The New Madrid fault, on the other hand, is a vertical fault; at some points, possibly hundreds of millions of years ago, rock was pushed up toward the surface, probably by volcanoes under the surface. Suddenly, the volcanoes cooled and the rock collapsed, leaving huge cracks. Even now, the rock continues to settle downwards, and sudden sinking motions trigger （触发） earthquakes in the region. The fault itself, a large crack in this layer of rock, with dozens of other cracks that split off from it, extends from northeastArkansas through Missouri and into southern lllinois.

　　Scientists who have studied the New Madrid fault say there have been numerous smaller quakes in the area since 1811; these smaller quakes indicate that larger ones are probably coming, but the scientists say have no method of predictingwhen a large earthquake will occur.

　　11. This passage is mainly about　　　　.

　　A）the New Madrid fault in Missouri

　　B）the San Andreas and the New Madrid faults

　　C）the causes of faults

　　D）current scientific knowledge about faults

　　12. The New Madrid fault is　　　　　.

　　A）　a horizontal fault

　　B）　a vertical fault

　　C）　a more serious fault than the San Andreas fault

　　D）　responsible for forming the Mississippi River

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