Student Name ___________________
1.
For earthquake damage to occur, the hypocenter should be located about how far to one side, rather than directly below the epicenter? a.
Hypocenter at least 50 miles away from the epicenter, in order to provide timing space between P and S waves b.
At least 100 miles away, for the same reason as above c.
At least 50 miles away from the epicenter, with P and S wave timing being important only for measuring distance to the quake, not quake damage d.
For damage to occur at all, a quake epicenter cannot be more than five miles from the hypocenter e.
All of the answers above are irrelevant, and the question itself is in error.
From page 54, by definition the epicenter is directly above the hypocenter, so it could never be anywhere else.
2.
An earthquake of M 7.1 will release about how much more energy than a quake of 7.0? a.
1,000 times more energy b.
10 percent more energy c.
A multiple of about 32 times more energy d.
Thirty to forty percent more energy e.
About double (2x)
See Table 3.3 on page 55 . . . 0.1 change in magnitude = about 1.3 times more ground motion, based on about
40 percent more energy released). The key here is that only one answer (d) is reasonable.
3.
In the absence of an officially approved run-up map, what is a reasonable personal guideline for designing your own safe zone during a tsunami warning? a.
1,000 feet horizontally or 1.2 miles vertically b.
Some combination of at least 5,000 feet horizontally and/or at least100 feet vertically c.
At least 1.2 miles vertically and 1.2 miles horizontally d.
It is bad advice to try to make your own estimate of inundation distance or elevation e.
Observe the beach as the wave arrives, and then form a plan for evacuation distance
Based on class discussion and a variety of references in the textbook and from news media sources, we can conclude that dangerous aspect of most tsunami waves can be avoided by quickly moving to a location that is high enough or far enough. Even in the event that a wave reaches more than a mile inland, the speed and depth of the flow is not very likely to be dangerous.
4.
An earthquake off the Canadian coast can kill people in Japan more than 3,000 miles away. The reverse is also true.
True _ X __ False ___
Many maps in the textbook show that Japan and Canada are connected by open ocean that a tsunami wave can easily cross.
5.
Earthquakes of the “slip-strike” variety are responsible for the Wasatch Mountains that have been rising above Salt Lake valley.
True ___ False _ X __
Slip-strike, or transform quakes move laterally, or horizontally, more than vertically. See page 58, column 1 .

6.
As nations gain technology and financial wealth, natural hazards that once caused catastrophes are now more likely to produce no more than disasters .
See pages such as 15, 20, 22 and 77, and class discussion and related references in most chapters of the book. Technology, especially regarding energy and transportation, allows people to live in places and alter landscapes in ways that sometimes create hazards or make them worse. Often, technology, including social technology, such as insurance and other government interventions, can contribute to human activities that can worsen hazards. Page 236 illustrates the tendency for people to not heed available information ).
True ___ False _ X __
7.
Due to gradually improving land use planning and hazard insurance, the number of buildings on hazardous sites is probably declining substantially. (See page 20. Also, every chapter of the book makes reference to the role of land use planning as a countervailing force to general urban expansion. Land use plans are weak, out-of-date or non-existent for many places in the world, and are not fully implemented or enforced in even many communities with otherwise strong land use planning processes. Each chapter also has references to the general effect of sensitive lands being crowded with human population, constraining options for hazard avoidance).
March, 2013 news media indicated that 40 percent of Americans now live in coastal counties, and the percentage continues to grow.
True ___ False _ X __
8.
Expanding urban development, even with improved building codes, is probably increasing the overall risk of floods in Salt Lake valley.
True _ X __ False ___
Population growth in Salt Lake valley has gradually encroached on sensitive lands that were avoided until more suitable sites have been taken. These include steep hillsides, stream floodways and unstable soils. Hardsurfacing, especially on slopes, results in rapid run-off and a tendency for small floods to become large floods.
See also page 236 for discussion on effects of concentrated urban development.
Investments in water control devices and gradually improving building and development codes are helping prevent some of the worst conditions; however, with continuing population growth, overall risk is probably still growing.
9.
Millions of people have lived successfully in caves made of fine-grain silt.
The key here is that a combination of precipitation and quaking can cause fairly stable soil formations to become momentarily unstable . One reason why catastrophic events occur is the history of success, and complacency, experienced by generations of people who have lived in places that are subject to long-period events, such as coincidence of heavy precipitation and seismic events that may not occur together for hundreds, or even thousands of years. See page 16 for “Magnitude-Frequency” concept).
True _ X __ False ___
10.
People often build in flood hazard areas because river shorelines fail to provide clues about where the river will go during high-flow events.
