Question 1

What do the two stars near the center of this block represent?

Accepted Answer

A) the location of the earthquake 
B) the star at depth is the place where the earthquake is generated 
C) the star at depth is the hypocenter 
D) the star on the surface is the epicenter 
E) all of these 
A) the location of the earthquake 
B) the star at depth is the place where the earthquake is generated 
C) the star at depth is the hypocenter 
D) the star on the surface is the epicenter 
E) all of these E

Question 2

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 C

Question 3

On this time-travel curve,if a large earthquake is 400 km away from the station,what can you say about the arrivals of the P- and S-waves?

Accepted Answer

A) the P-waves will arrive 40 seconds before the S-waves 
B) the P-waves will arrive 400 seconds before the S-waves 
C) no S-waves will arrive at this distance from the earthquake 
D) none of these 
A) the P-waves will arrive 40 seconds before the S-waves 
B) the P-waves will arrive 400 seconds before the S-waves 
C) no S-waves will arrive at this distance from the earthquake 
D) none of these A

Question 4

The earthquake location shown as the red dot is generated on what type of fault?

Accepted Answer

A) reverse fault 
B) normal fault 
C) thrust fault 
D) strike-slip fault 
A) reverse fault 
B) normal fault 
C) thrust fault 
D) strike-slip fault

Question 5

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 6

Which of the following is a characteristic of S-waves?

Accepted Answer

A) they cannot travel through liquids 
B) they shear rock from side to side or up and down 
C) they displace the rock in a direction that is perpendicular to their travel direction 
D) all of these 
A) they cannot travel through liquids 
B) they shear rock from side to side or up and down 
C) they displace the rock in a direction that is perpendicular to their travel direction 
D) all of these

Question 7

Where do most earthquakes occur near mid-ocean ridges?

Accepted Answer

A) at great depths (more than 100 km) 
B) along the axis of the ridge and on transform faults that connect ridge segments 
C) in the asthenosphere where mantle undergoes decompression melting 
D) on the boundary between the mantle and the oceanic crust 
E) all of these 
A) at great depths (more than 100 km) 
B) along the axis of the ridge and on transform faults that connect ridge segments 
C) in the asthenosphere where mantle undergoes decompression melting 
D) on the boundary between the mantle and the oceanic crust 
E) all of these

Question 8

The continental block shown in this figure has a transform boundary,a reverse fault,and a continental rift.What type of activity could cause an earthquake here?

Accepted Answer

A) strike-slip faulting 
B) normal faulting 
C) reverse faulting 
D) movement of magma near the rift 
E) all of these 
A) strike-slip faulting 
B) normal faulting 
C) reverse faulting 
D) movement of magma near the rift 
E) all of these

Question 9

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 10

Which of the following is a major source of earthquakes associated with continental collisions?

Accepted Answer

A) thrust faults 
B) slip along the plate boundary 
C) faulting in a wide area adjacent to the collision zone 
D) all of these 
A) thrust faults 
B) slip along the plate boundary 
C) faulting in a wide area adjacent to the collision zone 
D) all of these

Question 11

Shaking during an earthquake can:

Accepted Answer

A) liquefy unconsolidated sediments,causing destruction of buildings on top of them 
B) generate a tsunami 
C) trigger landslides 
D) cause rigid buildings to collapse 
E) all of these 
A) liquefy unconsolidated sediments,causing destruction of buildings on top of them 
B) generate a tsunami 
C) trigger landslides 
D) cause rigid buildings to collapse 
E) all of these

Question 12

What is NOT true about seismic waves?

Accepted Answer

A) Most seismic waves can be described as a series of repeating crests and troughs. 
B) The material within the wave moves long distances along with the wave. 
C) Some seismic waves travel on the surface and are called surface waves. 
D) Some surface waves shuffle material side to side while others move material up and down. 
E) Some seismic waves travel through the interior of Earth. 
A) Most seismic waves can be described as a series of repeating crests and troughs. 
B) The material within the wave moves long distances along with the wave. 
C) Some seismic waves travel on the surface and are called surface waves. 
D) Some surface waves shuffle material side to side while others move material up and down. 
E) Some seismic waves travel through the interior of Earth.

Question 13

What feature suggests that this is a strike-slip fault rather than some other kind of fault?

Accepted Answer

A) the presence of a fault scarp 
B) the soft appearance of the landscape 
C) the horizontal offset of the drainage channel 
D) differences in vegetation across the fault 
E) the lack of human development 
A) the presence of a fault scarp 
B) the soft appearance of the landscape 
C) the horizontal offset of the drainage channel 
D) differences in vegetation across the fault 
E) the lack of human development

Question 14

Six large historical earthquakes occurred on the Parkfield segment of the San Andreas fault prior to 2004,with the last one of these occurring in 1966.The graph to the right plots the actual versus predicted dates of all the earthquakes on the Parkfield segment and shows:

Accepted Answer

A) all the earthquakes before 1966 occurred exactly when predicted 
B) the 2004 earthquake occurred earlier than predicted 
C) the 2004 earthquake occurred later than predicted 
D) graphs like this are a precise way to predict earthquakes 
E) both c and d 
A) all the earthquakes before 1966 occurred exactly when predicted 
B) the 2004 earthquake occurred earlier than predicted 
C) the 2004 earthquake occurred later than predicted 
D) graphs like this are a precise way to predict earthquakes 
E) both c and d

Question 15

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 16

Using this nomogram,what is the magnitude of an earthquake that is 500 km from a seismic station and has an amplitude of 0.2 mm?

