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Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction Midterm Reviewer
Disaster Readiness And Risk Reduction
This reviewer covers key concepts in Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction, including seismic waves, elastic rebound theory, fault types, ground rupture hazards, soil liquefaction, landslides, and tsunami generation. It also provides safety guidance and mitigation measures for various disaster scenarios.
Earthquakes
Landslides
Tsunamis
29 Questions
Medium
Ages 15+
Aug 23, 2026
About this Study Set
This study set covers Disaster Readiness And Risk Reduction through
29 practice questions.
This reviewer covers key concepts in Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction, including seismic waves, elastic rebound theory, fault types, ground rupture hazards, soil liquefaction, landslides, and tsunami generation. It also provides safety guidance and mitigation measures for various disaster scenarios. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.
Questions & Answers
Browse all 29 questions from the
Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction Midterm Reviewer study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
What theory explains how earthquakes occur by the gradual buildup and sudden release of elastic strain energy along a fault?
-
A
Plate Tectonic Theory
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B
Elastic Rebound Theory
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C
Continental Drift Theory
-
D
Seafloor Spreading Theory
2
Which type of seismic wave travels fastest and arrives first at seismic recording stations?
-
A
Secondary (S) Waves
-
B
Surface Waves
-
C
Primary (P) Waves
-
D
Love Waves
3
S-waves are characterized by moving ground material perpendicular to the wave direction. What type of waves are they?
-
A
Compressional body waves
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B
Shear body waves
-
C
Surface waves
-
D
Love waves
4
Which seismic waves cause the most severe ground shaking and structural damage?
-
A
Primary (P) Waves
-
B
Secondary (S) Waves
-
C
Surface Waves
-
D
Body Waves
5
During strong ground shaking, what is the immediate safety protocol inside a building?
-
A
Run outside immediately
-
B
Stand near windows
-
C
Take cover under sturdy furniture
-
D
Open all doors and windows
6
What are fractures that move under current tectonic stress and have produced historical earthquakes called?
-
A
Inactive Faults
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B
Blind Faults
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C
Active Faults
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D
Healed Faults
7
Which type of fault structure does not reach or fracture the Earth's surface?
-
A
Active Faults
-
B
Inactive Faults
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C
Blind Faults
-
D
Surface Faults
8
Ground rupture along an active fault trace produces what kind of surface offsets?
-
A
Only vertical offsets
-
B
Only horizontal offsets
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C
Both vertical and horizontal offsets
-
D
No surface offsets
9
Strike-slip fault movement is characterized by dominant displacement parallel to the fault trace. What type of displacement is this?
-
A
Vertical displacement
-
B
Horizontal displacement
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C
Rotational displacement
-
D
Oblique displacement
10
Dip-slip fault movements involve what type of movement?
-
A
Horizontal movement
-
B
Vertical movement
-
C
Lateral movement
-
D
Shear movement
11
Poor structural design, improper construction standards, or inadequate foundations are common drivers of what during earthquakes?
-
A
Ground liquefaction
-
B
Tsunami generation
-
C
Building collapse
-
D
Soil erosion
12
What phenomenon occurs when loose, water-saturated sand with a shallow groundwater table loses shear strength and behaves like a liquid during strong ground shaking?
-
A
Landslide
-
B
Ground rupture
-
C
Soil liquefaction
-
D
Tsunami inundation
13
Which liquefaction feature is described as cone-shaped surface deposits formed when pressurized sand and water are ejected upward?
-
A
Lateral Spread
-
B
Sand Blow / Sand Boil
-
C
Subsidence
-
D
Flow Failure
14
What liquefaction feature involves the lateral displacement of surface soil blocks sliding over a liquefied layer?
-
A
Subsidence
-
B
Ground Oscillation
-
C
Lateral Spread
-
D
Loss of Bearing Capacity
15
Broad-scale sinking or vertical settlement of the ground surface caused by soil consolidation following liquefaction is known as:
-
A
Sand Blow
-
B
Flow Failure
-
C
Ground Oscillation
-
D
Subsidence
16
What liquefaction feature is characterized by the back-and-forth movement of surface soil blocks overlying a liquefied sub-layer without permanent lateral displacement?
-
A
Flow Failure
-
B
Ground Oscillation
-
C
Lateral Spread
-
D
Subsidence
17
Which liquefaction feature refers to the reduction in soil strength beneath heavy structures, leading to tilting or sinking?
-
A
Sand Blow
-
B
Flow Failure
-
C
Loss of Bearing Capacity
-
D
Ground Oscillation
18
Liquefaction hazard maps are used by government agencies for what purpose?
-
A
Predicting earthquake magnitudes
-
B
Identifying high-risk zones for construction
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C
Mapping active fault lines
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D
Forecasting tsunami arrival times
19
Methods like soil replacement, deep dynamic compaction, or grouting performed before construction to stabilize susceptible loose sand are examples of:
-
A
Structural Ductility
-
B
Site Improvements
-
C
Liquefaction Hazard Mapping
-
D
Ground Oscillation mitigation
20
Designing foundation elements with high ductility allows structures to:
-
A
Resist all ground motion
-
B
Absorb energy and accommodate large ground deformations
-
C
Prevent soil liquefaction
-
D
Increase fault slip speed
21
Which factor significantly lowers slope resistance and escalates earthquake-induced failure?
-
A
Gentle terrain
-
B
Strong bedrock
-
C
Increased pore water pressure
-
D
Deforestation
22
A landslide involving failure extending deep below the ground surface, involving massive rock blocks moving along deep slip surfaces is called:
-
A
Shallow Landslide
-
B
Complex Landslide
-
C
Rock Fall
-
D
Deep-Seated Landslide
23
What type of earthquake-induced landslide involves the free-fall detachment of individual rocks or boulders from steep cliffs?
-
A
Rock Slide
-
B
Soil / Mud Flow
-
C
Rock Fall
-
D
Shallow Landslide
24
A highly fluid downslope movement of water-saturated earth materials following ground shaking is known as:
-
A
Rock Slide
-
B
Rock Fall
-
C
Soil / Mud Flow
-
D
Deep-Seated Landslide
25
What is a series of powerful ocean waves generated by sudden, large-scale displacements of water called?
-
A
Tidal waves
-
B
Storm surges
-
C
Tsunamis
-
D
Rogue waves
26
In deep ocean waters, tsunamis travel at high speeds with exceptionally long wavelengths and what kind of surface amplitudes?
-
A
Large
-
B
Small
-
C
Moderate
-
D
Variable
27
Which of the following is a common cause of tsunamis?
-
A
High tide
-
B
Strong winds
-
C
Large submarine earthquakes
-
D
Volcanic ash clouds
28
As a tsunami approaches shallow coastal waters, friction slows the wave speed, causing its wavelength to decrease and its wave height to dramatically increase. This process is called:
-
A
Inundation
-
B
Shoaling
-
C
Refraction
-
D
Diffraction
29
What is the horizontal inland extent of flooding caused by incoming tsunami wave series over low-lying coastal land called?
-
A
Shoaling
-
B
Wave amplitude
-
C
Tsunami velocity
-
D
Inundation
