Questions & Answers
Browse all 20 questions from the
Natural Disasters Knowledge Quiz study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
What is the point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake originates?
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A
Epicenter
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B
Fault line
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C
Focus
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D
Seismic zone
2
Which scale is commonly used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake?
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A
Beaufort Scale
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B
Richter Scale
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C
Saffir-Simpson Scale
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D
Fujita Scale
3
What is a long, high sea wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption called?
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A
Tidal bore
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B
Rip current
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C
Tsunami
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D
Storm surge
4
Which type of volcano is characterized by wide, gentle slopes formed by fluid lava flows?
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A
Cinder cone
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B
Composite volcano
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C
Shield volcano
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D
Lava dome
5
What do meteorologists call a tropical cyclone with wind speeds exceeding 119 kilometres per hour?
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A
Thunderstorm
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B
Hurricane
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C
Monsoon
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D
Tornado
6
What is the primary instrument used to detect and record earthquake vibrations?
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A
Barometer
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B
Anemometer
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C
Seismograph
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D
Hygrometer
7
In which layer of the Earth do most earthquakes occur?
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A
Inner core
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B
Outer core
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C
Mantle
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D
Crust
8
What term describes a period of abnormally dry weather that lasts long enough to cause water shortages?
-
A
Drought
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B
Heatwave
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C
Desertification
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D
Erosion
9
What is the name of the 'ring' of high volcanic and seismic activity surrounding the Pacific Ocean?
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A
The Pacific Belt
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B
The Ring of Fire
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C
The Tectonic Zone
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D
The Volcanic Arc
10
Which scale is used to classify the intensity of tornadoes?
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A
Enhanced Fujita Scale
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B
Richter Scale
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C
Mercalli Scale
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D
Saffir-Simpson Scale
11
What is the term for a rapid downslope movement of rock, soil, and vegetation?
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A
Avalanche
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B
Landslide
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C
Earthquake
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D
Subsidence
12
What type of natural disaster is characterized by a violent, rotating column of air in contact with the ground?
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A
Cyclone
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B
Tornado
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C
Typhoon
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D
Blizzard
13
Which of these is the most common cause of a forest fire in nature?
-
A
Lightning
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B
Volcanic activity
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C
Animal activity
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D
Soil friction
14
What refers to the overflow of water onto land that is usually dry?
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A
Tsunami
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B
Flooding
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C
Inundation
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D
Saturation
15
What is the name of the molten rock that is found beneath the Earth's surface?
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A
Lava
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B
Ash
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C
Magma
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D
Tephra
16
Which natural disaster occurs when snow, ice, and rock move rapidly down a mountain slope?
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A
Mudslide
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B
Avalanche
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C
Rockfall
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D
Glacial retreat
17
What is the term for the boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other?
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A
Convergent boundary
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B
Transform boundary
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C
Divergent boundary
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D
Subduction zone
18
Which of these is a secondary effect of a large earthquake?
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A
Tsunami
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B
Rainfall
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C
High tide
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D
Temperature drop
19
What is the main gas released by a volcanic eruption that can temporarily cool the global climate?
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A
Oxygen
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B
Sulfur dioxide
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C
Methane
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D
Helium
20
What is the term for the shaking of the Earth's crust caused by the sudden release of energy?
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A
Tectonic shift
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B
Earthquake
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C
Volcanic tremor
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D
Plate drift
