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WorksheetsNatural Disasters Exam Review
Total questions: 110
Worksheet time: 55mins
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?
Which of the following can act as an anchor on a slope?
When is it safe to build a campfire?
Only when it’s cold outside
Right after it rains
If there are no trees nearby
It depends on the fire danger level
Compared to hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes, wildfires:
Cause the most damage
Tend to last longer
Are easier to predict
Cannot be prevented
Combustion can occur when fuel is combined with:
Wood
Carbon
Oxygen
Water
Which of the following most resembles how a wildfire spreads?
A bowling ball rolling down a lane
Texting a group of friends
The flu sweeping through your school
Downloading a song
When and where is a wildfire most likely to happen?
Nevada, during a summer drought
The Midwest, in spring-time
Massachusetts, on a rainy autumn day
Australia, during a mild winter
In ecosystems that depend on wildfire, it acts most like a:
Power button
Reset button
Fast-forward button
Stop button
Wildfires are more likely during a drought due to increased:
Oxygen in the atmosphere
Lightning strikes
Wind speeds
Availability of fuel
Firefighters take a multifaceted approach to containing wildfires. What can you infer is the meaning of "multifaceted"?
Unusual
Innovative
Single-minded
Varied
When something "spreads like wildfire," that means:
It's very destructive
It spreads quickly
It's extremely hot
It's unpredictable
In which of these areas is a wildfire most likely to start?
How is soil like a sponge?
It can hold only a limited amount of water
It is healthiest when it gets as much water as possible
It can only absorb fresh water, not salt water
Although it doesn't move, it's actually a living creature
What was the direct cause of the flooding of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
Excess rainfall
A water main break
High winds
A storm surge
Where would you most likely see a storm surge?
"Too much rain can cause a river to inundate a nearby plain." What is the best synonym for "inundate?"
Overrun
Dry out
Moisten
Erode
Why should you avoid floodwater if at all possible?
It's probably very cold.
It's probably moving very quickly.
It's usually filled with sewage and other unhealthy stuff.
It's subject to tidal forces, which can pull you under and drown you.
Which of the following is an opinion about floods?
Floods can be controlled by dams
Floods are the scariest of all natural disasters
Floods can be the result of a number of natural forces
Some floods are very predictable
What is the relationship between flooding and earthquakes? Choose the best answer.
Earthquakes usually break large water pipes, flooding entire states
Undersea earthquakes can cause huge ocean waves, which flood shorelines
Earthquakes break open underground springs, which flood large areas
Floodwaters often seep into fault lines, causing earthquakes
In the phrase "A system of dikes circumscribes the Netherlands," what does "circumscribes" mean?
Pumps out
Elevates
Electrifies
Encircles
In the phrase "A system of dikes circumscribes the Netherlands," what does "circumscribes" mean?
A level
A levee
A lever
A levy
Why is it important to prepare a disaster kit in case of a flood?
If you don't, all your possessions will probably be destroyed by a flood someday.
You may not have time to pack essential supplies in the event of a flooding emergency.
Having a disaster kit is the best way to ensure you won't get wet in the case of a flood.
It will help you pack away all your toys and possessions in advance of a flood.
Which of the following is a true statement about hurricanes?
They only affect tropical areas
They cannot be measured on any scientific scale
Their winds are always above 74 miles per hour
They cause more deaths every year than tornadoes and earthquakes
Which word best describes the eye of a hurricane?
Tranquil
Stormy
Windy
Cold
If a hurricane destroyed an entire U.S. city, what category would it most likely be?
Category 1 or 2
Category A or B
Category X or Y
Category 4 or 5
In which U.S. state would a hurricane most likely strike?
How are tropical storms in the Northern Hemisphere different from tropical storms in the Southern Hemisphere?
The winds spin faster in the Southern Hemisphere
Tropical storms cause more rain in the Southern Hemisphere
Tropical storms don't turn into hurricanes in the Southern Hemisphere
The winds spin in opposite directions
Which country would most likely be affected by a typhoon?
The United States
Japan
Spain
Brazil
What can you infer about low and high-pressure air masses from the movie?
Low pressure systems are associated with stormy weather
High pressure systems are associated with cyclones
Low and high pressure systems must meet to form a hurricane
Low pressure systems are associated with the Southern Hemisphere
Which device do meteorologists use to predict where hurricanes will land?
What happens immediately after a hurricane makes landfall?
It gets stronger
It gets weaker
Its winds pick up speed
It starts hailing
If you heard a hurricane warning announced over the radio, what would it mean?
A tropical storm at sea has been upgraded to a hurricane
A big hurricane is projected to hit land within 12 hours
A small hurricane has been upgraded to a strong hurricane
A big hurricane is projected to hit land within 24 hours
Place the following events in sequence: A) A tornado touches down; B) An updraft tilts a column of spinning air; C) Cool, dense air begins descending
C,B,A
B,C,A
A,B,C
C,A,B
Where could you find a supercell forming?
In an area that's been devastated by tornadoes
Only in tropical regions
In the atmosphere
In a tornado's area of rotation
A tornado is most likely to form under which conditions?
