Question 1

Ground displacement during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was:

Accepted Answer

A)  15 feet laterally. 
B)  25 feet laterally. 
C)  39 feet vertically upward. 
D)  53 feet vertically downward. 
A)  15 feet laterally. 
B)  25 feet laterally. 
C)  39 feet vertically upward. 
D)  53 feet vertically downward.

Question 2

Blind faults are:

Accepted Answer

A)  smaller faults that are part of a larger fault network. 
B)  faults with little or no surface expression. 
C)  faults that do not shift unless triggered by an adjacent, more active fault. 
D)  faults that lie below other faults. 
A)  smaller faults that are part of a larger fault network. 
B)  faults with little or no surface expression. 
C)  faults that do not shift unless triggered by an adjacent, more active fault. 
D)  faults that lie below other faults.

Question 3

All of the following hypotheses have been proposed to explain intraplate earthquakes EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  plate motion stresses the weakened and faulted crust at some intraplate sites. 
B)  mid- continent sediment deposition weighs down the crust, producing pressure that reactivates its faults. 
C)  substantial quantities of meltwater from the most geologically recent ice age has infiltrated and saturated networks of subsurface fractures. 
D)  long- term erosion has removed vast quantities of surface materials, allowing the buoyant crust to rise and generate stress on old faults. 
A)  plate motion stresses the weakened and faulted crust at some intraplate sites. 
B)  mid- continent sediment deposition weighs down the crust, producing pressure that reactivates its faults. 
C)  substantial quantities of meltwater from the most geologically recent ice age has infiltrated and saturated networks of subsurface fractures. 
D)  long- term erosion has removed vast quantities of surface materials, allowing the buoyant crust to rise and generate stress on old faults.

Question 4

Few earthquakes are recorded at depths below 450 miles because:

Accepted Answer

A)  they are too deep within the Earth to be detected by seismographs. 
B)  brittle failure does not occur at depths below 200 miles. 
C)  slabs that descend that far have been heated sufficiently to deform plastically. 
D)  lithostatic pressure at these depths prevents rocks from shifting relative to each other. 
A)  they are too deep within the Earth to be detected by seismographs. 
B)  brittle failure does not occur at depths below 200 miles. 
C)  slabs that descend that far have been heated sufficiently to deform plastically. 
D)  lithostatic pressure at these depths prevents rocks from shifting relative to each other.

Question 5

All of the following are differences between the Richter scale and the Mercalli intensity scale EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Richter scale uses quantitative data, whereas the Mercalli scale uses qualitative data. 
B)  the Richter magnitude decreases as distance from the epicenter increases, while the Mercalli measurement remains the same regardless of distance. 
C)  the Richter scale measures the size of earthquake waves, whereas the Mercalli scale measures the amount of damage. 
D)  the Richter scale is logarithmic, while the Mercalli scale is linear. 
A)  the Richter scale uses quantitative data, whereas the Mercalli scale uses qualitative data. 
B)  the Richter magnitude decreases as distance from the epicenter increases, while the Mercalli measurement remains the same regardless of distance. 
C)  the Richter scale measures the size of earthquake waves, whereas the Mercalli scale measures the amount of damage. 
D)  the Richter scale is logarithmic, while the Mercalli scale is linear.

Question 6

The ability to fight earthquake- caused fires is commonly hampered by:

Accepted Answer

A)  tinder- dry structures that readily burn. 
B)  narrow streets that impede passage of fire- fighting equipment. 
C)  broken water mains that lose pressure. 
D)  all of the above. 
A)  tinder- dry structures that readily burn. 
B)  narrow streets that impede passage of fire- fighting equipment. 
C)  broken water mains that lose pressure. 
D)  all of the above.

Question 7

In the formula for determining the seismic moment of an earthquake, the quantity measured for "strength of rock" is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the brittle failure modulus. 
B)  the deformation modulus. 
C)  the plastic modulus. 
D)  the elastic modulus. 
A)  the brittle failure modulus. 
B)  the deformation modulus. 
C)  the plastic modulus. 
D)  the elastic modulus.

