Question 1

Which is a major fault that often shows a progressive migration along its length with time?
A) the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey
B) the San Andreas Fault in California
C) the Alpine Fault in New Zealand
D) the Haicheng Fault in China
E) the New Madrid Fault in Missouri

Accepted Answer

The North Anatolian Fault in Turkey is known for its progressive westward migration of seismic activity over time, which is a characteristic feature of this fault system.

Question 2

What is ineffective in reducing the possibility of earthquake's damage to a building?
A) using base isolation pads between the building and its foundation
B) using diagonal bracing in the walls
C) adding sheets of plywood to the walls
D) anchoring the building to its foundation
E) loading the ground floor with heavy weights to prevent it from moving so much

Accepted Answer

Loading the ground floor with heavy weights to prevent it from moving so much is ineffective in reducing the possibility of earthquake damage to a building. This method has been debunked by seismic experts and can actually increase the risk of collapse during an earthquake. It is important to use techniques such as base isolation, diagonal bracing, plywood sheets, and anchoring the building to its foundation to effectively reduce earthquake damage.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about seismicity in Los Angeles and the Transverse Ranges is NOT true?
A) The number of observed moderate earthquakes is less than expected based on the overall slip rate.
B) Sections of the San Andreas Fault in this region have seismic gaps.
C) The average interval between large earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault is 160 years.
D) There are several earthquake generating faults in the region.
E) Moderate earthquakes in this area have an average recurrence interval of 15 years.

Accepted Answer

Moderate earthquakes in this area generally have a recurrence interval of 10 to 30 years, not 15 years.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT true of many old brick or stone buildings in an earthquake?
A) Flexing of the walls can permit the floor beams to pull out and the floors to fall.
B) Heavy reinforced concrete floors and corner supports with unreinforced fill-in walls of brick are common in the developing world.
C) Because of its mortar brick, walls can flex enough to withstand most earthquakes.
D) Bricks falling from buildings often crush cars and can injure or kill passengers.
E) Stone walls are no better than brick walls in an earthquake.

Accepted Answer

While older brick and stone buildings do have weaknesses in earthquakes, such as insufficient reinforcing, flexible walls can actually be an advantage. The mortar between bricks allows walls to flex and absorb some of the earthquake's energy, potentially reducing damage. Therefore, choice C is not true.

Question 5

Which of the following would be the safest place to be in an earthquake?
A) in bed
B) in a brick building
C) in a building with concrete walls
D) in a frame (wood) house
E) in a building with stone walls well cemented together

Accepted Answer

In an earthquake, it is best to be in a frame (wood) house as they are less likely to collapse compared to brick or concrete buildings. Additionally, in bed one may be more susceptible to falling objects and stone walls may not be well-cemented together causing them to collapse.

Question 6

The double-deck freeway at the east edge of San Francisco Bay collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.Why?
A) It was too tall for its height.
B) It lacked steel reinforcing bars.
C) Strong shaking lasted for more than the 30 minutes it was designed for.
D) It was built across soft mud.
E) Water from San Francisco Bay rotted the foundation material, weakening it.

Accepted Answer

The freeway was built on soft mud, which amplified the seismic waves and contributed to its collapse during the earthquake.

Question 7

Which of the following states has the lowest seismic risk?
A) Arkansas
B) Minnesota
C) Missouri
D) Illinois
E) South Carolina

Accepted Answer

Minnesota has the lowest seismic risk of the given states. This is because it is located in the stable interior of the North American continent, away from any active tectonic activity or major fault lines.

Question 8

Where in the United States and Canada are strong earthquakes most frequent?
A) in the Rocky Mountains
B) just off the coast of Oregon, Washington, and southwestern Canada
C) along the western fringe of California (onshore)
D) in northern Michigan
E) along the southern half of the east coast of United States

Accepted Answer

The answer of Where in the United States and Canada...

Question 9

Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A) Shattering glass is one of the most common causes of injuries in earthquakes.
B) During the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, broken glass rained down on the street in downtown San Francisco.
C) Safety glass is required in all windows of newly constructed commercial buildings.
D) Glass systems in modern high-rise buildings are designed to accommodate routine sway.
E) Safety glass in some commercial building is similar to that used in cars.

Accepted Answer

Safety glass is not required in all windows of newly constructed commercial buildings; requirements vary based on building codes and specific applications.

Question 10

For very long faults such as those in westernmost North America,what historic information can be,and has been,used to infer where the next large earthquake may be?
A) the part of the fault with the most frequent earthquakes
B) the part of the fault that creeps slowly and may be building to a sudden break
C) the part of the fault where there is a seismic gap
D) the part of the fault with the largest earthquake in the past
E) the part of the fault closest to the largest population

Accepted Answer

Historic information can be used to identify areas of a fault that have not experienced a large earthquake in a long time, which are known as seismic gaps. These areas may be more likely to rupture in the future, making them a potential location for the next large earthquake.

Question 11

It is advisable to keep well away from an old brick building during an earthquake.Why?
A) Old brick walls are generally not well anchored to the ground and often topple over.
B) The ornamental brick of the walls is not firmly attached to the main structure of the building, and it easily separates and falls.
C) The frequency of earthquake shaking matches the frequency of flexure of brick walls; they buckle in the middle and fall.
D) The mortar in old brick walls is generally crumbly, permitting groups of bricks to shake out and fall.
E) Overhanging brick parapets often break off and fall.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is advisable to keep well away...

