Natural Hazards
Final Test Solutions
Course Introduction
This course explores the science behind natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, and landslides. Students will investigate the causes, effects, and frequency of these events, as well as the physical processes involved. The course also examines the impact of natural hazards on human societies, including risk assessment, disaster preparedness, mitigation strategies, and the role of policy and technology in managing and reducing hazards. Through case studies and real-world examples, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of natural hazards and the challenges of living in dynamic environments.
Recommended Textbook
Natural Hazards 4th Edition by Edward A. Keller
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Introduction to Natural Hazards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Explain how the rock cycle is related to all of the other cycles.
Answer: The rock cycle depends on the tectonic cycle for heat and energy, the biogeochemical cycle for chemical materials, and the hydrologic cycle for water. Water is then used in the processes of weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition, and lithification of sediment.
Q2) The rock cycle shows that rocks are very old and not much use in understanding today's problems.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Catastrophes and natural disasters differ in the magnitude of the effect of the hazard.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) The size and frequency of natural hazards are unrelated to human interactions. A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Chapter 2: Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate
Tectonics
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Sample Questions
Q1) Pangaea refers to the enormous single ocean that was produced when all of the continents were assembled.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) The Earth is composed of layers that have different properties.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Triple junctions are where three tectonic plates border each other.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) Slab pull seems to be a more important driving force for moving tectonic plates than ridge push.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Page 4
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Chapter 3: Earthquakes
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Sample Questions
Q1) The distance to the epicenter of an earthquake is found by A) locating the area where most of the damage is centered.
B) comparing the arrival times of the S-and P-waves.
C) comparing the magnitudes of the same seismic wave at different locations.
D) measuring the frequencies of seismic waves at different stations.
E) watching to see where the tsunami forms.
Answer: B
Q2) Because Japan is so well prepared for earthquakes, it receives little earthquake damage despite experiencing many earthquakes each year.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Vertical movement of rock occurs in all of the following faults <b>EXCEPT</b>
A) normal.
B) reverse.
C) strike-slip.
D) dip-slip.
Answer: C
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Chapter 4: Tsunamis
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Sample Questions
Q1) Tsunamis in the open ocean are big enough to capsize freighters and other large boats.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following regions has the <b>LEAST</b> risk from tsunamis?
A) Japan
B) Pacific Northwest coast of the U.S.
C) Northeastern coast of the Indian Ocean
D) Hawaii
E) Atlantic coast of the U.S.
Q3) Which of the following locations has <b>NOT</b> experienced a major tsunami in the last 20 years?
A) Japan
B) Maldives
C) Indonesia
D) New York City
Q4) Usually, there is only one wave from the tsunami and once it recedes people may return to their homes.
A)True
B)False
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Volcanoes
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Sample Questions
Q1) Where is the majority of lava extruded?
A) At subduction zones
B) At hotspots
C) At divergent plate boundaries
D) At transform plate boundaries
E) At convergent plate boundaries
Q2) Where is the best place to be during a pyroclastic flow?
A) In the water
B) In your house
C) On a hillside
D) In a valley
E) Nowhere is safe during a pyroclastic flow.
Q3) Which of following effects might an area see even if a volcano does <b>NOT</b> actually erupt?
A) Lahars and pyroclastic flows
B) Lahars and ash falls
C) Landslides and poisonous gases
D) Landslides and pyroclastic flows
E) Lava flows and poisonous gases
Q4) What are the main activities involved in forecasting a volcano?
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Chapter 6: Flooding
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Sample Questions
Q1) A narrow river usually runs faster than a wider one.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What should you do during a flood?
A) Move to higher ground away from the river.
B) Wade into the water to see how deep it really is.
C) Drive your car through water to get to safety.
D) Swim across water to a safer location.
E) Go to a bridge and watch the water rise.
Q3) What is the difference between stream discharge and stream stage? How are they related?
Q4) Where on a river would you most likely find cutbanks and why?
A) On the outside of a bend because that is where the river erodes most.
B) On the inside of a bend because that is where the river erodes most.
C) On the outside of a bend because that is where the river deposits most.
D) On the inside of a bend because that is where the river deposits most.
E) At the bottom of the river because that is where it moves the fastest.
Q5) Describe a hydrograph for a river that has experienced a flash flood and one that has experienced a downstream flood. What is the difference in the two hydrographs?
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Chapter 7: Mass Wasting
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Sample Questions
Q1) All slope are susceptible to some kind of mass wasting. Explain how mass wasting might affect a very steep slope and a very gentle slope.
Q2) Which of the following is <b>FALSE</b> about the effects of landslides?
A) Landslides can cause flooding when rivers are blocked.
B) Landslides can bury people in debris.
C) Landslides, because of the damage they normally inflict, offer no natural service functions.
D) Landslides can break utility wires and disrupt travel.
E) Landslides can cause damage to homes and roads.
Q3) Urbanization is one human activity that causes landslides. Explain three reasons why urbanization contributes to the incidence of landslides. Some urban areas are already at risk for landslides, describe two things that can be done to minimize the risk of landslides for these areas.
Q4) Most snow avalanches are triggered by the victims themselves or by someone in their company.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Describe what each area would look like after a fall, a slide and a flow had occurred.
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Page 9
Chapter 8: Subsidence and Soils
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is <b>NOT</b> a way that climate change can contribute to the subsidence problem?
A) Permafrost will melt causing subsidence.
B) Some soils will dry out causing them to settle.
C) Sea levels will rise sinking coastal cities that are already sinking.
D) Groundwater levels may rise or fall increasing sinkhole incidence.