Question 8

All of the following practices would tend to minimize the amount of damage sustained by a particular building during an earthquake EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  joining structural elements (floors, walls, ceilings) firmly rather than loosely. 
B)  locating the building as far as possible from an active fault. 
C)  using wood instead of concrete block as the building material. 
D)  building on unconsolidated sediment rather than on bedrock. 
A)  joining structural elements (floors, walls, ceilings) firmly rather than loosely. 
B)  locating the building as far as possible from an active fault. 
C)  using wood instead of concrete block as the building material. 
D)  building on unconsolidated sediment rather than on bedrock.

Question 9

A seismograph works:

Accepted Answer

A)  with the aid of electrodes inserted in the Earth to detect fluctuations in electrical conductivity caused by vibrations. 
B)  via a stationary satellite that is aimed at a specific point on the Earth's surface to detect the slightest tremors. 
C)  by triggering a spring- loaded mechanism during an earthquake. 
D)  by means of a freely suspended weight that tends to remain stationary when the Earth vibrates. 
A)  with the aid of electrodes inserted in the Earth to detect fluctuations in electrical conductivity caused by vibrations. 
B)  via a stationary satellite that is aimed at a specific point on the Earth's surface to detect the slightest tremors. 
C)  by triggering a spring- loaded mechanism during an earthquake. 
D)  by means of a freely suspended weight that tends to remain stationary when the Earth vibrates.

Question 10

What methods are used for short- term prediction of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

Most short- term prediction methods are

Question 11

The Richter scale measures which characteristic of earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Preliminary magnitude from seismographic trace. 
B)  Observed destructiveness or intensity. 
C)  The total energy or seismic moment. 
D)  The amount of energy released or magnitude. 
A)  Preliminary magnitude from seismographic trace. 
B)  Observed destructiveness or intensity. 
C)  The total energy or seismic moment. 
D)  The amount of energy released or magnitude.

Question 12

List and briefly describe four of the damaging effects of earthquakes.

Accepted Answer

(Students' answers should include four o

Question 13

All of the following are true of intraplate earthquakes EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  they occur in extremely brittle rocks, and their effects are often felt over a wider area than those of plate boundary earthquakes. 
B)  they occur in areas of the Earth's crust that are already weakened by numerous faults. 
C)  they almost always occur at the surface, and are readily observable. 
D)  they are generally shallow, with a focus less than 30 miles deep. 
A)  they occur in extremely brittle rocks, and their effects are often felt over a wider area than those of plate boundary earthquakes. 
B)  they occur in areas of the Earth's crust that are already weakened by numerous faults. 
C)  they almost always occur at the surface, and are readily observable. 
D)  they are generally shallow, with a focus less than 30 miles deep.

Question 14

In an earthquake- prone region, the safest house would be a:

Accepted Answer

A)  log cabin built on loose soil. 
B)  log cabin built on bedrock. 
C)  brick house built on bedrock. 
D)  brick house built on loose soil. 
A)  log cabin built on loose soil. 
B)  log cabin built on bedrock. 
C)  brick house built on bedrock. 
D)  brick house built on loose soil.

Question 15

If an earthquake occurs, the first waves to arrive at a seismograph are the:

Accepted Answer

A)  P waves. 
B)  side- to- side surface waves. 
C)  S waves. 
D)  rolling surface waves. 
A)  P waves. 
B)  side- to- side surface waves. 
C)  S waves. 
D)  rolling surface waves.

Question 16

The Mercalli intensity scale is ineffective in providing information about all of the following earthquake effects EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  characterization of historical earthquakes. 
B)  utilitization in uninhabited parts of the world. 
C)  location of the earthquake epicenter. 
D)  determination of damage due to actual ground motion. 
A)  characterization of historical earthquakes. 
B)  utilitization in uninhabited parts of the world. 
C)  location of the earthquake epicenter. 
D)  determination of damage due to actual ground motion.

