Name
Date
Class
Earthquakes and Seismic Waves
If the statement is true, write true. If the statement is false, change the underlined word
or words to make the statement true.
1. _____________ The shaking and trembling that results from movement of rock
beneath Earth’s surface is called an earthquake.
2. _____________ Earthquakes are caused by the forces of mountain movement.
3. _____________ The epicenter of an earthquake is below the focus.
4. _____________ P waves can become surface waves when they reach Earth’s
surface.
5. _____________ The Modified Mercalli scale rates the amount of damage from
an earthquake.
6. _____________ To locate the epicenter of an earthquake, geologists need data
from two or more seismographs.
Fill in the blank to complete each statement.
7. Seismic waves are _____________ that are similar to sound waves.
8. The _____________ of an earthquake is the point where rock under stress
begins to break or move.
9. The seismic waves that move fastest are _____________.
10. Geologists use the moment magnitude scale to rate the total _____________
released by an earthquake.