TRIAL ASSESSMENT

1. What is an earthquake?

• a. A strong wind in the atmosphere

• b. A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement in the Earth’s crust

• c. The slow movement of ocean water

• d. The formation of mountains

2. Which part of the Earth is the point where an earthquake starts underground?

• a. Epicenter

• b. Focus

• c. Crust

• d. Fault line

3. What is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake?

• a. Plate boundary

• b. Fault

• c. Epicenter

• d. Seismic zone

2. Which part of the Earth is the point where an earthquake starts underground?

• a. Epicenter

• b. Focus

• c. Crust

• d. Fault line

4. Which seismic waves move the fastest and arrive first during an earthquake?

• a. P-waves

• b. S-waves

• c. Surface waves

• d. Ocean waves

5. Which seismic waves usually cause the most damage during an earthquake?

• a. P-waves

• b. S-waves

• c. Sound waves

• d. Surface waves

6. What is a fault?

• a. A crack or break in the Earth’s crust where movement occurs

• b. A mountain formed by volcanoes

• c. A layer of the Earth’s atmosphere

• d. A type of seismic wave

7. The Earth’s outer layer is divided into large pieces called ______.

• a. tectonic plates

• b. rock layers

• c. ocean floors

• d. seismic zones

8. What instrument is used to measure and record earthquake vibrations?

• a. Thermometer

• b. Barometer

• c. Seismograph

• d. Telescope

9. What does earthquake magnitude measure?

• a. The number of buildings destroyed

• b. The number of aftershocks

• c. The location of the earthquake

• d. The strength or energy released by an earthquake