Question 17

The magnitude of the 1700 Northwest earthquake was probably:

Accepted Answer

A)  8.0. 
B)  8.5. 
C)  9.0. 
D)  9.5. 
A)  8.0. 
B)  8.5. 
C)  9.0. 
D)  9.5.

Question 18

Describe the various kinds of seismic waves.

Accepted Answer

Earthquake energy is released through se

Question 19

Very minor earthquakes (2.0-3.0 on the Richter scale) occur on an average of 1000 per day. Earthquakes of magnitude 7.0-7.9 have an annual average occurrence of:

Accepted Answer

A)  8 per year. 
B)  18 per year. 
C)  128 per year. 
D)  180 per year. 
A)  8 per year. 
B)  18 per year. 
C)  128 per year. 
D)  180 per year.

Question 20

Earthquake waves that alternately cause rocks to compress and dilate are:

Accepted Answer

A)  S waves. 
B)  rolling surface waves. 
C)  side- to- side surface waves. 
D)  P waves. 
A)  S waves. 
B)  rolling surface waves. 
C)  side- to- side surface waves. 
D)  P waves.

Ground displacement during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was:

Blind faults are:

All of the following hypotheses have been proposed to explain intraplate earthquakes EXCEPT:

Few earthquakes are recorded at depths below 450 miles because:

All of the following are differences between the Richter scale and the Mercalli intensity scale EXCEPT:

The ability to fight earthquake- caused fires is commonly hampered by:

In the formula for determining the seismic moment of an earthquake, the quantity measured for "strength of rock" is:

All of the following practices would tend to minimize the amount of damage sustained by a particular building during an earthquake EXCEPT:

A seismograph works:

What methods are used for short- term prediction of earthquakes?

The Richter scale measures which characteristic of earthquakes?

List and briefly describe four of the damaging effects of earthquakes.

All of the following are true of intraplate earthquakes EXCEPT:

In an earthquake- prone region, the safest house would be a:

If an earthquake occurs, the first waves to arrive at a seismograph are the:

The Mercalli intensity scale is ineffective in providing information about all of the following earthquake effects EXCEPT:

The magnitude of the 1700 Northwest earthquake was probably:

Describe the various kinds of seismic waves.

Very minor earthquakes (2.0-3.0 on the Richter scale) occur on an average of 1000 per day. Earthquakes of magnitude 7.0-7.9 have an annual average occurrence of:

Earthquake waves that alternately cause rocks to compress and dilate are:

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters

Exam 10: Earthquakes

Ground displacement during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was:

Blind faults are:

All of the following hypotheses have been proposed to explain intraplate earthquakes EXCEPT:

Few earthquakes are recorded at depths below 450 miles because:

All of the following are differences between the Richter scale and the Mercalli intensity scale EXCEPT:

The ability to fight earthquake- caused fires is commonly hampered by:

In the formula for determining the seismic moment of an earthquake, the quantity measured for "strength of rock" is:

All of the following practices would tend to minimize the amount of damage sustained by a particular building during an earthquake EXCEPT:

A seismograph works:

What methods are used for short- term prediction of earthquakes?

The Richter scale measures which characteristic of earthquakes?

List and briefly describe four of the damaging effects of earthquakes.

All of the following are true of intraplate earthquakes EXCEPT:

In an earthquake- prone region, the safest house would be a:

If an earthquake occurs, the first waves to arrive at a seismograph are the:

The Mercalli intensity scale is ineffective in providing information about all of the following earthquake effects EXCEPT:

The magnitude of the 1700 Northwest earthquake was probably:

Describe the various kinds of seismic waves.

Very minor earthquakes (2.0-3.0 on the Richter scale) occur on an average of 1000 per day. Earthquakes of magnitude 7.0-7.9 have an annual average occurrence of:

Earthquake waves that alternately cause rocks to compress and dilate are:

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters