Question 1

This diagram indicates that:

Accepted Answer

A)  S-waves are the first wave to arrive at station and then die out into P-waves 
B)  S-waves are the last wave to arrive at the station 
C)  P-waves arrive first, followed by S-waves 
D)  surface waves arrive first, followed by S-waves and then P-waves 
E)  surface waves cause the smallest vibrations 
A)  S-waves are the first wave to arrive at station and then die out into P-waves 
B)  S-waves are the last wave to arrive at the station 
C)  P-waves arrive first, followed by S-waves 
D)  surface waves arrive first, followed by S-waves and then P-waves 
E)  surface waves cause the smallest vibrations

Question 2

How does the seismic tomography method work?

Accepted Answer

A)  large pieces of rock are put inside a medical device and x-rayed to see what is inside 
B)  large pieces of rock are put inside a medical device and subjected to seismic waves 
C)  some seismic waves coming from different directions arrive faster or slower than expected 
D)  seismic instruments are set up on different sides of a small hill to measure the elevation 
A)  large pieces of rock are put inside a medical device and x-rayed to see what is inside 
B)  large pieces of rock are put inside a medical device and subjected to seismic waves 
C)  some seismic waves coming from different directions arrive faster or slower than expected 
D)  seismic instruments are set up on different sides of a small hill to measure the elevation

Question 3

What is the tectonic setting of the large 2011Tohuku earthquake in Japan?

Accepted Answer

A)  slip along a transform fault that cuts through Japan 
B)  slip along a transform fault that is just offshore to the north 
C)  rifting in the Sea of Japan, west of the island 
D)  slip along a subduction zone megathrust) 
A)  slip along a transform fault that cuts through Japan 
B)  slip along a transform fault that is just offshore to the north 
C)  rifting in the Sea of Japan, west of the island 
D)  slip along a subduction zone megathrust)

Question 4

Most earthquakes occur at depths of:

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 100 km 
B)  greater than 100 km 
C)  100-700 km 
A)  less than 100 km 
B)  greater than 100 km 
C)  100-700 km

Question 5

Which of the following places did NOT experience a major earthquake?

Accepted Answer

A)  Northridge area of Los Angeles 
B)  Mexico City 
C)  Charleston, South Carolina 
D)  New Madrid, Missouri 
E)  all of these experienced major earthquakes 
A)  Northridge area of Los Angeles 
B)  Mexico City 
C)  Charleston, South Carolina 
D)  New Madrid, Missouri 
E)  all of these experienced major earthquakes

Question 6

Based on the three seismograms, which seismic station was closest to the epicenter of the earthquake?

Accepted Answer

A)  ISCO 
B)  DUG 
C)  WUAZ 
D)  All stations were the same distance from the earthquake 
A)  ISCO 
B)  DUG 
C)  WUAZ 
D)  All stations were the same distance from the earthquake

Question 7

If an earthquake occurred near the oceanic trench in this figure, which one of the following hazards is likely to threaten the town of Mesaview?

Accepted Answer

A)  ground shaking 
B)  liquefaction of soils and other weak materials because of shaking 
C)  landslides and other slope failures caused by shaking 
D)  destruction by a tsunami 
A)  ground shaking 
B)  liquefaction of soils and other weak materials because of shaking 
C)  landslides and other slope failures caused by shaking 
D)  destruction by a tsunami

Question 8

The image shows a surface expression of slip along a normal fault caused by an earthquake. What is the indicated feature?

Accepted Answer

A)  fault scarp 
B)  hanging wall 
C)  graben 
D)  hypocenter 
A)  fault scarp 
B)  hanging wall 
C)  graben 
D)  hypocenter

Question 9

Which of the following is true about where earthquakes occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earthquakes are randomly distributed across most of Earth. 
B)  Earthquakes mostly occur away from plate boundaries. 
C)  Deep and intermediate-depth earthquakes occur near subduction zones. 
D)  Deep earthquakes are most common near rising mantle plumes. 
A)  Earthquakes are randomly distributed across most of Earth. 
B)  Earthquakes mostly occur away from plate boundaries. 
C)  Deep and intermediate-depth earthquakes occur near subduction zones. 
D)  Deep earthquakes are most common near rising mantle plumes.

