Earthquakes and Volcanoes – MCQs
1. What is a volcano?
- A large underground cave
- An opening in Earth’s crust that erupts lava, ash, and gases
- A type of mountain without peaks
- A frozen glacier
2. Which instrument measures earthquake waves?
- Barometer
- Thermometer
- Seismograph
- Hygrometer
3. The Pacific Ring of Fire is known for:
- Frequent earthquakes and volcanoes
- The deepest ocean trenches
- The longest mountain range
- The calmest weather
4. Which scale measures earthquake intensity?
- Fahrenheit scale
- Richter scale
- Beaufort scale
- Mohs scale
5. Mount Vesuvius famously destroyed which ancient city?
- Athens
- Pompeii
- Rome
- Sparta
6. The most active volcano on Earth is:
- Mount Everest
- Kilauea (Hawaii)
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Mount Fuji
7. The point inside Earth where an earthquake starts is called:
- Epicenter
- Focus (Hypocenter)
- Crust
- Mantle
8. Which type of volcano has gentle slopes and non-explosive eruptions?
- Shield volcano
- Composite volcano
- Cinder cone
- Caldera
9. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake near:
- Japan
- Sumatra (Indonesia)
- California
- New Zealand
10. Which country has the most active volcanoes?
- Indonesia
- USA
- Japan
- Italy
11. The San Andreas Fault is famous for causing earthquakes in:
- California (USA)
- Japan
- Italy
- New Zealand
12. Mount St. Helens erupted violently in:
- 1960
- 1980
- 1995
- 2005
13. The study of earthquakes is called:
- Volcanology
- Seismology
- Meteorology
- Geology
14. Which volcanic feature is a huge depression formed after eruption?
- Vent
- Caldera
- Lava dome
- Fumarole
15. The Richter scale is:
- Linear
- Logarithmic
- Circular
- Random
16. The largest active volcano on Earth is:
- Mount Etna
- Mauna Loa (Hawaii)
- Mount Rainier
- Mount Pinatubo
17. The deadliest volcanic eruption in recorded history was:
- Tambora, 1815 (Indonesia)
- Krakatoa, 1883
- Vesuvius, 79 AD
- Mount Pelee, 1902
18. P-waves and S-waves are types of:
- Ocean currents
- Seismic waves
- Volcanic gases
- Wind patterns
19. The “Mercalli Scale” measures earthquake:
- Intensity (damage)
- Magnitude
- Depth
- Duration
20. Which volcano destroyed the Minoan civilization?
- Santorini (Thera)
- Mount Etna
- Mount Vesuvius
- Mount Ararat
21. The deepest earthquakes occur at:
- Subduction zones
- Mid-ocean ridges
- Hot spots
- Transform boundaries
22. Which US state has the most active volcanoes?
- California
- Alaska
- Washington
- Oregon
23. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake caused which nuclear disaster?
- Chernobyl
- Fukushima
- Three Mile Island
- Hiroshima
24. Pyroclastic flows are dangerous because they:
- Move extremely fast (100+ mph) with hot gas/ash
- Cause loud noises
- Create beautiful sunsets
- Make the ground shake
25. The liquid rock below Earth’s surface is called:
- Lava
- Magma
- Basalt
- Pumice
26. Most earthquakes occur along:
- Plate boundaries
- Deserts
- Mountain peaks
- Ocean centers
27. The “shadow zone” helps scientists study Earth’s:
- Core
- Atmosphere
- Surface water
- Magnetic field
28. Which volcanic gas contributes most to global warming?
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
- Carbon dioxide
- Hydrogen
29. A tsunami is caused by:
- Undersea earthquakes or volcanic eruptions
- Hurricanes
- Tides
- Underwater explosions
30. The Hawaiian Islands formed over a:
- Hot spot
- Subduction zone
- Mid-ocean ridge
- Transform fault
31. Which earthquake-proof building feature absorbs shocks?
- Base isolators
- Thicker walls
- Deeper paint
- Narrow windows
32. The last VEI 7 eruption occurred at:
- Tambora (1815)
- Krakatoa (1883)
- Pinatubo (1991)
- Vesuvius (79 AD)
33. Pahoehoe and aa are types of:
- Lava flows
- Volcanic gases
- Earthquake waves
- Tectonic plates
34. The theory explaining plate movement is called:
- Continental drift
- Plate tectonics
- Seafloor spreading
- Mantle convection