E) Groundwater will warm, causing a large increase in dissolved limestone and sinkhole formation.
Q2) In the U.S. subsidence and expansion and contraction of the soil are natural hazards that are well publicized and get considerable media coverage.
A)True
B)False
Q3) There have not been too many problems due to land subsidence in the United States.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The distinct layers of a soil are called soil horizons.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Atmosphere and Severe Weather
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Sample Questions
Q1) What should you do when a tornado watch is issued for your area?
A) Go outside and watch for the tornado to come
B) Run quickly down to your basement because a tornado is coming
C) Keep informed and be ready to take cover if a tornado is spotted
D) Open all doors and windows so that the tornado doesn't damage your home
Q2) Heatwaves are always associated with low humidity and extreme dry conditions.
A)True
B)False
Q3) What are waterspouts?
A) Tornadoes that form over water bodies
B) Downbursts over water sources
C) Upbursts from water sources
D) Microbursts from water sources
E) Severe thunderstorms
Q4) Which of the following actions in a rotating storm will define it as a tornado?
A) A mesocyclone forms.
B) A wall cloud descends.
C) A funnel cloud forms.
D) A funnel cloud touches the ground.
E) Vertical wind shear occurs.
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Chapter 10: Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
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Sample Questions
Q1) The eye of the hurricane is an area of relative calm.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following is <b>NOT</b> normally a reason why coastal erosion from cyclones is a problem?
A) Valuable beach may be eroded causing economic problems.
B) Vegetation and sand dunes may be eroded causing inland structures to become more vulnerable to storms.
C) Boats on inland bays may be cut off from the ocean by sediment blocking inlets.
D) Ground may become eroded bringing down structures.
E) Sand from coastal erosion gets airborne and becomes an air pollutant.
Q3) What is the correct order of tropical cyclone development (least to most developed)?
A) Tropical depression, tropical disturbance, tropical storm, hurricane
B) Tropical storm, tropical depression, tropical disturbance, hurricane
C) Tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane
D) Hurricane, tropical depression, tropical storm, tropical disturbance
E) Hurricane, tropical storm, tropical disturbance, tropical depression
Q4) Explain how and when a hurricane gets its name.
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Chapter 11: Coastal Hazards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following does <b>NOT</b> affect the erosion of the coastlines on the Great Lakes?
A) Existence of sand dunes
B) Orientation of the coastline to storm waves
C) Groundwater seepage at the base of the bluff
D) Engineering of the coast with protective structures
E) All of the large ships transporting iron ore creating waves
Q2) If you placed a small boat in waves in the open ocean (not near the shoreline) what would the motion of the boat be?
A) Up and down slowly moving towards shoreline
B) Up and down slowly moving out to sea
C) Circular pattern staying mostly in the same place
D) Circular pattern slowly moving towards the shoreline
E) Circular pattern slowly moving out to sea
Q3) West coast coastlines have more cliffs and rocky shorelines due to their proximity to active convergent and transform boundaries.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Give a brief definition for coastal hazards and give three examples.
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Chapter 12: Climate and Climate Change
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Sample Questions
Q1) Why do scientists think that the current global warming situation is <b>NOT</b> caused by natural forces?
A) Models of the Sun show that radiation hasn't varied throughout human history.
B) Volcanoes have not been known to cause global climate change, only local changes.
C) Mathematical models show that possible natural forces aren't significant enough.
D) Humans are the only sources capable of changing the climate.
E) They don't know. They just assume that humans are the cause.
Q2) Explain how climate is related to the incidence of landslides.
Q3) Which of the following does <b>NOT</b> contribute to climate change?
A) Human activities
B) Volcanic eruptions
C) Changes in solar energy
D) Asteroid impact
E) Earthquake activity
Q4) Global temperatures have fluctuated many times in the last 800,000 years causing glacial and interglacial events.
A)True
B)False
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Page 14
Chapter 13: Wildfires
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Sample Questions
Q1) Convection in a wildfire adds more fresh air to fuel the flames.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Were there wildfires before humans? (Choose the best answer.)
A) Yes, but they were very small because they had natural causes.
B) Yes and they were caused by natural igniters like lightning strikes or asteroid impact.
C) No. Humans are the only cause of wildfires.
D) No. There weren't trees before humans and so there couldn't be wildfires.
E) Maybe, but there is no record to find out.
Q3) Which North American regions are most vulnerable to wildfire? Why does the risk shift from year to year?
Q4) The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 is the deadliest fire in U.S. history.
A)True
B)False
Q5) The presence of mountains has a very strong influence on wildfire activity in an area. A)True
B)False
Q6) Describe some of the positive effects of wildfires.
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Chapter 14: Impacts and Extinctions
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Sample Questions
Q1) Extinctions of species is fairly uncommon in the Earth's history because extinctions tend to be caused by humans.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What is the significance of the Tunguska River Valley in Siberia in terms of asteroids?
A) It is where the largest comet was sighted.
B) It is where a large airburst of an asteroid occurred in recent history.
C) It is the site of a crater that marks the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs.
D) It is the site of the largest impact crater ever recorded on Earth.
E) It is a site of enormous wildfires in prehistoric times.
Q3) Craters formed by meteorites are unique from craters formed by other processes.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Explain briefly how an impact crater is formed.
Q5) Describe how an asteroid impact is capable of causing a mass extinction.
Q6) Explain why one needs to know about the formation of the solar system in order to understand asteroids.
Q7) In terms of avoiding an impact from an asteroid, what do you think is the best solution? Why?
Page 16
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