Disaster Vocabulary Matching Quiz

What is a flood?

• A storm with strong winds

• When too much water covers land that is usually dry

• A shaking of the ground

• A very large fire in a forest

What do we call a very strong storm with fast spinning winds?

• Earthquake

• Blizzard

• Tornado

• Drought

What is a drought?

• A long period of time with very little or no rain

• A storm that brings heavy snow

• A large wave caused by an earthquake in the ocean

• A fire that spreads quickly through a forest

Which of the following is a natural disaster that involves the ground shaking?

• Hurricane

• Wildfire

• Earthquake

• Flood

A wildfire is a disaster that spreads quickly through forests and fields. Which condition would most likely help a wildfire spread faster?

• Heavy rain and wet ground

• Strong winds and dry weather

• Cold temperatures and snow

• Calm winds and cloudy skies

A tsunami is a giant wave caused by an earthquake under the ocean. How is a tsunami different from a regular flood?

• A tsunami happens only in cold places, while a flood happens in warm places

• A tsunami is caused by shaking under the ocean, while a flood is caused by too much rain

• A tsunami only affects animals, while a flood only affects people

• A tsunami happens in the sky, while a flood happens underground

A blizzard is a snowstorm with very strong winds and low temperatures. Which of the following best describes why a blizzard is dangerous?

• It makes the ground shake and buildings fall

• It causes rivers to overflow and cover streets with water

• It makes it hard to see, travel, or stay warm outside

• It creates giant waves that crash onto the shore

A hurricane brings heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding. A drought brings no rain for a long time. How are these two disasters similar?

• Both involve too much water in one place

• Both can cause problems for people, animals, and plants

• Both happen only near the ocean

• Both are caused by earthquakes underground

A town near a river gets very heavy rain for several days. The river starts to overflow. Using what you know about floods, what is the most important thing people in the town should do to stay safe?

• Stay near the river to watch the water rise

• Move to higher ground away from the flooding water

• Plant more trees next to the river

• Wait inside their homes near the river

A farmer notices that there has been no rain for many weeks, the soil is very dry, and the crops are starting to die. Which type of disaster is most likely happening, and what is the best way to describe it?

• A blizzard, because cold weather is freezing the crops

• A wildfire, because dry conditions cause fires to start

• A drought, because there is a long period with very little rain causing the land to dry out

• A flood, because too much water is covering the farmland