Question 1

Vibration during an earthquake

Accepted Answer

A)   always results in the development of a cliff at Earth's surface due to movement on a fault.
B)   creates large open gashes in the Earth, which can swallow automobiles.
C)   causes wet clay to become firmer; thus, when siting a house in an earthquake-prone region, it is best to build it over a landfill containing wet clay.
D)   is usually most intense when the surface waves arrive. D

Question 2

Earthquakes may expose new mineral resources for people to mine.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Not all earthquakes are preceded by foreshocks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Which of the following human activities is NOT known to cause earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

A)   Underground nuclear explosions
B)   Injecting liquid waste deep into the ground
C)   Building a water reservoir
D)   Excavating large amounts of materials to make buildings

Question 5

There are about 2,000 earthquakes of magnitude 8 or higher every year; fortunately most of them occur in unpopulated areas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What causes earthquakes in San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

A)   Dip-slip faults from subduction
B)   Strike-slip faults from a transform plate boundary
C)   megathrust earthquakes from a divergent plate boundary
D)   megathrust earthquakes from a convergent plate boundary
E)   These are intraplate earthquakes.

Question 7

Which seismic waves produce the smallest amplitude?

Accepted Answer

A)   P-waves
B)   S-waves
C)   Surface waves
D)   All seismic waves have the same magnitude.

Question 8

Which of the following is FALSE about slow earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are not able to cause damage.
B)   They can produce earthquakes with moderate magnitude.
C)   They are the result of tectonic creep.
D)   They can produce considerable damage to structures.
E)   They rupture over long periods of time.

Question 9

What causes megathrust earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

A)   Strike-slip faults from subduction
B)   Strike-slip faults from a transform plate boundary
C)   normal faults at a divergent plate boundary
D)   subduction at a convergent plate boundary
E)   These are intraplate earthquakes.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes a fault?

Accepted Answer

A)   giant gap or canyon at the Earth's surface
B)   cave or large hole hidden under the ground
C)   where the continent meets the ocean
D)   giant underground chamber usually filled with magma
E)   fractured rock that has been displaced, i.e., rocks on one side of the fracture have moved relative to the other side

Question 11

Earthquakes are caused exclusively by plate tectonic activity and cannot be caused by human activities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Describe the steps in the earthquake cycle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the steps in the earthquake cycle....

Question 13

The distance to the epicenter of an earthquake is found by

Accepted Answer

A)   locating the area where most of the damage is centered.
B)   comparing the arrival times of the S-and P-waves.
C)   comparing the magnitudes of the same seismic wave at different locations.
D)   measuring the frequencies of seismic waves at different stations.
E)   watching to see where the tsunami forms.

Question 14

In general, there is more ground shaking from an earthquake with

Accepted Answer

A)   decreasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter.
B)   increasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter.
C)   increasing depth from the surface and increasing distance to the epicenter.
D)   decreasing depth from the surface and increasing distance to the epicenter.

Question 15

If you knew that an earthquake was coming, where is the safest place to be?

Accepted Answer

A)   In the basement
B)   Under a doorway
C)   In your backyard away from any buildings or power lines
D)   In the garage
E)   In your bathtub

Question 16

The mayor of Peaceful, California (population = 300,000) has asked you to develop a comprehensive plan for earthquake mitigation in her community. During historic times Peaceful, which is located along the San Andreas fault, has experienced a few large, damaging earthquakes and many small earthquakes. Describe several specific measures that you would recommend as part of your mitigation plan.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The mayor of Peaceful, California (population =...

Question 17

Which of the following is the most realistic approach to minimizing earthquake hazards?

Accepted Answer

A)   Publicize any prediction and immediately evacuate cities near the earthquake zone
B)   Require all new construction to be built on landfill
C)   Require any city near a plate boundary to be relocated
D)   Bolt together each side of a fault to prevent future earthquakes
E)   Legislate strict building codes that require strong and flexible buildings

Question 18

Areas of the Mississippi Valley located in Southeast Missouri have seen historic earthquakes with magnitudes as great as those in California. Explain why a high magnitude earthquake in this area could cause more widespread disaster than in the west.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Areas of the Mississippi Valley located in...

Question 19

One of the worst oil spills in U.S. history was when a magnitude 8 earthquake struck near the Alaska pipeline and caused multiple large ruptures.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following places in the U. S. has the lowest seismic hazard?

Accepted Answer

A)   Seattle, WA
B)   St. Louis, MO
C)   Los Angeles, CA
D)   Minneapolis, MN
E)   Charleston, SC

Exam 3: Earthquakes

Vibration during an earthquake

Earthquakes may expose new mineral resources for people to mine.

Not all earthquakes are preceded by foreshocks.

Which of the following human activities is NOT known to cause earthquakes?

There are about 2,000 earthquakes of magnitude 8 or higher every year; fortunately most of them occur in unpopulated areas.

What causes earthquakes in San Francisco?

Which seismic waves produce the smallest amplitude?

Which of the following is FALSE about slow earthquakes?

What causes megathrust earthquakes?

Which of the following best describes a fault?

Earthquakes are caused exclusively by plate tectonic activity and cannot be caused by human activities.

Describe the steps in the earthquake cycle.

The distance to the epicenter of an earthquake is found by

In general, there is more ground shaking from an earthquake with

If you knew that an earthquake was coming, where is the safest place to be?

Which of the following is the most realistic approach to minimizing earthquake hazards?

Areas of the Mississippi Valley located in Southeast Missouri have seen historic earthquakes with magnitudes as great as those in California. Explain why a high magnitude earthquake in this area could cause more widespread disaster than in the west.

One of the worst oil spills in U.S. history was when a magnitude 8 earthquake struck near the Alaska pipeline and caused multiple large ruptures.

Which of the following places in the U. S. has the lowest seismic hazard?