The theatre did not bum down. Firefighters arrived quickly
after the alarm (报警) and put out the fire so fast that no more than the seat
coverings were burned. However, 602 people died, and many more were injured.
Panic (惊慌), not the fire itself, caused the tragedy (悲剧). A
similar disaster occurred on a July morning in 1990 in the city of Mecca.
Thousands of people were walking through a 600-yard-long tunnel (隧道) when the
lights accidentally went out. Panic started the frightened people pushing their
way through the tunnel and 1,426 people were killed. The people
in the Theatre and the Mecca tunnel behaved as people often do when faced with
unexpected and dangerous situations such as fires, earthquakes, and floods: they
panicked. Panic is one of the more extreme types of grouped people’s behavior.
It is a useless response to a serious threat or danger. It generally involves
flight, but it is a special kind of flight. However, in panic behavior, the
flight is unwise and unhelpful. It follows a loss of self-control, and it
increases, rather than reduces, danger to oneself and others.
Worst Killer in Time of Danger The
number of people died in the theatre fire: (46)
The main cause of the deaths in the fire: People’s (47)
not the fire itself The length of the tunnel
mentioned: (48) Result of flight in time of
danger: 1) (49) of self-control
2) increase of (50)