Question 1

Describe why earthquakes tend to have more severe impacts on poorer countries as opposed to wealthier countries.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary. However, students should address the fact that wealthier countries often have stricter building codes that lead to more sturdy construction that is resistant to seismic damage. Another factor is that wealtheir often have robust emergency response programs and resources for disaster recovery to help in the aftermath of a disaster. Students may provide the example used in the text of the earthquake in Chile in 2010, that was stronger than the 2010 Haiti earthquake, but which ultimately caused far less damage and suffering than the Haiti earthquake, which had a death toll of 230,000 and has worsened widespread poverty in the country.

Question 2

The _______ _______is an open-ended logarithmic scale that describes the energy release of an earthquake through a measure of shock wave amplitude.

Accepted Answer

Richter Scale

Question 3

Shield volcanoes are formed by lava piles that are too thick, or viscous, to flow far away from the vent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

One of the most common risks associated with volcanic activity involves lava flows.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Poisonous gases from volcanic activity also pose a danger to humans and animals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In terms of earthquake movement, liquefaction is:

Accepted Answer

A)   the differential movement of two sides of a fracture - the location where the ground breaks apart
B)   the phenomenon that occurs when ground shaking causes loose soils to lose strength and act like viscous fluid
C)   the phenomenon that occurs when waterways lose strength and create massive flooding
D)   none of the above

Question 7

____________ is the gradual settling of the Earth's surface that occurs because of subsurface movement of earth materials and the resulting loss of support below ground, which can occur naturally or by human activity, such as removal of groundwater.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________ is the gradual settling of the...

Question 8

Most buildings and bridges collapse; roads, railways, pipes and cables destroyed; general triggering of other hazards can be described as what level of earthquake intensity:

Accepted Answer

A)   destructive
B)   ruinous
C)   very disastrous
D)   catastrophic

Question 9

Volcanic ash flows remain close to the ground, but they can travel downhill from the volcano summit very quickly, up to 150 kilometers (90 miles) per hour, incinerating anything in their path as they roar down the slope.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Composite volcanoes, also called stratovolcanoes, are large volcanoes that are also oceanic craters. True of False?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Composite volcanoes, also called stratovolcanoes, are large...

Question 11

A volcano is a vent in the surface of the Earth through which magma and associated gases and ash erupt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

When the rock on both sides of the fault snaps, it releases the stored energy by producing:

Accepted Answer

A)   tectonic plates
B)   fault planes
C)   seismic waves
D)   lateral spreads

Question 13

Areas that are prone to frequent volcanic activity are known as_____________, such as the one in Hawaii.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Areas that are prone to frequent volcanic...

Question 14

Earthquake intensity is most commonly measured using the _____________________, a twelve-level scale based on direct and indirect measurements of seismic effects:

Accepted Answer

A)   Modified Mercalli Intensity scale
B)   Richter scale
C)   Seismograph
D)   Microearthquake scale

Question 15

The United States has experienced some very disastrous and catastrophic earthquakes in its history. Select two earthquakes described in chapter 4 and compare and contrast the intensity and damage for each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The United States has experienced some very...

Question 16

While the East Coast of the United States is threatened by tsunamis, there is essentially no risk of tsunamis on the Pacific coast.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which factor is very likely to infuence the impacts that an earthquake will have on a country or region?

Accepted Answer

A)   warning alarms
B)   building codes
C)   evacuation routes
D)   all of the above

Question 18

Cinder cones are the simplest type of volcano.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Pieces of evidence about the composition and structure of Earth's interior include:

Accepted Answer

A)   analysis of earthquake waves that pass through Earth
B)   study of interior material that emerges as lava and gases from volcanoes
C)   study of once-deeply buried rocks that have been uncovered by erosion
D)   all of the above

Question 20

The major driving force behind landslides is gravity, assisted by ____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The major driving force behind landslides is...

Exam 4: Geologic Hazards

Describe why earthquakes tend to have more severe impacts on poorer countries as opposed to wealthier countries.

The _ _is an open-ended logarithmic scale that describes the energy release of an earthquake through a measure of shock wave amplitude.

Shield volcanoes are formed by lava piles that are too thick, or viscous, to flow far away from the vent.

One of the most common risks associated with volcanic activity involves lava flows.

Poisonous gases from volcanic activity also pose a danger to humans and animals.

In terms of earthquake movement, liquefaction is:

____________ is the gradual settling of the Earth's surface that occurs because of subsurface movement of earth materials and the resulting loss of support below ground, which can occur naturally or by human activity, such as removal of groundwater.

Most buildings and bridges collapse; roads, railways, pipes and cables destroyed; general triggering of other hazards can be described as what level of earthquake intensity:

Volcanic ash flows remain close to the ground, but they can travel downhill from the volcano summit very quickly, up to 150 kilometers (90 miles) per hour, incinerating anything in their path as they roar down the slope.

Composite volcanoes, also called stratovolcanoes, are large volcanoes that are also oceanic craters. True of False?

A volcano is a vent in the surface of the Earth through which magma and associated gases and ash erupt.

When the rock on both sides of the fault snaps, it releases the stored energy by producing:

Areas that are prone to frequent volcanic activity are known as_____________, such as the one in Hawaii.

Earthquake intensity is most commonly measured using the _____________________, a twelve-level scale based on direct and indirect measurements of seismic effects:

The United States has experienced some very disastrous and catastrophic earthquakes in its history. Select two earthquakes described in chapter 4 and compare and contrast the intensity and damage for each.

While the East Coast of the United States is threatened by tsunamis, there is essentially no risk of tsunamis on the Pacific coast.

Which factor is very likely to infuence the impacts that an earthquake will have on a country or region?

Cinder cones are the simplest type of volcano.

Pieces of evidence about the composition and structure of Earth's interior include:

The major driving force behind landslides is gravity, assisted by ____________.