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From PORT-AU-PRINCE: A major earthquake has rocked Haiti, killing possibly thousands of people as it toppled the presidential palace and hillside shanties alike, and left the Caribbean nation appealing for international help.

Haitian President Rene Preval said yesterday he feared thousands of people had been killed in the earthquake.

In his first media interview since the quake hit on Tuesday, Preval told the Miami Herald the scene in the capital Port-au-Prince was "unimaginable".

"Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed," he said.

A five-story UN headquarters building was also brought down by Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude quake, the most powerful to hit Haiti in more than 200 years, according to the US Geological Survey.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he feared everyone in the UN building was killed when it collapsed.

Eight Chinese peacekeepers are reported to be buried under the rubble, and more than 10 of their colleagues are missing.

China has a 125-member peacekeeping police mission as part of United Nations Stabilization Mission.

TV footage from the capital, Port-au-Prince, showed scenes of chaos on the streets with people sobbing and appearing dazed amid the rubble. The presidential palace lay in ruins, its domes fallen on top of flattened walls.

A 60-member Chinese team, including rescuers and medical staff, left Beijing at 8:30 last night for Haiti to help the earthquake-hit nation.

Questions:

1. How powerful was the earthquake that hit Haiti?

2. How has China responded?

3. How many people from China are in Haiti, and are any of them hurt?

Answers:

1. It was a magnitude 7.0 quake, the most powerful to hit Haiti in more than 200 years, according to the US Geological Survey.

2. After Haiti called for help from around the world, a 60-member Chinese team left Beijing last night to help the country.

3. Eight Chinese peacekeepers are reported to be buried under the rubble, and more than 10 of their colleagues are missing. China has a 125-member peacekeeping police mission as part of United Nations Stabilization Mission.

去听写专区一展身手

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.