Question 10

The southern San Andreas fault near Los Angeles is considered a candidate for a major earthquake because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it moved fairly recently during the Northridge earthquake and so is ready to move again 
B)  it is a divergent plate boundary 
C)  magma is rising along the fault and heating it up 
D)  this segment of the fault has not moved for more than 100 years 
A)  it moved fairly recently during the Northridge earthquake and so is ready to move again 
B)  it is a divergent plate boundary 
C)  magma is rising along the fault and heating it up 
D)  this segment of the fault has not moved for more than 100 years

Question 11

Which of the following would NOT be a good idea in an area that has a high risk for earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

A)  have many new buildings be made of rigid concrete or masonry 
B)  keep 72 hours worth of food and water in an easily-carried backpack 
C)  have hospitals install computerized earthquake warning systems that will shut down natural gas systems and turn on back-up generators 
D)  require that new buildings be built to flex easily 
E)  all of these would be a good idea 
A)  have many new buildings be made of rigid concrete or masonry 
B)  keep 72 hours worth of food and water in an easily-carried backpack 
C)  have hospitals install computerized earthquake warning systems that will shut down natural gas systems and turn on back-up generators 
D)  require that new buildings be built to flex easily 
E)  all of these would be a good idea

Question 12

What features may be common along active faults, like the San Andreas?

Accepted Answer

A)  Offset stream channel 
B)  Scarp 
C)  Linear ridge and/or valley 
D)  Drainage channels run parallel to fault 
E)  All of these are common features 
A)  Offset stream channel 
B)  Scarp 
C)  Linear ridge and/or valley 
D)  Drainage channels run parallel to fault 
E)  All of these are common features

Question 13

The December 26, 2004 Indonesian earthquake occurred:

Accepted Answer

A)  on land 
B)  from a large volcanic eruption 
C)  from subduction of the Indian-Australian plate 
D)  along the San Andreas fault 
A)  on land 
B)  from a large volcanic eruption 
C)  from subduction of the Indian-Australian plate 
D)  along the San Andreas fault

Question 14

The top cross section below shows earthquakes along the San Andreas fault before October 17, 1989 and the one on the bottom shows earthquakes along the same fault after that date. These two cross sections illustrate that:

Accepted Answer

A)  one way to predict the locations of future earthquakes is to identify seismic gaps 
B)  San Francisco is due for an earthquake 
C)  the most dangerous part of a fault may be one that has not had recent earthquakes 
D)  all of these 
A)  one way to predict the locations of future earthquakes is to identify seismic gaps 
B)  San Francisco is due for an earthquake 
C)  the most dangerous part of a fault may be one that has not had recent earthquakes 
D)  all of these

Question 15

What types of information can be gained from trenches dug across a fault?

Accepted Answer

A)  the offset of layers of sediment and soil 
B)  samples of charcoal to date by carbon-14 
C)  layers of carbon-rich peat, which can be dated by carbon-14 
D)  all of these 
A)  the offset of layers of sediment and soil 
B)  samples of charcoal to date by carbon-14 
C)  layers of carbon-rich peat, which can be dated by carbon-14 
D)  all of these

Question 16

Which of the following may indicate the presence of a fault scarp?

Accepted Answer

A)  Break in a slope along a hill side 
B)  A "step" in the landscape 
C)  Freshly exposed, generally linear feature with little/no vegetation 
D)  All of these can indicate the presence of a fault scarp 
A)  Break in a slope along a hill side 
B)  A "step" in the landscape 
C)  Freshly exposed, generally linear feature with little/no vegetation 
D)  All of these can indicate the presence of a fault scarp

Question 17

If three seismic stations have the following P-S intervals: DUG = 57 sec, WUAZ = 73 sec, ISCO = 14 sec, what is the order from closest station to the earthquake to the one farthest away?