True ___ False _ X __
Column 2 of page 184 is one of many textbook references to human interaction with flooding. Not only are hazard maps increasingly available and accurate, floodways, riparian habitat, swamps, meadows, bogs, meander scars, historical records, soil types and a host of other evidence can help identify areas prone to water inundation. Still, it is important to note that land use planning, regulation and the science of hydrology have much to learn about water flows. Hazards still abound, for lack of full understanding and/or full willingness to

use good judgment. Page 172 provides one of many examples where “nature” provided information that was missed or ignored.
11.
Many dams, levees and other flood-prevention structures in the United States are located on private lands that are typically covered by private insurance policies that prevent property loss or damage.
True ___ False _ X __
Most dams and levees are on private property, not public. Yes, failures due to lack of maintenance and inspection are common. See Page 191. Besides, insurance does not prevent loss, it only helps replace things that are lost.
12.
River levees are controversial because they are very reliable but generally too expensive for property owners and communities who need them.
True ___ False _ X __
See pages 191, 195 and elsewhere. Levees are controversial not because they are too expensive, but because they not only fail sometimes, but sometimes create worsened conditions elsewhere. In some cases, high cost for levee maintenance is yet a further problem. Many levees are simply old or were never built properly in the first place.
13.
Theories about human-caused global warming and natural hazards are relatively easy to evaluate because the Earth shows a somewhat stable climate record until human (anthropogenic) factors began to cause persistent warming and worsening storms.
True ___ False _ X __
Earth climates have always varied, sometimes wildly. More recently, human factors (anthropogenic) have likely added to weather and climate change, mostly toward the likelihood of overall warming. See Chapter 1.
14.
The daily weather forecast is often a vital tool for predicting soil failure on steep, vulnerable slopes.
True ___ False _ X __
Class discussion heavily emphasizes that the presence of water is a huge factor in whether or not soils will be stable or not. Column 1 of page 175 is one of many references in the textbook that address this issue. Almost every page of Chapter 7 mentions the role of water in earth stability. See also Page 208 for the association between precipitation and soil instability. See also page 233. We also have anecdotal stories from places like
La Conchita in California and Saratoga Springs (student) and countless others that all tell the same story: when unstable, steep slopes are exposed to unusually heavy precipitation - - they move.
The key here is also that while we can ‘forecast’ or create a general outlook, making an accurate prediction is probably unwise, and probably impossible to do accurately. Predictions are usually about a specific date, time and place.
15.
The maximum safe angle of repose is inversely correlated to the amount of water in the sloped land form.
True _ X __ False ___
A similar concept involved with Question 14 above. An INVERSE relationship means that as one factor goes up, the other goes down. In this case, the MORE water, then LESS slope stability. Water is a lubricant that reduces the friction or “stickiness” of earth material, allowing it to flow, fall or otherwise move more easily.
See also pages 211 and 213.
16. To turn slow soil creep into a slump, use drain tile or perforated pipe to remove excessive water.
True ___ False _ X __
A creep is slow, often over decades. A slump is more rapid, with soft earth formations breaking into fractured clumps. An earth “flow” is more like water movement. Adding water will increase the chance of “flow”. See pages 217 and 231 as well .

Perforated drain pipe can help collect excess water and move it away from a vulnerable slope, helping prevent
‘flow’ and ‘slumping.’ Slow ‘creep’ can still occur even in soils that are fairly dry most of the time.
17.
Which of the following quake-related energy waves typically causes the most damage to buildings? a.
“S” waves b.
“P” waves c.
The point where “S” and “P” waves meet each other d.
Surface waves e.
Sound waves (sonic shock)
See page 61 . It is important to understand that energy waves must reach the location of buildings, people and surface topography in order to have an effect. No matter how fast or powerful a shock wave may be, it can’t do any damage until it reaches buildings. Buildings tend to be on the surface, so a shock wave becomes a ‘surface wave’ when it reaches the surface.
18.
Because of widespread use of the Modified Mercalli earthquake measurement system, scientists can now use earthquake ‘foreshocks’ as a tool for certain kinds of public warning systems.
True ___ False _ X __
Foreshocks sometimes occur, but it is difficult or impossible to know whether a tremor is a foreshock or a main shock until afterward. See page 83. See column 2 on page 68 as well.
19.
In general, earthquake shaking at any location will tend to vary negatively (inversely) with the time difference between arrival of P and S waves.
True _ X __ False ___
See pages 61-63. Increasing time between arrival of P and S waves is directly related to distance back to the source. Increasing distance is directly related to attenuation of quake energy. The further you are from a quake the less you will feel it, given that other factors remain equal.
20.