Question 12

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake occurred on which Californian fault?
A) San Andreas Fault
B) Hayward Fault
C) Calavares Fault
D) Loma Prieta Fault
E) San Jacinto Fault

Accepted Answer

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake occurred on the San Andreas Fault, which is a major fault line in California known for significant seismic activity.

Question 13

Which of the following have NOT been used to suggest that an earthquake may be coming?
A) microearthquakes
B) changes in groundwater level
C) increase in radon in water
D) changes in tide heights
E) strange animal behavior

Accepted Answer

Changes in tide heights are not usually used as a predictor of earthquakes. The other options (A, B, C, and E) have been associated with earthquake activity.

Question 14

The best-known successful prediction of a major earthquake was where and when?
A) Fargo, North Dakota, in 1957
B) Haicheng, China, in 1975
C) Los Angeles in 1994
D) Hokkaido, Japan, in 1998
E) Banda Aceh, Sumatra, in 2004

Accepted Answer

The best-known successful prediction of a major earthquake was in Haicheng, China, in 1975. The Chinese government was able to evacuate approximately 90% of the city's population before the earthquake occurred, which resulted in significantly fewer casualties than would have otherwise occurred.

Question 15

Buildings sway back and forth in an earthquake.A 20-story building oscillates how often?
A) 5 times per second
B) once per second
C) once per 5 seconds
D) once per minute
E) once per 5 minutes

Accepted Answer

A 20-story building typically oscillates once every 5 seconds during an earthquake due to its natural frequency and structural dynamics.

Question 16

What is a seismic gap?
A) a part of an active fault that has not had recent earthquakes
B) a long time between earthquakes on a fault
C) a pronounced crevice along a fault
D) a gaping crack created by fault movement
E) an earthquake that causes no vibration of the ground

Accepted Answer

A seismic gap is a section of an active fault that has not experienced a recent earthquake despite the surrounding area having experienced frequent seismic activity. The buildup of stress in these areas eventually leads to earthquakes, making seismic gaps important to study for earthquake forecasting and mitigation efforts.

Question 17

What commonly causes severe damage in single-story frame (wood construction)houses in an earthquake?
A) They bounce up and down so much that the internal plaster or sheetrock crumbles.
B) They bounce up and down so much that the nails pull out of the wood supports.
C) The shaking shatters the windows, so the glass cuts up everything.
D) They shake off their foundations.
E) They totally collapse.

Accepted Answer

The most common cause of severe damage in single-story frame (wood construction) houses in an earthquake is shaking them off their foundations. The shaking can also cause some nail pullout, but it is usually not severe enough to cause significant damage. The internal plaster or sheetrock may also crack or crumble, but it is rarely the primary cause of severe damage. Similarly, shattered windows can be a hazard, but they rarely cause significant structural damage. Total collapse is also possible but is relatively rare in single-story frame houses.

Question 18

Why does the North Anatolian Fault of Turkey kill many more people than the San Andreas Fault?
A) People in Turkey are not as familiar with earthquakes.
B) Earthquakes along that fault are much stronger than those in California.
C) Most of the buildings near that fault are on artificial fill.
D) There is poor quality of construction in Turkey.
E) There are no building codes in Turkey.

Accepted Answer

The poor quality of construction in Turkey, including inadequate adherence to building codes, contributes to higher casualties during earthquakes along the North Anatolian Fault.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the 1994 Northridge earthquake in the Los Angeles area is NOT true?
A) The earthquake severed gas lines and caused fires.
B) Its Richter Magnitude of 6.7 is considered moderate.
C) Highway interchanges that collapsed in 1971 withstood the shaking.
D) It was a blind thrust fault tens of miles from the San Andreas Fault.
E) Unbraced ground-floor garages of apartment buildings collapsed.

Accepted Answer

The statement that highway interchanges that collapsed in 1971 withstood the shaking is not true. The earthquake caused significant damage to highway interchanges, including the collapse of a portion of the Santa Monica Freeway.

Question 20

Which of the following make(s)the safest house walls during an earthquake?
A) four inches of concrete
B) stone blocks well cemented together
C) bricks tightly mortared together
D) adobe
E) two-by-four inch lumber covered with plywood

Accepted Answer

Wooden structures, like those made with two-by-four inch lumber covered with plywood, are more flexible and can better absorb and dissipate the energy of an earthquake, reducing the risk of collapse.

Quiz 4: Earthquake Prediction and Mitigation

Which is a major fault that often shows a progressive migration along its length with time?

What is ineffective in reducing the possibility of earthquake's damage to a building?

Which of the following statements about seismicity in Los Angeles and the Transverse Ranges is NOT true?

Which of the following is NOT true of many old brick or stone buildings in an earthquake?

Which of the following would be the safest place to be in an earthquake?

The double-deck freeway at the east edge of San Francisco Bay collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.Why?

Which of the following states has the lowest seismic risk?

Where in the United States and Canada are strong earthquakes most frequent?

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

For very long faults such as those in westernmost North America,what historic information can be,and has been,used to infer where the next large earthquake may be?

It is advisable to keep well away from an old brick building during an earthquake.Why?

The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake occurred on which Californian fault?

Which of the following have NOT been used to suggest that an earthquake may be coming?

The best-known successful prediction of a major earthquake was where and when?

Buildings sway back and forth in an earthquake.A 20-story building oscillates how often?

What is a seismic gap?

What commonly causes severe damage in single-story frame (wood construction) houses in an earthquake?

Why does the North Anatolian Fault of Turkey kill many more people than the San Andreas Fault?

Which of the following statements about the 1994 Northridge earthquake in the Los Angeles area is NOT true?

Which of the following make(s) the safest house walls during an earthquake?