199 words
Junko and Satoshi are university students. Junko is telling Satoshi about her geology presentation.
Satoshi: So what's your presentation about?
Junko: Have you ever heard of a house being swallowed into the ground?
Satoshi: No! That's impossible, isn't it?
Junko: Well, I was doing some research in the library and I read about a house that was swallowed into the ground.
Satoshi: How did that happen?
Junko: The house was built a long time ago. It was built on a kind of soil called *quick clay. Quick clay is normally hard, but it can turn into a liquid in heavy rains or if there is an earthquake.
Satoshi: So, the house sank like a boat?
Junko: That's right. There was a lot of rain at that time and the house was swallowed into the soil.
Satoshi: That's terrible. Is this a problem here in Japan?
Junko: No. I read that only countries in the north like Canada, Russia, Norway and Sweden are affected by quick clay. Quick clay forms naturally in areas that used to be covered with large glaciers.
Satoshi: I see. Is there any way to test for quick clay?
Junko: Yes, there is. Nowadays, people try to avoid building new houses or roads on this kind of soil.
＊quick clay クイッククレイ