Geol 105 Reading Assessment Chapter 3

Earthquake magnitude on the Richter scale is determined by the size of the area damaged from an earthquake. A. True B. False

B. False

The San Andreas Fault is considered a potentially active fault because it has not produced a major quake in over 500 years. A. True B. False

B. False

There are about 2,000 earthquakes of magnitude 8 or higher every year; fortunately most of them occur in unpopulated areas. A. True B. False

B. False

Whenever there is movement along a fault, an earthquake is felt. A. True B. False

B. False

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the magnitude of earthquakes? A.Magnitudes of earthquakes are based on powers of ten. B.An earthquake of magnitude 3 on the Richter scale involves twice the amount of ground shaking as a magnitude 2 earthquake. C.Great earthquakes can have a magnitude of 8 or higher. D.Both the Richter Scale and Moment Magnitude Scale are used to describe the magnitude of an earthquake.

B.An earthquake of magnitude 3 on the Richter scale involves twice the amount of ground shaking as a magnitude 2 earthquake.

All earthquakes in the U.S. are situated on the West Coast near the San Andreas Fault. A. True B. False

B. False

Which of the following is NOT an effect of earthquakes? A.Ground rupture B.Liquefaction C.Volcanoes D.Fires E.Disease

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Earthquake prediction is an area of intense scientific research. A. True B. False

A. True

Earthquakes around the world are extremely common events with an estimated number of more than a million earthquakes every year. A. True B. False

A. True

Earthquakes may expose new mineral resources for people to mine. A. True B. False

A. True

It is possible to develop an earthquake warning system that would provide 15 - 60 seconds of warning to an urban area before the arrival of damaging earthquake waves if the earthquake occurred far enough away. A. True B. False

A. True

P-waves are the fastest seismic waves produced. A. True B. False

A. True

Surface waves are the slowest seismic waves, but they have the largest amplitude and usually cause the most destruction in an earthquake. A. True B. False

A. True

During an earthquake, strain is released and then accumulated again until the next earthquake. This is a statement about the A.Earthquake cycle. B.Strain cycle. C.Richter cycle. D.Water cycle. E.Rock cycle.

A.Earthquake cycle.

In which of the following faults does the hanging wall move down relative to the footwall? A.Normal fault B.Reverse fault C.Thrust fault D.Blind fault E.Strike-Slip fault

A.Normal fault

Which seismic waves produce the smallest amplitude? A.P-waves B.S-waves C.Surface waves D.All seismic waves have the same magnitude.

A.P-waves

Which of the following is FALSE about slow earthquakes? A.They are not able to cause damage. B.They can produce earthquakes with moderate magnitude. C.They are the result of tectonic creep. D.They can produce considerable damage to structures. E.They rupture over long periods of time.

A.They are not able to cause damage.

Which kind of material would be prone to liquefaction during an earthquake? A.Water-saturated sand B.Dry compacted clay C.Sedimentary rock with horizontal layering D.Volcanic rock that is very porous E.Any earth material (rock or sediment) that is saturated with water

A.Water-saturated sand

In general, there is more ground shaking from an earthquake with A.decreasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter. B.increasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter. C.increasing depth from the surface and increasing distance to the epicenter. D.decreasing depth from the surface and increasing distance to the epicenter.

A.decreasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter.

According to the elastic rebound model, earthquakes are caused by energy released when A.highly stressed (i.e.,bent) rock breaks and abruptly moves. B.asthenosphere is dragged over lithosphere. C.landslides rumble down the mountain slope. D.dissolved gases escape violently from molten rock.

A.highly stressed (i.e.,bent) rock breaks and abruptly moves.

Seismic gap refers to a region where no seismic activity ever occurs. A. True B. False

B.False

What is the difference between earthquake intensity and magnitude? A.Only strong earthquakes have intensity; weak earthquakes have magnitude and intensity. B.Intensity refers to the effects that earthquakes have, magnitude refers to energy released. C.Intensity refers to energy released and magnitude refers to the effects that earthquakes have. D.Only weak earthquakes have intensity; strong earthquakes have magnitude and intensity.

B.Intensity refers to the effects that earthquakes have, magnitude refers to energy released.

What causes earthquakes in San Francisco? A.Dip-slip faults from subduction B.Strike-slip faults from a transform plate boundary C.megathrust earthquakes from a divergent plate boundary D.megathrust earthquakes from a convergent plate boundary E.These are intraplate earthquakes.

B.Strike-slip faults from a transform plate boundary

If you knew that an earthquake was coming, where is the safest place to be? A.In the basement B.Under a doorway C.In your backyard away from any buildings or power lines D.In the garage E.In your bathtub

C.In your backyard away from any buildings or power lines

Which scale is most appropriate to describe earthquake damage to structures and effects on people? A.Richter Scale B.Moment Magnitude Scale C.Modified Mercalli Scale D.Fujita Scale E.Saffir-Simpson Scale

C.Modified Mercalli Scale

Vertical movement of rock occurs in all of the following faults EXCEPT A.normal. B.reverse. C.strike-slip. D.dip-slip.

