Natural Disasters Exam Review

What's the most basic underlying cause of avalanches?

• Skiers and snowboarders

• Stress acting quickly on snow

• Snow piling on extremely steep terrain

• Global climate change

Because snow is viscoelastic, it can:

• Adjust to changes over time

• Retain its shape under high pressure

• Bear extreme and sudden changes in stress

• Change its shape on demand

How can triggering explosives help prevent avalanches?

• By completely leveling the slopes of mountains

• By melting all the snow on mountainsides

• By preventing huge snowpacks from forming

• By destroying trees and rocks that can hurt people in avalanches

It is difficult to discern the location of an unstable slab. In this sentence, what's the best synonym for "discern?

• Hear

• Discover

• Think about

• Disturb

How are avalanches different from landslides?

• Avalanches involve snow, landslides usually don't

• Avalanches happen on slopes, landslides happen on flat terrain

• Avalanches are usually caused by changes in precipitation; landslides are usually caused by changes in temperature

• Avalanches always have natural causes; landslides are usually caused by human activity

What is the force that pulls slabs of snow downward?

• Friction

• Drag

• Atmospheric pressure

• Gravity

Which slope has the highest risk of avalanche?

• A 15 Degree slope

• A 45 Degree slope

• A 65 Degree slope

• An 85 Degree slope

Which of the following is an opinion about avalanches?

• Ice, rocks, and debris can get mixed into avalanches

• Many ski resorts take anti-avalanche precautions

• Avalanches are scarier than earthquakes

• Avalanches are distinct from mudslides

Which of the following is snowpack most similar to?

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Which of the following can act as an anchor on a slope?

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