Accepted Answer

A) 2.0 
B) 4.0 
C) 6.0 
D) 7.0 
E) 10.2 
A) 2.0 
B) 4.0 
C) 6.0 
D) 7.0 
E) 10.2

Question 17

Which of the following resulted from the large 2011 Tohuku earthquake in Japan?

Accepted Answer

A) severe ground shaking that damaged buildings near the earthquake 
B) a deadly tsunami 
C) destruction of a nuclear power plant 
D) all of these 
A) severe ground shaking that damaged buildings near the earthquake 
B) a deadly tsunami 
C) destruction of a nuclear power plant 
D) all of these

Question 18

Most deaths from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti were due to:

Accepted Answer

A) a large tsunami that swept into the island from the north 
B) a large tsunami that swept into the island from the south 
C) a large landslide that buried the capital city 
D) collapse of buildings 
E) all of these 
A) a large tsunami that swept into the island from the north 
B) a large tsunami that swept into the island from the south 
C) a large landslide that buried the capital city 
D) collapse of buildings 
E) all of these

Question 19

Which observations would tell you the most about the geometry of rock layers deep in the subsurface?

Accepted Answer

A) the mine shaft into granite (1) 
B) a seismic reflection survey (2) 
C) a shallow drill hole (3) 
D) a magnetic survey (4) 
E) gravity survey (5) 
A) the mine shaft into granite (1) 
B) a seismic reflection survey (2) 
C) a shallow drill hole (3) 
D) a magnetic survey (4) 
E) gravity survey (5)

Question 20

On this map of southeastern Asia and adjacent areas,which site would have earthquakes along a continental collision?

Accepted Answer

A) 1,in the Indian Ocean 
B) 2,in Tibet 
C) 3,near Japan 
D) 4,near the Tonga island arc 
A) 1,in the Indian Ocean 
B) 2,in Tibet 
C) 3,near Japan 
D) 4,near the Tonga island arc

What do the two stars near the center of this block represent?

The December 26,2004 Indonesian earthquake occurred:

On this time-travel curve,if a large earthquake is 400 km away from the station,what can you say about the arrivals of the P- and S-waves?

The earthquake location shown as the red dot is generated on what type of fault?

How does the seismic tomography method work?

Which of the following is a characteristic of S-waves?

Where do most earthquakes occur near mid-ocean ridges?

The continental block shown in this figure has a transform boundary,a reverse fault,and a continental rift.What type of activity could cause an earthquake here?

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

Which of the following is a major source of earthquakes associated with continental collisions?

Shaking during an earthquake can:

What is NOT true about seismic waves?

What feature suggests that this is a strike-slip fault rather than some other kind of fault?

Six large historical earthquakes occurred on the Parkfield segment of the San Andreas fault prior to 2004,with the last one of these occurring in 1966.The graph to the right plots the actual versus predicted dates of all the earthquakes on the Parkfield segment and shows:

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

Using this nomogram,what is the magnitude of an earthquake that is 500 km from a seismic station and has an amplitude of 0.2 mm?

Which of the following resulted from the large 2011 Tohuku earthquake in Japan?

Most deaths from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti were due to:

Which observations would tell you the most about the geometry of rock layers deep in the subsurface?

On this map of southeastern Asia and adjacent areas,which site would have earthquakes along a continental collision?

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Exam 12: Earthquakes and Earths Interior

What do the two stars near the center of this block represent?

The December 26,2004 Indonesian earthquake occurred:

On this time-travel curve,if a large earthquake is 400 km away from the station,what can you say about the arrivals of the P- and S-waves?

The earthquake location shown as the red dot is generated on what type of fault?

How does the seismic tomography method work?

Which of the following is a characteristic of S-waves?

Where do most earthquakes occur near mid-ocean ridges?

The continental block shown in this figure has a transform boundary,a reverse fault,and a continental rift.What type of activity could cause an earthquake here?

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

Which of the following is a major source of earthquakes associated with continental collisions?

Shaking during an earthquake can:

What is NOT true about seismic waves?

What feature suggests that this is a strike-slip fault rather than some other kind of fault?

Six large historical earthquakes occurred on the Parkfield segment of the San Andreas fault prior to 2004,with the last one of these occurring in 1966.The graph to the right plots the actual versus predicted dates of all the earthquakes on the Parkfield segment and shows:

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

Using this nomogram,what is the magnitude of an earthquake that is 500 km from a seismic station and has an amplitude of 0.2 mm?

Which of the following resulted from the large 2011 Tohuku earthquake in Japan?

Most deaths from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti were due to:

Which observations would tell you the most about the geometry of rock layers deep in the subsurface?

On this map of southeastern Asia and adjacent areas,which site would have earthquakes along a continental collision?

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments and Rocks

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

The Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, basins, and Continents

Climate, weather, and Their Influences on Geology

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