In the phrase, "F5 tornadoes can obliterate entire towns," what does "obliterate" mean?
Wreck
Lift into the air
Blow through
Descend on
Which of the following is the best depiction of an F5 tornado?
Which word best describes the duration of most tornadoes?
Prolonged
Instantaneous
Lengthy
Brief
How would a waterspout--a tornado that forms over water--look different than a tornado that forms over land?
It wouldn't be as dark in color
It wouldn't be as powerful
Its winds would rotate in the opposite direction
It wouldn't be accompanied by thunderstorms
Which of the following is an opinion about tornadoes?
They occur more frequently in the Midwestern United States than on the coasts
They can cause millions of dollars' worth of damages
F5 tornadoes are rare
F1 tornadoes aren't worth worrying about
Which of the following is a true statement about tornadoes?
Strong tornadoes last longer than weaker ones
Even the largest tornadoes are just a few meters wide
Tornadoes can destroy mobile homes, but not homes with solid foundations
Strong tornadoes often form from weak thunderstorms
Where's the best place to go when a tornado warning has been issued for your area?
Your bedroom
Your basement
Your attic
Your car
What's the main cause of most earthquakes?
Pressure from within Earth's crust
Hurricanes
Human activity
Changes in temperature within the earth's mantle
Which of the following is a true statement about tectonic plates?
All tectonic plates are located at Earth's core
They're located approximately 10 meters below the surface of the ocean
They're located in the molten layer beneath Earth's crust
All of Earth's landmass rests on tectonic plates
The weight of the lithosphere keeps the mantle in a semi-solid state. What can you infer from this?
Pressure and heat have similar effects on solids
Pressure raises the melting point of solids
Pressure lowers the melting point of solids
Pressure has no effect on the melting point of solids
Place the following in sequence from highest to lowest temperature: A) Lithosphere; B) Mantle; C) Core
C,A,B
B,C,A
C,B,A
A,C,B
What can you infer from the fact that tectonic plates are always moving around?
New volcanoes form every few years.
The shape and location of the continents have changed over time.
Tectonic activity probably caused the last Ice Age.
Earthquakes will continue long after hurricanes and tsunamis have stopped.
Why are surface waves more destructive to buildings than the initial seismic wave in an earthquake?
It creates more sustained motion on the surface.
It reaches the surface faster.
It reaches deeper below the surface.
It travels farther from the hypocenter
What is this instrument called?
Richter scale
Barometer
Electrograph
Seismograph
Why are faults sometimes referred to as "active boundaries?" Choose the best answer.
Because they are all volcanically active
Because they serve as boundaries between nations
Because Earth's crust shifts on either side of them
Because people must actively avoid faults to escape injury
In the phrase, "The Richter scale measures the potency and duration of seismic events," what does "potency" mean?
Speed
Strength
Type
Time
Which city is most likely to experience a strong earthquake?
Los Angeles
Chicago
New York
Miami
Which of these is not one of Earth’s layers?
core
mantle
crust
epicenter
The churning movement of the mantle is due to
fault lines.
erupting volcanoes.
convection currents.
plate tectonics.
Which of these best describes convection currents?
extremely fast
unpredictable
slow-moving
easily visible
The area on the fault line where an earthquake’s energy is first released is called the
epicenter.
hypocenter.
mantle.
outer core..
What can a seismogram tell us about an earthquake?
how big the seismic waves are
what the earthquake was named
how much damage it caused
when the next earthquake is going to occur
On the Moment Magnitude Scale, a major earthquake usually measures ________ or higher.
1
5
7
11
Which of these most resembles Earth’s division into tectonic plates?
While it is impossible to predict an earthquake, they typically occur near
tectonic plate boundaries.
fault lines.
tectonic plate boundaries and fault lines.
no choice is correct
What is the Ring of Fire?
the spot on the fault line where an earthquake begins
the area around the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes occur
the location on Earth’s crust directly over the hypocenter
the Earth’s equator, where 50 percent of earthquakes begin
True or False: Aftershocks can last for years after an earthquake.
True
False
The term ‘tidal wave' is a misnomer, since tsunamis have nothing to do with tides. In the previous sentence, what does ‘misnomer' mean?
An inappropriate name
A Japanese word
An outright lie
A spelling error
What are the "plates" that meet in subductive zones?
Collections of debris from the ocean floor
Huge slabs of concrete
Chunks of lava from volcanoes
Pieces of the earth's crust
Place the following events in sequence: A) A tsunami occurs; B) A segment of the ocean floor is pushed upward; C) Pressure begins building in a subductive zone
A,C,B
C,B,A
B,C,A
B,A,C
If you were on a boat in the open ocean, why might it be difficult to detect a tsunami?
Gravity flattens out the enormous waves caused by undersea earthquakes
Tsunamis are caused by the natural cycle of tides
Tsunamis occur in seas and lakes, not oceans
Boats usually float on large waves
How do tsunami waves compare to regular ocean waves?
They're generally much flatter.