Soils that are strongly stratified, or layered, with well-developed horizons, are more likely to be safe for building construction than soils that contain unsorted, unconsolidated alluvial material that may include large cobbles.
True _ X __ False ___
Over long periods of time, soils will gradually develop layers, or ‘horizons.’ So, the layering displayed by welldeveloped, mature soils tends to indicate stability. As such, they may be good farm soils and may NOT be suitable for building construction; however, at the very least, a stable soil structure is likely to be far better for building construction than a soil with un-sorted, un-consolidated material that appears to be freshly laid down.
Newly deposited soil or earth materials are likely to be unstable and located in areas prone to flooding, landslide or other soil failure. Large cobbles might be better for building stability than fine silt, sand or clay; however, recently deposited cobble stones are also likely to have been created and delivered by strong stream flow, a real danger to buildings.
21. In Utah, the risk of financial loss due to earthquakes is reduced somewhat because of our reliance on lightweight wood-frame houses rather than on stone or brick.
True _ X __ False ___
Clearly, quake hazards are more widespread in U.S. western states, including massive subduction zones located along the U.S. portion of the “Ring of Fire.” However, the prevalence of wooden and steel-frame buildings in newer western cities does not create a greater hazard than older buildings in older communities in eastern states that often constructed of heavy, unreinforced masonry.
22.
Most people who die in floods are in automobiles.
True _ X __ False ___
See column 2 on page 177.

23. The term “flooding” is just a word that people use when their stuff gets wet.
True _ X __ False ___
See page 176 1 st column. In class, we discussed a variety of decision tools for determining where flooding will occur. The FIRM insurance rate maps, hazard maps, vegetation and landforms and historical records all provide useful clues about the behavior of water flow. The textbook suggests a generally useful rule: if your stuff gets wet, then a flood has occurred. Be careful where you put stuff.
24.
After more than 100 years of “channelizing” rivers and streams, people in the United States may have decided to let rivers define their own pathways.
Pages 191-196. Although the textbook does not draw a definitive conclusion, the facts and trends presented, combined with the teacher’s professional experience, suggest that this question is more true than false. A host of other places in the textbook strongly support the concept of minimizing disruption of natural processes that involve water movement.
True _ X __ False ___
25.
The largest “after-shocks” from the 2011 earthquake near Japan were only slightly smaller than the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Utah.
True ___ False _ X __
News reports cited in class report after-shocks from quakes with M>8.0 as often exceeding the largest quake in recorded Utah history. Page 93 explains the magnitudes of aftershocks as being, by definition, lesser than main shocks by a magnitude of at least 1.0. Utah’s largest measured quake was about M=6.4. Page 69 indicates that great quakes are usually associated with subduction zones along earth’s major plate boundaries, such as along the Pacific coast rather than in Utah.
26.
Flash floods and dam failures are probably most common in dry, semi-desert climates.
True _ X __ False ___
Dry country typically exhibits steep, hard-surface terrain that crumbles often and is not covered by vegetation that can ease the effects of water. Hard surfaces in dry climates typically result in faster surface flows, including flash floods that can overwhelm retention structures and catch people by surprise. Page 176 indicates that flash floods are more common in dry country. Flood flashing is very common in Utah and surrounding states where arid climate prevails.
27.
Unlike most poor countries, in the United States electronic warning systems are an inexpensive way to prevent financial loss caused by earthquakes.
True ___ False _ X __
Warning systems alert people to move to safe position. Buildings and other assets are seldom moveable.
Financial losses are rising, while deaths are declining, in part due to better warnings.
28.
After more than 200 years of urban development, government-sponsored investigations have completed the first comprehensive phase of hazard mapping. Hazards include, but are not limited to, old mines, karst formations, expansive soils, fault lines, and groundwater intrusions. People sometimes still choose to build in hazardous areas.
True ___ False _ X__
Pages 91-93 include many references to “prospective” efforts that are underway or yet to occur. Until the work is done, it is not done . Pages 91 and 227 are some of the many textbook examples showing that work is not done. Even when originally complete, updates are needed constantly and maps may not be published, reviewed or adopted properly.
Yes, it is true that people often choose to build in hazardous areas, whether or not good information is available to suggest building somewhere else.
29.
Which of the following tools is best for identifying the location of an earthquake:

a.
Attenuation b.
Triangulation (see Page 65) c.
Manipulation d.
Inoculation e.
Mastication
The entire textbook is based on the concept of prevention of hazards rather than clean-up afterward. Food storage seldom saves lives. Building codes, when implemented, clearly save lives (see Page 91 and elsewhere).