C.strike-slip.

Which of the following is FALSE about the shaking from earthquakes? A.Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more ground shaking than deep ones. B.Places closer to the epicenter experience more ground shaking. C.The direction that the rupture moves along a fault can affect the amount of shaking. D.Bedrock causes more ground shaking than mud because the seismic waves are transmitted more efficiently in bedrock.

D.Bedrock causes more ground shaking than mud because the seismic waves are transmitted more efficiently in bedrock.

Which of the following human activities is NOT known to cause earthquakes? A.Underground nuclear explosions B.Injecting liquid waste deep into the ground C.Building a water reservoir D.Excavating large amounts of materials to make buildings

D.Excavating large amounts of materials to make buildings

Which of the following is NOT used to predict an earthquake? A.Foreshocks B.Changes in ground elevation C.Locations of seismic gaps along a fault D.Gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth

D.Gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth

Which of the following places in the U. S. has the lowest seismic hazard? A.Seattle, WA B.St. Louis, MO C.Los Angeles, CA D.Minneapolis, MN E.Charleston, SC

D.Minneapolis, MN

During an earthquake will one side of the fault always rise up relative to the other side? A.Yes. Earthquakes are always associated with upward movement along the fault. B.Yes. Earthquakes are always associated with subduction. C.No. Faults in earthquakes never move up and down. D.No. Faults in earthquakes sometimes are preceded by ground uplift, but not always. E.No. Faults that rise up are usually associated with volcanoes and not earthquakes.

D.No. Faults in earthquakes sometimes are preceded by ground uplift, but not always.

Which of the following is TRUE about seismographs taken far from the epicenter of the earthquake as compared to those that are closer? A.There will not be any P-waves detected. B.There will not be any S-waves detected. C.The P and S waves will be closer together. D.The P and S waves will be farther apart. E.The amplitude of the waves will be larger.

D.The P and S waves will be farther apart.

Which of the following is NOT a reason why building a reservoir would increase earthquakes? A.Water from the reservoir would add extra weight to existing faults. B.Water from the reservoir would add extra weight creating new fractures. C.Water from the reservoir might lubricate existing fractures. D.Water from the reservoir would lower levels of the groundwater and promote the development of underground caves.

D.Water from the reservoir would lower levels of the groundwater and promote the development of underground caves.

What causes megathrust earthquakes? A.Strike-slip faults from subduction B.Strike-slip faults from a transform plate boundary C.normal faults at a divergent plate boundary D.subduction at a convergent plate boundary E.These are intraplate earthquakes.

D.subduction at a convergent plate boundary

Which of the following could threaten an area after the initial shocks from an earthquake subside? A.Fires B.Landslides C.Tsunamis D.Aftershocks E.All of the answer choices are correct.

E.All of the answer choices are correct.

If you lived on an active fault and felt a small earthquake, what would that mean? A.It's a foreshock. A big earthquake is coming. B.The fault is releasing energy and won't shake again C.The fault is the type to only cause small earthquakes and there are no worries for big ones. D.Your fault is becoming more active and more earthquakes are on the way. E.The fault is releasing energy, but it is not enough to know what might happen next.

E.The fault is releasing energy, but it is not enough to know what might happen next.

Strong earthquakes have been felt in Southeast Missouri, what causes these earthquakes? A.Dip-slip faults from subduction B.Strike-slip faults from a transform plate boundary C.megathrust earthquakes from a divergent plate boundary D.megathrust earthquakes from a convergent plate boundary E.These are intraplate earthquakes.

E.These are intraplate earthquakes.

Which of the following is NOT a reasonable way for communities to deal with the earthquake hazard? A.retrofit old buildings B.enact building codes for new construction C.provide insurance for potential victims D.educate people on what to do during an earthquake E.avoid living in an area where there are any earthquakes

E.avoid living in an area where there are any earthquakes

Which of the following best describes a fault? A.giant gap or canyon at the Earth's surface B.cave or large hole hidden under the ground C.where the continent meets the ocean D.giant underground chamber usually filled with magma E.fractured rock that has been displaced, i.e., rocks on one side of the fracture have moved relative to the other side

E.fractured rock that has been displaced, i.e., rocks on one side of the fracture have moved relative to the other side

Earthquakes are found A.only on convergent plate boundaries. B.only on divergent plate boundaries. C.only on transform fault boundaries. D.only within tectonic plates. E.on all plate boundaries and within tectonic plates.

E.on all plate boundaries and within tectonic plates.