Accepted Answer

A)  ISCO-DUG-WUAZ 
B)  DUG-ISCO-WUAZ 
C)  WUAZ-DUG ISCO 
D)  ISCO-WUAZ-DUG 
A)  ISCO-DUG-WUAZ 
B)  DUG-ISCO-WUAZ 
C)  WUAZ-DUG ISCO 
D)  ISCO-WUAZ-DUG

Question 18

The refracted wave shown in the diagram has passed into a material that caused it to:

Accepted Answer

A)  slow down 
B)  speed up 
C)  travel the same speed but rise toward the surface 
D)  rise toward the source of the earthquake 
A)  slow down 
B)  speed up 
C)  travel the same speed but rise toward the surface 
D)  rise toward the source of the earthquake

Question 19

On this map of South America and adjacent areas, which site would most likely generate a tsunami?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, the oceanic trench 
B)  2, below the magmatic belt 
C)  3, along a passive margin 
D)  4, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean 
A)  1, the oceanic trench 
B)  2, below the magmatic belt 
C)  3, along a passive margin 
D)  4, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

Question 20

Overall, a P-wave increases in velocity with depth. This implies that:

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks are increasing in density with depth 
B)  rocks are decreasing in density with depth 
C)  rocks do not change density with depth 
D)  P-waves cannot travel through molten material 
A)  rocks are increasing in density with depth 
B)  rocks are decreasing in density with depth 
C)  rocks do not change density with depth 
D)  P-waves cannot travel through molten material

This diagram indicates that:

How does the seismic tomography method work?

What is the tectonic setting of the large 2011Tohuku earthquake in Japan?

Most earthquakes occur at depths of:

Which of the following places did NOT experience a major earthquake?

Based on the three seismograms, which seismic station was closest to the epicenter of the earthquake?

If an earthquake occurred near the oceanic trench in this figure, which one of the following hazards is likely to threaten the town of Mesaview?

The image shows a surface expression of slip along a normal fault caused by an earthquake. What is the indicated feature?

Which of the following is true about where earthquakes occur?

The southern San Andreas fault near Los Angeles is considered a candidate for a major earthquake because:

Which of the following would NOT be a good idea in an area that has a high risk for earthquakes?

What features may be common along active faults, like the San Andreas?

The December 26, 2004 Indonesian earthquake occurred:

The top cross section below shows earthquakes along the San Andreas fault before October 17, 1989 and the one on the bottom shows earthquakes along the same fault after that date. These two cross sections illustrate that:

What types of information can be gained from trenches dug across a fault?

Which of the following may indicate the presence of a fault scarp?

If three seismic stations have the following P-S intervals: DUG = 57 sec, WUAZ = 73 sec, ISCO = 14 sec, what is the order from closest station to the earthquake to the one farthest away?

The refracted wave shown in the diagram has passed into a material that caused it to: $The refracted wave shown in the diagram has passed into a material that caused it to:$

On this map of South America and adjacent areas, which site would most likely generate a tsunami?

Overall, a P-wave increases in velocity with depth. This implies that:

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Exam 12: Earthquakes and Earths Interior

This diagram indicates that:

How does the seismic tomography method work?

What is the tectonic setting of the large 2011Tohuku earthquake in Japan?

Most earthquakes occur at depths of:

Which of the following places did NOT experience a major earthquake?

Based on the three seismograms, which seismic station was closest to the epicenter of the earthquake?

If an earthquake occurred near the oceanic trench in this figure, which one of the following hazards is likely to threaten the town of Mesaview?

The image shows a surface expression of slip along a normal fault caused by an earthquake. What is the indicated feature?

Which of the following is true about where earthquakes occur?

The southern San Andreas fault near Los Angeles is considered a candidate for a major earthquake because:

Which of the following would NOT be a good idea in an area that has a high risk for earthquakes?

What features may be common along active faults, like the San Andreas?

The December 26, 2004 Indonesian earthquake occurred:

The top cross section below shows earthquakes along the San Andreas fault before October 17, 1989 and the one on the bottom shows earthquakes along the same fault after that date. These two cross sections illustrate that:

What types of information can be gained from trenches dug across a fault?

Which of the following may indicate the presence of a fault scarp?

If three seismic stations have the following P-S intervals: DUG = 57 sec, WUAZ = 73 sec, ISCO = 14 sec, what is the order from closest station to the earthquake to the one farthest away?

The refracted wave shown in the diagram has passed into a material that caused it to:

On this map of South America and adjacent areas, which site would most likely generate a tsunami?

Overall, a P-wave increases in velocity with depth. This implies that:

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters

The refracted wave shown in the diagram has passed into a material that caused it to: $The refracted wave shown in the diagram has passed into a material that caused it to:$