The difference in kill rates for similar earthquakes is a good example: Northridge and Loma Prieta killed a few dozen people, compared with hundreds of thousands killed in Haiti. Pages 92and 93 illustrate planning and prevention.
30. High mountains near Salt Lake City are evidence of massive subduction zones that are typical of tectonic plate boundaries.
True ___ False _ X __
Page 74 illustrates intra-plate boundaries for major quakes – Utah is not included. Class discussion on Figure
3.5 on page 58 described Utah as being near, but not within the most substantial part of the coastal Ring of Fire and its subduction zones. As indicated in text, compare Utah to the most active portions of the Pacific Rim shown in the map.
31.
The continuing, long-term increase in U.S. natural hazard deaths is mostly a function of: a.
Rapidly rising U.S. population, especially illegal immigrants b.
Financial deficits that prevent rescue efforts and hazard mapping c.
Lack of good information about hazards and prevention d.
Increasing disposable income for purchasing expensive vehicles and other property at risk e.
Loss of life due to natural hazards is actually declining in the United States
See Pages 3-6 in Chapter One. Class discussion and numerous tables and text in the textbook illustrate that death rates are generally declining while financial losses are almost universally rising. Answers “a” through
“d” are valid factors for rising financial losses, but not for explaining declines in loss of life.
32.
As a general rule, the construction of dams and reservoirs will result in degraded ocean beaches along ocean coastlines far away.
True _ X __ False___
See pages 184 and 185, Figure 6.25 on page 188.
33. In total, the world’s massive ‘shield’ volcanoes present less overall hazard to people and property than do smaller ‘composite’ and ‘dome’ volcanoes.
True _ X __ False___
See page 131, column 2. Steep-sided volcanoes are much more associated with viscous, gassy and explosive eruptions. Shield volcanoes are more typically mild in eruption, often associated with surface flows of magmatic material, rather that ejections into the atmospheric. Composite volcanoes are also more associated with the “Ring of Fire” along which occur many of the world’s most explosive and hazardous eruptions occur.
See pages 132-137 also.
34. Hard, dry clay can support heavy buildings, but should never be trusted.
True _ X __ False___
Class discussion emphasized that clay can be firm when dry, but may be impossible to keep isolated from water.
When wet, clay soils can expand in volume and become slippery and completely unstable.
35. In the United States, hazard insurance helps protect people and property from loss caused by natural hazards.

True ___ False_ X __
Insurance policies are for replacing things that are lost or damaged. In fact, insurance may provide a false sense of security, particularly when advertising materials promote visual association between people being
“protected” rather than replaced or compensated. See Chapter One, page 20.
36.
Which factors below are most associated with magmatic conditions that are violent? a.
Low levels of gases, less silica, and much lower viscosity b.
High levels of gases and highly viscous magma c.
High-viscosity surface flows of lava d.
High-silicate, mafic rocks e.
All of the above are associated with explosive volcanoes rather than flood basalts
Pages 126-128 explain how silicates and gases affect the explosiveness of eruptions. Magma that contains large amounts of silicates (silicon) tend to be more viscous, or ‘sticky’ when melted. Adding gases, such as CO
2
and water vapor provides some of the energy for explosions, as pressure builds up in magma that is somehwat like bubble gum or peanut butter.
Answer ‘c’ above does refer to high-viscosity, but lava flows are inherently not explosive. Even where violent explosions also result in lava flowing down a steep strato volcano, the lava flow itself is not part of the explosion - - it is just a flow.
37.
Widespread adoption of modern land use planning standards and building codes now accounts for hazards and prevents dangerous conditions.
True ___ False _ X __
See background for questions 21, 28, 29, and 35. Throughout the textbook, and in class discussion, emphasis has been placed on the fact that land use planning and construction standards are still evolving, are often in need of update, and are based on science and historical records that are still evolving as well. Even in the best of communities, implementation is imperfect and in constant need of update and review.
38.
Snow avalanches and landslide zones have what things in common: a.
Steep slopes and “chutes” or pathways b.
Substantial amounts of H
2
O available c.
Layers of material separated by planes or sheets that are easily sheared, broken or separated d.
They are often popular places for visiting or building structures e.
All of the above are true for both snowfields and unstable earth formations
Most avalanche conditions occur in the same places over and over and for the same reasons, over and over.
Mountain experts learn where risk is high and try to warn people to stay out when hazard conditions are most dangerous.
39. Due to increasing human wealth and prosperity, overall financial losses due to natural disasters are rising along while death counts are in decline.
True _ X __ False___
See Chapter One. Clearly, financial losses are rising, while fewer people are dying. The single most important reason why financial losses are rising is the overall rise in wealth and assets that are exposed to hazards. In fact, people are attracted to amenities associated with places that are especially prone to hazards: slopes, sea shores, the “Ring of Fire”, volcanic soils, etc.
