Q.1 Which of the following is considered a geological hazard?
Flood
Earthquake
Hurricane
Heatwave
Explanation - Geological hazards originate from the Earth's internal processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
Correct answer is: Earthquake
Q.2 Tsunamis are primarily caused by:
Heavy rainfall
Earthquakes under the sea
Cyclones
Forest fires
Explanation - Tsunamis are large ocean waves generated mainly by undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
Correct answer is: Earthquakes under the sea
Q.3 Which hazard is classified as a hydrological hazard?
Flood
Volcanic eruption
Earthquake
Tornado
Explanation - Hydrological hazards are caused by the occurrence, movement, and distribution of surface and subsurface freshwater or saltwater, like floods and tsunamis.
Correct answer is: Flood
Q.4 Which type of volcano has gentle slopes and primarily produces basaltic lava?
Shield volcano
Stratovolcano
Cinder cone
Caldera
Explanation - Shield volcanoes have broad, gentle slopes and erupt low-viscosity basaltic lava, unlike stratovolcanoes, which are steeper and more explosive.
Correct answer is: Shield volcano
Q.5 The Richter scale measures:
Flood intensity
Earthquake magnitude
Hurricane strength
Volcanic explosivity
Explanation - The Richter scale quantifies the amount of energy released by an earthquake, indicating its magnitude.
Correct answer is: Earthquake magnitude
Q.6 Which hazard is most likely to occur in coastal areas during summer?
Cyclones
Landslides
Earthquakes
Avalanches
Explanation - Cyclones are intense tropical storms that primarily affect coastal regions, especially during summer when sea surface temperatures are high.
Correct answer is: Cyclones
Q.7 Landslides are triggered mainly by:
Heavy rainfall
Earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions
All of the above
Explanation - Landslides can be triggered by heavy rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or human activities that destabilize slopes.
Correct answer is: All of the above
Q.8 Which of these is an atmospheric hazard?
Earthquake
Cyclone
Landslide
Tsunami
Explanation - Atmospheric hazards originate in the atmosphere, such as cyclones, tornadoes, and heatwaves.
Correct answer is: Cyclone
Q.9 The term 'seismic gap' refers to:
Area with frequent earthquakes
A segment of a fault that has been inactive
A type of volcanic crater
A low-pressure weather zone
Explanation - A seismic gap is a section of a fault that has not experienced an earthquake for a long time and may be prone to future seismic activity.
Correct answer is: A segment of a fault that has been inactive
Q.10 Which factor does NOT contribute to flood risk?
Urbanization
Deforestation
Earthquake magnitude
Heavy rainfall
Explanation - Flood risk is influenced by rainfall, land use, soil type, and urbanization. Earthquake magnitude does not directly cause floods.
Correct answer is: Earthquake magnitude
Q.11 Which country is most prone to volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire?
Japan
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Norway
Explanation - Japan lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonically active area with frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Correct answer is: Japan
Q.12 Which is the most common type of earthquake wave detected first by seismographs?
S-wave
P-wave
Surface wave
Rayleigh wave
Explanation - P-waves (primary waves) are the fastest seismic waves and arrive first at seismograph stations during an earthquake.
Correct answer is: P-wave
Q.13 Which disaster is associated with thawing permafrost and sudden ground collapse?
Earthquake
Landslide
Avalanche
Glacial lake outburst
Explanation - Thawing permafrost destabilizes slopes, often triggering landslides in cold regions.
Correct answer is: Landslide
Q.14 The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) measures:
Earthquake intensity
Flood severity
Volcanic eruption magnitude
Cyclone wind speed
Explanation - The VEI quantifies the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 8.
Correct answer is: Volcanic eruption magnitude
Q.15 Which of the following human activities increases the risk of landslides?
Deforestation
Afforestation
Urban planning
Soil conservation
Explanation - Deforestation removes vegetation that stabilizes soil, increasing the likelihood of landslides.
Correct answer is: Deforestation
Q.16 Which type of flood is sudden and often catastrophic, occurring after intense rainfall?
Flash flood
Riverine flood
Coastal flood
Glacial flood
Explanation - Flash floods occur rapidly after intense rainfall, often causing severe damage due to their sudden onset.
Correct answer is: Flash flood
Q.17 Which region is most vulnerable to tornadoes?
Tornado Alley in the USA
Sahara Desert
Amazon Basin
Himalayas
Explanation - Tornado Alley in the central United States has the highest frequency of tornado occurrences due to its unique climate and geography.
Correct answer is: Tornado Alley in the USA
Q.18 Volcanic eruptions can lead to temporary global cooling due to:
Release of greenhouse gases
Ash and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere
Lava flows
Earthquakes
Explanation - Volcanic ash and sulfur dioxide reflect sunlight, reducing global temperatures temporarily.
Correct answer is: Ash and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere
Q.19 Which natural hazard is measured using the Saffir-Simpson scale?
Earthquake
Cyclone
Volcanic eruption
Flood
Explanation - The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies tropical cyclones based on sustained wind speeds and potential damage.
Correct answer is: Cyclone
Q.20 Avalanches are most common in:
Mountainous regions with heavy snow
Deserts
Tropical forests
Coastal plains
Explanation - Avalanches occur when accumulated snow on steep slopes becomes unstable and rapidly slides downhill.
Correct answer is: Mountainous regions with heavy snow
Q.21 Which of the following is a secondary effect of earthquakes?
Tsunami
Volcanic eruption
Cyclone
Drought
Explanation - Secondary effects are indirect consequences, such as tsunamis triggered by undersea earthquakes.
Correct answer is: Tsunami
Q.22 Which instrument is used to detect and record earthquakes?
Barometer
Seismograph
Anemometer
Hygrometer
Explanation - A seismograph records the motion of the ground during an earthquake, showing the amplitude and frequency of seismic waves.
Correct answer is: Seismograph
Q.23 Which factor influences the intensity of a cyclone?
Sea surface temperature
Wind speed
Atmospheric pressure
All of the above
Explanation - Cyclone intensity depends on warm sea surface temperatures, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure conditions.
Correct answer is: All of the above
Q.24 Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are caused by:
Sudden release of water from glacial lakes
Earthquakes in deserts
Tropical cyclones
Volcanic lava flows
Explanation - GLOFs occur when a glacial lake’s natural dam fails, releasing large amounts of water downstream.
Correct answer is: Sudden release of water from glacial lakes
Q.25 Which of the following is NOT a mitigation measure for natural hazards?
Early warning systems
Land use planning
Deforestation
Building codes
Explanation - Deforestation increases vulnerability to hazards. Effective mitigation includes early warning systems, planning, and strict building codes.
Correct answer is: Deforestation