They're generally much wider.
They extend deeper underneath the water's surface.
They contain much more debris.
Which choice illustrates the two Japanese words that form the word "tsunami?"
How are tsunami waves like electromagnetic waves?
They are caused primarily by earthquakes
They can usually only travel through water
They can travel long distances and carry lots of energy
They travel along at exactly the speed of sound
Where would you find a subduction zone?
At the boundary between Asia and Europe
In the middle of the ocean, far away from the continents
Off the coast of a continent
Near the North or South Pole
Tsunamis can be detected ahead of time by devices that measure:
The height of ocean waves
The destructiveness of natural disasters
Underwater energy
Seismic activity
Which of the following is an opinion about tsunamis?
The 2004 tsunami caused millions of dollars in damages.
The 2004 tsunami was the worst natural disaster of this century.
The 2004 tsunami was caused by a very large earthquake.
The 2004 tsunami destroyed several coastal areas on the Indian Ocean.
Earth is made up of ________ layers.
1
3
4
6
True or False: Earth’s crust is one solid piece.
True
False
Volcanic eruptions are caused by
gravity.
pressure.
explosions.
Earth's rotation.
Where do volcanoes usually form?
within 10 miles of the ocean
between Earth’s mantle and core
at fault lines between tectonic plates
within the boundaries of the United States
Magma is made up of ________ from the mantle mixed with hot gas.
lava
plasma
hot water
molten rock
Which part of a volcano does magma spill out of?
base
crater
shield
mantle
What is magma called when it reaches Earth’s surface?
lava
molt
crater
shield
The Hawaiian Island volcanoes were formed by a
hot spot.
fault line.
meteor.
crater.
There are two main types of volcanoes: shield and
dome.
auxiliary.
synthetic.
composite.
________ volcanoes are no longer connected to a source of magma.
Active
Shield
Extinct
Dormant
Which of the following is an opinion about volcanic activity?
Volcanoes are made of hardened lava.
A large number of volcanoes can be found along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
The 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo was the scariest volcanic event in history.
Shield volcanoes can actually create new land.
Subduction zones occur at the boundaries between:
Nations
Oceans
Plains and forested lands
Tectonic plates
What might happen if a major volcanic eruption occurred every year?
Global temperatures might rise by several degrees.
The earth's crust might be depleted of rocks.
Global temperatures might cool by several degrees.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Why are the eruptions of stratovolcanoes usually more destructive than the eruptions of shield volcanoes?
Magma in stratovolcanoes contains more gas.
Lava flows out of several openings in stratovolcanoes.
Stratovolcanoes erupt more frequently.
Magma in stratovolcanoes is hotter.
The lava from a stratovolcano is viscous. Which image shows the most viscous substance?
Hotspot volcanism is likely to be found near:
The Ring of Fire.
Mid-ocean ridges.
Both the Ring of Fire and mid-ocean ridges.
Neither the Ring of Fire nor mid-ocean ridges
Which statement about dormant volcanoes must be true?
They can never erupt again.
They have not erupted for a very long time.
They will erupt within the next 12 months.
They were formerly stratovolcanoes.
Which term best describes the landmass of Hawaii's big island?
Increasing
Constant
Diminishing
Disappearing
Which of the following is a major challenge to volcano preparedness?
Volcanoes are located far from inhabited areas.
Eruptions are unpredictable.
Flowing lava is impossible to outrun.
Disaster kits are not useful in the event of an eruption.
Which of the following countries lies along the Ring of Fire?
South Africa
Norway
Japan
Iran
What do tornadoes and hurricanes have in common?
They both form over the ocean.
They both involve strong winds.
They are both types of tropical storms.
They both include funnel-shaped clouds.
What's the biggest danger posed by thunderstorms?
Being blown around by high winds.
Being soaked by heavy rain.
Being deafened by loud thunder.
Being struck by lightning.
What's the major difference between hurricanes and winter storms?
Hurricanes have high winds; winter storms don't.
Blizzards can damage power lines; hurricanes can't.
Winter storms are associated with extreme cold; hurricanes are tropical storms.
Humans can die in blizzards, but not in hurricanes.
What can you infer about tsunamis from their Japanese name?
They occur only in Japan
They do a lot of damage to harbors
They occur during monsoon season
No one understands where they come from
Which natural disaster has hit in this location?
Tornado
Tsunami
Hurricane
Drought
Hurricanes, thunderstorms, and blizzards are all meteorological disasters. What does "meteorological" mean?
Ocean-based
Caused by meteors
Related to the weather
Unpredictable
What is the most common cause of tsunamis?
underwater earthquakes
monsoon rains
storm surges
tropical cyclones
Which of the following would cause the greatest reduction of wildfires?
A decrease in lightning storms
An increase in rainfall
A decrease in average wind speed
Preventing people from visiting wildfire-prone areas
If a natural disaster resulted in your area being evacuated, what would you have to do?
Move to another area.
Stay inside your house.
Drink only bottled water.
Go into a cellar or other underground area.
Which of the following items is a key part of a ready kit?
