Question 1

Choose the best answer: Do humans have an effect on the frequency of natural disasters?
A) No. Natural disasters are caused by forces internal to the Earth.
B) No. Natural disasters are random and people cannot affect them.
C) Maybe. Some natural disasters are random, but some are caused by humans.
D) Yes. Land use by humans can increase the frequency or size of natural disasters such as flooding or landslides.
E) Yes. Humans can control many natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes.

Accepted Answer

Human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and construction can increase the risk and magnitude of flooding, landslides, and other natural disasters that are influenced by land use. However, humans do not have the ability to control natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes.

Question 2

What does the impact of natural hazards depend on?
A) Climate
B) Magnitude of the event
C) Frequency of the event
D) Land use
E) All of the above affect the impact of natural hazards.

Accepted Answer

The impact of natural hazards depends on various factors such as climate, magnitude of the event, frequency of the event, and land use. All of these factors affect the impact of a natural hazard. For example, a hurricane with high wind speeds and heavy rainfall can cause severe damage in a coastal area with a poorly constructed infrastructure. Similarly, a region prone to frequent earthquakes but lacking strict building codes may experience significant damage and loss of life. Therefore, it is essential to consider all these factors and take necessary measures to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the concept of uniformitarianism as related to natural disasters? A) If you have earthquakes in a location, then you will probably have them in the future. B) The reason why volcanoes erupt today is the same as it was in the past. C) The processes that caused the erosion of the land have been doing their work since the Earth's formation. D) Natural disasters are a natural part of the Earth, humans can do nothing that will affect them. E) All of the above statements are true about uniformitarianism.

Accepted Answer

The statement "Natural disasters are a natural part of the Earth, humans can do nothing that will affect them" is false. While natural disasters are a natural part of the Earth, humans can take steps to mitigate their impact and reduce their frequency through measures like reducing carbon emissions to address climate change, building earthquake-resistant structures, and implementing early warning systems for natural disasters.

Question 4

Which of the following is an anticipatory response to earthquakes in San Francisco?
A) Monitoring along the San Andreas and other fault lines
B) Earthquake drills conducted in schools
C) Retrofitting older buildings that don't meet earthquake codes
D) Providing a fund for insurance for victims of the possible earthquake
E) All of the above are anticipatory responses to earthquakes.

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are anticipatory responses to earthquakes in San Francisco. Monitoring along fault lines helps to predict when an earthquake might occur, earthquake drills in schools help people prepare for earthquakes, retrofitting older buildings ensures that they are more resistant to earthquake damage, and providing a fund for insurance for victims of an earthquake helps to mitigate the financial impact of such an event.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is FALSE about benefits of natural hazards? A) Flooding can provide nutrients to the land. B) Volcanoes add new islands. C) Landslides can dam rivers to create new lakes. D) Wildfires clear old growth to create new forests. E) Natural hazards are never beneficial and always cause disaster.

Accepted Answer

While natural hazards can have negative impacts, they can also provide benefits such as the examples given in choices A-D. Therefore, natural hazards are not always solely destructive and can have positive effects on the environment.

Question 6

Which of the following factors is used to calculate risk of a natural hazard?
A) Probability of event happening
B) Amount of property damage expected
C) Number of deaths possible
D) Amount of damage to roads and bridges
E) All of the above factors are used to calculate risk.

Accepted Answer

All of these factors (probability, property damage, deaths, damage to infrastructure) are used to calculate the risk of a natural hazard. The risk can be evaluated by considering the probability of the event occurring, as well as the potential consequences in terms of property damage, human fatalities and injuries, and externalities such as impact on infrastructure, transportation or the environment.

Question 7

The structure of rocks can give clues as to the type of hazards found in a location.

Accepted Answer

The structure of rocks, such as their tendency to erode or fracture, can provide information about the potential for natural hazards such as landslides, rockfalls, or earthquakes. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 8

The wealthiest countries generally have fewer deaths from natural disasters than poorer countries.

Accepted Answer

Wealthier countries have greater resources to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as early warning systems, evacuation plans, and strong infrastructure. This reduces the risk of deaths and damage compared to poorer countries with limited resources for disaster management.

Question 9

The size and frequency of natural hazards are unrelated to human interactions.

Accepted Answer

The size and frequency of natural hazards can be affected by human interactions such as climate change, deforestation, and urbanization. These factors can worsen the impact of natural hazards on people and infrastructure.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an anticipatory response to the problem of flooding? A) Restricting building on sections of the floodplain B) Requiring insurance for homes built in potentially hazardous areas C) Building dams to control the water flow D) Delivering food and clothing to the most hard-hit areas E) Evacuating people before the floodwaters rise

Accepted Answer

Delivering food and clothing to the most hard-hit areas is a response to the problem of flooding, rather than an anticipatory measure to prevent or minimize the impact of flooding. The other options (A, B, C, and E) are all anticipatory responses to the problem of flooding.

Question 11

During the last century, the global temperature trend has increased, causing scientists to hypothesize about continued global warming. Which of the following is NOT an impact this might have on natural hazards? A) Sea levels will rise, causing more erosion. B) Magma will rise, causing more volcanoes. C) Deserts are likely to expand. D) Warmer ocean water will increase storm activity. E) All of the above are impacts of climate change.

Accepted Answer

While climate change can have significant impacts on natural hazards, including sea level rise and increased storm activity, there is no evidence to support the claim that it will cause an increase in volcanic activity. While some studies have found a link between volcanic activity and climate change, the evidence is inconclusive and there is no consensus among scientists that the two are directly connected.

