Question

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Explanation:

Analyze the question stem

The question asks: "According to the author of 'Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster,' how can a disaster help a country to prepare for a safer future?" This requires applying Reading Comprehension to identify the core argument or lesson presented in the text regarding post-disaster recovery and Disaster Mitigation.

Evaluate the options based on the text's themes

• Option A: "When a country rebuilds after a disaster, it can build stronger buildings." This directly relates to structural resilience and infrastructure improvement during the recovery phase, which is a key concept in Disaster Mitigation.
• Option B: "After a disaster, residents are more likely to take steps leaders suggest." While public compliance can increase, the primary structural preparation for a "safer future" in policy texts usually focuses on physical and systemic rebuilding.
• Option C: "Studying the disaster can help decision-makers see what they did wrong." This focuses on post-incident analysis rather than the active preparation/rebuilding process itself.
• Option D: "Disasters get attention and assistance from the international community." This describes an immediate external response rather than how the country itself prepares for its own safer future.

Determine the best answer

In "Seven Steps to Surviving a Disaster," the author emphasizes that the rebuilding phase is a critical window of opportunity. Instead of simply replacing what was lost, a country can implement safer building codes and construct more resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future events. Therefore, Option A is the most accurate representation of how a disaster serves as a catalyst for physical preparation and safety.

Answer:

• (A) When a country rebuilds after a disaster, it can build stronger buildings. (Correct answer)
• (B) After a disaster, residents are more likely to take steps leaders suggest.
• (C) Studying the disaster can help decision-makers see what they did wrong.
• (D) Disasters get attention and assistance from the international community.