Question 1

On the modified mercalli intensity scale the maximum value is _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  XVI 
B)  XV 
C)  XIV 
D)  XIII 
E)  XII 
A)  XVI 
B)  XV 
C)  XIV 
D)  XIII 
E)  XII

Question 2

An earthquake of Richter magnitude 5 releases 32 times more energy than an earthquake of magnitude 4.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Richter scale values above 7 are not accurate. The ______ scale is a more objective method of measuring the energy of a large earthquake.

Accepted Answer

A)  seismic trace 
B)  moment magnitude 
C)  P-wave amplitude 
D)  Modified Mercalli 
E)  gravity meter 
A)  seismic trace 
B)  moment magnitude 
C)  P-wave amplitude 
D)  Modified Mercalli 
E)  gravity meter

Question 4

_____ earthquakes probably occur along older faults that are no longer at plate boundaries, for example the New Madrid Missouri earthquakes of 1811-1812.

Accepted Answer

A)  Interplate 
B)  Normal 
C)  Intraplate 
D)  Transform 
E)  Subduction 
A)  Interplate 
B)  Normal 
C)  Intraplate 
D)  Transform 
E)  Subduction

Question 5

Paleoseismology studies the past record of earthquakes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

As a dense oceanic plate begins to bend down into a trench, it stresses slightly at the top of the bend and normal faults occur.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The point on the earth's surface immediately above the focus is the seismic center.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Although large earthquakes are rare in the central and eastern United States, when they do occur they tend to be very destructive because _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  they occur infrequently 
B)  the crust there is cool and brittle 
C)  more people live in that region 
D)  the faults in that region are older and larger 
E)  the crust in that region is thicker 
A)  they occur infrequently 
B)  the crust there is cool and brittle 
C)  more people live in that region 
D)  the faults in that region are older and larger 
E)  the crust in that region is thicker

Question 9

P-waves are compressional waves in which the rock vibrates back and forth parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

During an earthquake, buildings built on hard rock are damaged more than buildings built on soft sediment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Earthquakes occur more or less uniformly throughout the Earth in the recent past.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

______ would be associated with Benioff zones.

Accepted Answer

A)  Andesite volcanoes 
B)  Oceanic trenches 
C)  Edges of continents 
D)  Island arcs 
E)  All the answers are correct. 
A)  Andesite volcanoes 
B)  Oceanic trenches 
C)  Edges of continents 
D)  Island arcs 
E)  All the answers are correct.

Question 13

The effects of ground motion caused by an earthquake do not include _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  permanent land surface displacement 
B)  fire 
C)  volcanism 
D)  landslides 
E)  soil liquefaction 
A)  permanent land surface displacement 
B)  fire 
C)  volcanism 
D)  landslides 
E)  soil liquefaction

Question 14

Which of the following is not used to aid in earthquake prediction?

Accepted Answer

A)  tsunamis 
B)  foreshocks 
C)  increase of radon emissions from water wells 
D)  patterns of earthquakes 
E)  seismic gaps 
A)  tsunamis 
B)  foreshocks 
C)  increase of radon emissions from water wells 
D)  patterns of earthquakes 
E)  seismic gaps

Question 15

Body waves are seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

_____ maps are useful for assessing how different areas respond to seismic waves and provide valuable information for earthquake planning.

Accepted Answer

A)  Focus 
B)  Intensity 
C)  Epicenter 
D)  Magnitude 
E)  Intermediate 
A)  Focus 
B)  Intensity 
C)  Epicenter 
D)  Magnitude 
E)  Intermediate

Question 17

Rupture begins at the _____ and then spreads rapidly along the fault plane.

Accepted Answer

A)  epicenter 
B)  point of contact 
C)  plate boundary 
D)  focus 
E)  shear plane 
A)  epicenter 
B)  point of contact 
C)  plate boundary 
D)  focus 
E)  shear plane

Question 18

The greatest loss of life in the 1964 southern Alaska earthquake was from _________.

Accepted Answer

A)  landslides 
B)  tsunamis 
C)  fires 
D)  building collapse 
E)  soil displacement 
A)  landslides 
B)  tsunamis 
C)  fires 
D)  building collapse 
E)  soil displacement

Question 19

A(n) _______ is a seismic sea wave.

Accepted Answer

A)  body wave 
B)  S-wave 
C)  R-wave 
D)  tsunami 
E)  tidal wave 
A)  body wave 
B)  S-wave 
C)  R-wave 
D)  tsunami 
E)  tidal wave

Question 20

One suggested cause of deep focus earthquakes is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  collapse of minerals into denser forms 
B)  collapse of pore space in sedimentary rocks 
C)  collision of convection currents 
D)  friction between the core and the mantle 
E)  the rise of core material into the mantle 
A)  collapse of minerals into denser forms 
B)  collapse of pore space in sedimentary rocks 
C)  collision of convection currents 
D)  friction between the core and the mantle 
E)  the rise of core material into the mantle

Exam 16: Earthquakes

On the modified mercalli intensity scale the maximum value is _______.

An earthquake of Richter magnitude 5 releases 32 times more energy than an earthquake of magnitude 4.

Richter scale values above 7 are not accurate. The ______ scale is a more objective method of measuring the energy of a large earthquake.

_____ earthquakes probably occur along older faults that are no longer at plate boundaries, for example the New Madrid Missouri earthquakes of 1811-1812.

Paleoseismology studies the past record of earthquakes.

As a dense oceanic plate begins to bend down into a trench, it stresses slightly at the top of the bend and normal faults occur.

The point on the earth's surface immediately above the focus is the seismic center.

Although large earthquakes are rare in the central and eastern United States, when they do occur they tend to be very destructive because _______.

P-waves are compressional waves in which the rock vibrates back and forth parallel to the direction of wave propagation.

During an earthquake, buildings built on hard rock are damaged more than buildings built on soft sediment.

Earthquakes occur more or less uniformly throughout the Earth in the recent past.

______ would be associated with Benioff zones.

The effects of ground motion caused by an earthquake do not include _____.

Which of the following is not used to aid in earthquake prediction?

Body waves are seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior.

_____ maps are useful for assessing how different areas respond to seismic waves and provide valuable information for earthquake planning.

Rupture begins at the _____ and then spreads rapidly along the fault plane.

The greatest loss of life in the 1964 southern Alaska earthquake was from _________.

A(n) _______ is a seismic sea wave.

One suggested cause of deep focus earthquakes is ______.

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