wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Tsunamis

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is frequently a warning sign of an impending tsunami?

a)

Winds suddenly change direction

b)

The sky suddenly clears

c)

Seawater suddenly retreats from the shore

d)

All of the above

2.
The word tsunami means_______________ in _______________.
a)
massive wave / Japanese
b)
harbor wave / Japanese
c)
harbor wave / English
d)
big wave / Chinese
3.
How high can tsunami waves reach?
a)
10,000 feet
b)
100 meters
c)
100 feet
d)
all of these
4.

How fast can tsunamis travel?

a)

400 mph

b)

100 mph

c)

1,000,000 mph

d)

500 mph

5.

What is the most common cause for tsunamis?

a)

underwater earthquakes

b)

meteor crashes

c)

underwater volcanoes

d)

land slides in the ocean

6.
True or False:  The first tsunami wave is the biggest!
a)
True
b)
False
7.

Most fatalities associated with tsunamis occur from

a)

drowning

b)

impact with large pieces of debris

c)

gas leaks and explosions

d)

lightening strikes

8.

What time of day is most common for tsunamis?

a)

noon

b)

at night

c)

in the early morning

d)

they can occur at any time

9.

The top of the tsunami is called a

a)

high

b)

peak

c)

crest

d)

ceiling

10.

The bottom of a tsunami is called a

a)

trough

b)

floor

c)

hole

d)

cellar

11.

What should you do if you think a tsunami is coming?

a)

Go to higher ground

b)

Go to the beach

c)

Find a boat

d)

Hide in your house

12.

Experts tell people to evacuate before a tsunami occurs. What does evacuate mean?

a)

to stay where you are

b)

to leave the area

c)

to take a vacation

d)

to gather food and supplies

13.
The most devastating tsunami that killed the most people occurred in...
a)
2004- Indian Ocean
b)
2011 - Japan
c)
1960 - Chile
d)
79 - Pompeii
14.

As the waves travel through shallow water toward the land they get

a)

bigger

b)

smaller

c)

stay the same

15.

What is the most active tsunami area?

a)

Caribbean Sea

b)

Indian Ocean

c)

Pacific Ocean

d)

North Atlantic Ocean

16.

In general, larger waves are more powerful but wave power is also determined by wave speed, .... and water density.

a)

wavelength

b)

ocean floors

c)

ocean basin

d)

tidal waves

17.

What should you do if you think a tsunami is coming?

a)

Find a boat

b)

Go to higher ground

c)

Go to the beach

d)

Hide in your house

18.

Tide and Seismograph stations measure Tsunamis

a)

Yes they do

b)

No they dont

19.

Coastal Vegetation, such as beach forest, can help slow tsunami waves.

a)

True

b)

False

20.

In a tsunami warning system, what is represented by #2?

a)

The earthquake

b)

A seismograph that detects the earthquake

c)

A mooring/buoy that transfers the earthquake data to shore

d)

A satellite used for communication

21.

9. What do we call a series of waves generated by a tsunami?

a. Tides

b. Wave train

c. Wave town

d. Wave farm

e. Sets

a)

a

b)

b

c)

c

d)

d

e)

e

22.

In rare instances tsunamis can be caused by

a)

giant meteors

b)

wind

c)

gravitational pull of the moon

d)

Junaid blowing air at the ocean

23.

When is it too late to escape a tsunami?

a)

When you can see it

b)

When you can hear it

c)

When you hear an announcement to evacuate the beach

24.

What natural event can cause a Tsunami?

a)

Earthquakes

b)

Volcanic Eruptions

c)

Landslides

d)

Glacier breaking off into the ocean

e)

All of the above

25.

What is a Tsunami?

a)

A large storm with high speed winds

b)

A tropical cyclone that occurs in the Pacific Ocean

c)

A large and powerful ocean wave

d)

A type of tornado

e)

Any earthquake that causes significant damage

26.

Tsunamis can ONLY happen in the ocean.

a)

True

b)

False

27.

A Tsunami can travel more than a mile onto land.

a)

True

b)

False

28.

Most waves get their energy (size/speed/shape) from __________ but tsunamis get their energy from ___________ ___________.

a)

Rain

Lightning Strikes

b)

Fire

Thunderstorms

c)

Wind

Tornado Winds

d)

Wind

Underwater Forces

29.

Tsunamis...

a)

travel long distances and carry lots of energy.

b)

travel short distances and carry little energy.

c)

travel long distances and carry little energy.

d)

travel short distances and carry lots of energy.

30.

Which natural disaster is this?

a)

tsunami

b)

drizzle

c)

flood

d)

blizzard