, Russia?
- What did the Japanese National Science Museum say about the four beached whales?
- What did the museum suggest about the potential impact of unusual seafloor sounds on the whales?
- What did the non-profit organization representative say about the frequency of beached whales?
- What was the main argument made by the non-profit organization representative regarding the connection between the beached whales and the earthquake?
5. Cultural and historical notes
Whales have long held a significant place in Japanese culture, with their depiction in art, literature, and folklore. The appearance of multiple whales washed ashore is an unusual event that has sparked speculation and discussion, particularly given the timing in relation to the earthquake in Kamchatka. While some have drawn connections, experts have cautioned against making definitive claims about the whales being a precursor to the earthquake.