Question 12

Which statement is FALSE about world population? A) Over the next 20 to 30 years, world population is expected to continue to increase with most of the population increase from wealthy nations and little population increase from poor nations due to their higher death rate. B) With increasing world population we can generally expect more deaths from natural disasters because of more people living in hazardous areas. C) Increasing world population can cause certain natural disasters to become more severe due to increasing human influence on those disasters. D) If the global population were to continue to grow unchecked, it would eventually reach the Earth's carrying capacity.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false because in reality, most of the population increase is expected to be from poor nations due to their higher birth rates.

Question 13

Which of the following constitutes a prediction rather than a forecast for a natural event?
A) The tsunami from today's massive earthquake near Alaska will arrive in Hilo, Hawaii at 2 PM.
B) Landslides are expected in the Tacoma, WA area throughout the weekend.
C) Tremors from an earthquake may cause damage to poorly built structures.
D) There is a 50% chance of thunderstorms in the Seattle region on Saturday.
E) Four to five inches of rain may fall with the Category 2 storm off of the coast of Alabama.

Accepted Answer

This option is a specific statement about something that will happen in the future based on current knowledge and understanding.

The other options are all forecasts or estimates based on current conditions, but with a degree of uncertainty or probability attached to them. For example, option B states that landslides are expected, but does not provide a specific time or location. Option C suggests that damage may occur, but does not give any details about the extent of the damage or when it might happen. Option D provides a probability of thunderstorms occurring, but does not state definitively whether or not they will happen. Option E provides an estimate of rainfall, but again does not state definitively whether that amount of rain will fall or not.

Question 14

Catastrophes and natural disasters differ in the magnitude of the effect of the hazard.

Accepted Answer

Catastrophes and natural disasters can both cause damage and destruction, but catastrophes typically have a more widespread and severe impact than natural disasters. Catastrophes may involve multiple hazards occurring simultaneously or within a short period of time, and may affect large areas or populations. Natural disasters, on the other hand, typically refer to events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires that can still cause significant damage but may be more localized in their impact.

Question 15

The structure of rocks (faults, cracks, or folded rocks) can give clues as to the type of hazards found in a location.

Accepted Answer

The structure of rocks can provide valuable information about the geological history of an area, including the presence of faults, fractures, and folds. These features can impact the likelihood of hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and rockfalls. Therefore, understanding the structure of rocks is an important part of assessing natural hazards in a given location.

Question 16

Any kind of natural hazard can occur in any place at any time.

Accepted Answer

Different natural hazards are more likely to occur in specific areas due to geographical, climatic, and geological factors. For example, earthquakes are more common near fault lines, and hurricanes typically occur in tropical regions.

Question 17

Natural hazards in the U.S. only occur in the San Francisco area of California.

Accepted Answer

Natural hazards occur in various parts of the U.S., including but not limited to earthquakes in California, hurricanes in the Southeast, tornadoes in the Midwest, wildfires in the West, and floods in many states.

Question 18

Which of the following statements best explains why events that have caused disasters in the past are now causing catastrophes?
A) People are less aware of disasters and are less prepared.
B) Governments are not as interested in preparing for disasters as they were in the past.
C) Human population growth has caused a greater concentration of population in certain areas and puts a greater demand on earth's resources.
D) The earth is aging and therefore becoming more prone to natural hazards.
E) Scientists understand less today about disasters than they did in the past.

Accepted Answer

As the human population continues to grow, more people are concentrated in certain areas and this puts a greater demand on earth's resources. This leads to increased vulnerability to natural hazards and can turn a disaster into a catastrophe.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a reactive response to Hurricane Katrina? A) Avoid rebuilding in the areas of New Orleans that are below sea level B) Homes are rebuilt. C) People are given counseling for fears that they may still have. D) Communication lines are restored. E) Money is given by the government to rebuilt small businesses.

Accepted Answer

Avoiding rebuilding in areas below sea level is a proactive response, not a reactive response, as it involves taking action to prevent potential future damage rather than responding to already existing damage. The other options listed are reactive responses to Hurricane Katrina.

Question 20

Some kind of natural disaster is possible for almost every region of the United States.

Accepted Answer

The United States is prone to a variety of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and more. Thus, some kind of natural disaster is possible for almost every region of the country.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Natural Hazards

Choose the best answer: Do humans have an effect on the frequency of natural disasters?

What does the impact of natural hazards depend on?

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the concept of uniformitarianism as related to natural disasters?

Which of the following is an anticipatory response to earthquakes in San Francisco?

Which of the following statements is FALSE about benefits of natural hazards?

Which of the following factors is used to calculate risk of a natural hazard?

The structure of rocks can give clues as to the type of hazards found in a location.

The wealthiest countries generally have fewer deaths from natural disasters than poorer countries.

The size and frequency of natural hazards are unrelated to human interactions.

Which of the following is NOT an anticipatory response to the problem of flooding?

During the last century, the global temperature trend has increased, causing scientists to hypothesize about continued global warming. Which of the following is NOT an impact this might have on natural hazards?

Which statement is FALSE about world population?

Which of the following constitutes a prediction rather than a forecast for a natural event?

Catastrophes and natural disasters differ in the magnitude of the effect of the hazard.

The structure of rocks (faults, cracks, or folded rocks) can give clues as to the type of hazards found in a location.

Any kind of natural hazard can occur in any place at any time.

Natural hazards in the U.S. only occur in the San Francisco area of California.

Which of the following statements best explains why events that have caused disasters in the past are now causing catastrophes?

Which of the following is NOT a reactive response to Hurricane Katrina?

Some kind of natural disaster is possible for almost every region of the United States.