40. An effective network of alert sirens in Japan would have prevented financial loss and shutdown of nuclear power facilities during the 2011 Fukushima earthquake.
True ___ False_ X __
Alerts can move people to safe locations, but financial assets, including nuclear reactors cannot move. As a result, financial losses are increasing even as the number of deaths is in general decline. The Fukushima

nuclear reactors could not have been moved or adjusted in any useful way in the 2011 tsunami event.
Moreover, even wave barriers proved inadequate, based on unexpected earth subsidence due to the quake.
41.
Energy for setting-up natural hazards such as earthquakes and landslides comes from radioactive decay and sunshine.
True _ X __ False ___
Terrestrial heat, including magmatic or molten materials, are energized by decay of radioactive elements and their isotopes deep within the earth. The result is tectonic force and natural hazards. Meanwhile, solar energy is an even larger source of motion that affects climate, weather, erosion and other forces that produce or affect natural hazards.
42.
Heat from volcanic eruptions and from millions of jet airliner flights can produce enough cloud cover
(blanket) to slightly warm the entire Earth’s atmosphere for up to a year or more.
True ___ False _ X __
The heat from airplanes and volcanoes is insignificant for raising overall Earth temperatures; however, cloud cover produced by airplanes and eruptions can screen out enough solar energy to cause overall atmospheric cooling. The gases released by volcanoes and fossil fuel combustion are a separate issue: greenhouse gases can have an overall warming effect over time by trapping heat, regardless of how much solar energy may be screened-out by cloud cover.
43.
Geothermal energy resources in the western United States are relatively less likely to be developed due to their location in dry climate zones.
True _ X __ False ___
Class discussion emphasized the vital role played by water in connecting magmatic heat to the surface where it can play a role in geothermal energy development. Without water, geothermal resources are virtually nonexistent. Class discussion also considered how current dry weather has affected Yellowstone Park.
44.
Rigid or solid magmatic rock tends to melt when pressure is released or reduced as the magma nears the surface of the Earth.
True _ X __ False ___
See page 126 for the asthenosphere and decompression melting.
45.
In some parts of Asia, community leaders may allow schools and day care centers to be located in places where small children cannot outrun a tsunami. In the United States, planners store flood water at elementary school grounds and public parks where children play.
False ___ True _ X __
Class discussion based on National Geographic magazine and commonly seen detention and retention basins in
Salt Lake valley. Emergency response officials in Indonesia have calculated that ‘great quakes’ associated tsunami waves are expected in the near future and that shoreline inundation will likely proceed too quickly for many children to react successfully. Meanwhile, in the Salt Lake area, and across the United States, flood management structures frequently involve the use of public spaces, such as parks and school yards, for storing flood water.
46.
During landslides, wet soils will convert into viscous gabions and bedding planes that slump downhill toward the general angle-of-repose.
True ___ False _ X __
See page 231- bedding planes are examples of weak places in earth formations; see page 233 - gabions are structures built by people. Gabions are not created by moving soil – they are one of many structures created by people to help control or prevent soil movement.

47.
Government programs offering “buy-outs” to property owners have been successful in convincing people to leave hazardous areas.
True ___ False _ X __
Pages 144, 151, 156, and158 and class discussion all focus on factors that deflect government efforts to achieve lasting resettlement. See also pages 199 and 201.
48.
Water that is disturbed by an earthquake will move at about what speed across open ocean? a.
40 mph b.
450 mph (see page 104) c.
3.6 miles/sec d.
1,000 mph e.
None of the above is a good estimate, because tsunami wave run-up velocity becomes measurable as it nears the shoreline.
As a tsunami wave reaches the shoreline, the wave length will tend to shorten or contract rapidly while the amplitude increases. The result is that the speed of water movement will slow down, similar, to traffic leaving a freeway – cars slow down and bunch up on off-ramps.
49.
People will not build in areas that are prone to landslides if they are provided good quality information about the risks involved. That is why taking geography classes is so important.
True ___ False _ X __
See page 236 column 1, page 229 and column 2, page 231
50.
Even though California is more prone to damaging earthquakes, an East Coast quake damaged the
Washington monument and U.S. capitol building in what year? a.
1906 (same year as San Francisco quake and Galveston hurricane) b.
1812-13 c.
2011 d.
1890 e.
2005 (same year as Katrina)
The current edition of the class textbook was published before the 2011 earthquake in Virginia. Class discussion focused on this event, and the damage it caused along the U.S. east coast.