Nowadays, with the development of Internet technology, two-dimensional code (二维码) is very popular among us. It's also {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) quick response code (QR code). It's a group of black square dots on a white background. This special code was invented {#blank#}2{#/blank#} a Japanese company in 1994. It's {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (wide) used all over the world.

    QR code is used {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (store) information. It can also store pictures. It is easy to use a QR code. If you want to get the information, just take out your cellphone and scan (扫描) the code by a special app, and then you can get {#blank#}5{#/blank#} easily.

Today, QR codcs are popular in China. There are QR codes on televisions and the Internet. The codes have been used and printed on Chinese train tickets {#blank#}6{#/blank#} 2010. When a machine scans the code on the ticket, information of the ticket owner and the train {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (appear) on the screen in a few seconds.

    QR codes have many special uses. For example, in 2008, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} Japanese company planned to put QR codes on gravestones (墓碑). By scanning the code, visitors could get information about the departed (去世的) person. Recently, special cards {#blank#}9{#/blank#} QR codes were introduced to old people in some cities in China. If they get {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (lose), people can know about their names, addresses and telephone numbers of their family members by scanning the codes.

It was about two o'clock in the early morning {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 21 September, 1999. Tommy was sleeping when the earthquake started. He felt a slight shake, then he {#blank#}2{#/blank#} a loud noise like thunder. Soon the real noise came, like bombs under the ground. The earth started to {#blank#}3{#/blank#} . People screamed in fear. Some ran out of the building. He tried his {#blank#}4{#/blank#} to run out too, but he couldn't.

Outside, people were running in all directions while pieces of glass and bricks were falling down. Then the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} began to come down too!

Finally, the noise and shaking ended. It was dark and silent around him. He could not see anything at all, and he did not know if anyone else was near him. He felt {#blank#}6{#/blank#} and his heart was beating fast. A moment of fear went through his mind, but he told {#blank#}7{#/blank#} to calm down since he was still alive. He shouted for {#blank#}8{#/blank#} , but no one came. He started to move slowly in the darkness. Luckily, there was just enough space for him to move.

Hours later, Tommy heard {#blank#}9{#/blank#} noise above him. He screamed, "Help! Please help! I'm here!" Then he heard shouts from excited people. They {#blank#}10{#/blank#} moved away the bricks. At last, Tommy was safe.