Question 1

Scientific forecasts of catastrophic earthquakes can ____. ​

Accepted Answer

A) accurately predict the probability of the event happening somewhere in a large geographical area within a time frame of decades 
B) accurately predict the time and place of the event happening in a small geographical area within a time frame of one year 
C) estimate the probability of the event happening somewhere in a small geographical area within a time frame of one year 
D) estimate the probability of the event happening somewhere in a large geographical area within a time frame of decades 
E) estimate the probability of the event happening somewhere in a small geographical area within a time frame of decades 
A) accurately predict the probability of the event happening somewhere in a large geographical area within a time frame of decades 
B) accurately predict the time and place of the event happening in a small geographical area within a time frame of one year 
C) estimate the probability of the event happening somewhere in a small geographical area within a time frame of one year 
D) estimate the probability of the event happening somewhere in a large geographical area within a time frame of decades 
E) estimate the probability of the event happening somewhere in a small geographical area within a time frame of decades D

Question 2

A watercourse named "Buffalo Bayou" runs through the city of Houston, Texas from east to west, passing through residential and industrial areas and the edge of the tall buildings of downtown. In the residential area, the Bayou is surrounded by a wide park, and the level of the water is typically 20 feet below the level of the streets around it. The river has overflowed its banks and caused ground-floor damage to residences nearby; most recently in 1999 and 2015. The bayou has flooded 10 times in the last century. ​ You are an insurance adjuster, and have just paid a claim for $20,000 (the maximum allowed in the policy) for a homeowner's loss. The homeowner is upset and says "My flood premium has been $2,000 since the flood of 1999, and now you're paying me only $20,000 back? I think my premium is too high!" ​ Explain to the homeowner why the premium is appropriate. ​

Accepted Answer

The last flood event was sixteen years ago, but on average the Bayou floods every ten years. The time between floods is unpredictable, as they do not occur regularly. On the average, the company may have to pay the homeowner $20,000 every ten years, and the $2,000 premium is based on that. It's possible that the Bayou will flood next year, and the company will have paid more than the homeowner has paid in premiums. ​

Question 3

Which statement reflects the most significant reason people in the US decide to live in hazardous areas? ​

Accepted Answer

A) They believe that the government will fix any damage that occurs. 
B) They know the chances of a disaster and have made an informed decision to take the risk. 
C) They have not experienced the effects of a natural hazard and therefore underestimate the risk. 
D) They have been intentionally misled by developers. 
E) They are too poor to live elsewhere. 
A) They believe that the government will fix any damage that occurs. 
B) They know the chances of a disaster and have made an informed decision to take the risk. 
C) They have not experienced the effects of a natural hazard and therefore underestimate the risk. 
D) They have been intentionally misled by developers. 
E) They are too poor to live elsewhere. C

Question 4

An event that occurs at predictable intervals is described as a(n) _______________ event. ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of An event that occurs at predictable intervals...

Question 5

The _______________ of an event is inversely proportional to the frequency of the event. ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of The _______________ of an event is inversely...

Question 6

The cost of natural disasters is ____. ​

Accepted Answer

A) increasing steadily each year due to population growth 
B) increasing steadily each year due to economic growth 
C) variable from year to year due to the unpredictability of natural disasters and their effects 
D) increasing steadily each year due to population and economic growth 
E) decreasing steadily each year due to improved forecasting and public awareness 
A) increasing steadily each year due to population growth 
B) increasing steadily each year due to economic growth 
C) variable from year to year due to the unpredictability of natural disasters and their effects 
D) increasing steadily each year due to population and economic growth 
E) decreasing steadily each year due to improved forecasting and public awareness

Question 7

Climate change is expected to increase the magnitude and frequency of natural disasters. ​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

People choose to live in hazardous areas for a variety of reasons. Which is the LEAST likely reason why a person in a developing country would decide to live in a hazardous area?

Accepted Answer

A) More attractive scenery is usually found at hazardous areas 
B) Less hazardous areas are unaffordable or unavailable. 
C) The location has access to clean water. 
D) The location has access to fertile land. 
E) The person does not know the history of potential hazards. 
A) More attractive scenery is usually found at hazardous areas 
B) Less hazardous areas are unaffordable or unavailable. 
C) The location has access to clean water. 
D) The location has access to fertile land. 
E) The person does not know the history of potential hazards.

Question 9

Climate change is expected to cause an increase in the impact of ____. ​

Accepted Answer

A) all natural disasters except seismic events (earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis) 
B) only disasters related to extreme weather (lightning, tornadoes, and storm surge) 
C) only disasters related to seismic events (earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis) 
D) disasters which occur on coastlines or at sea 
E) all natural disasters 
A) all natural disasters except seismic events (earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis) 
B) only disasters related to extreme weather (lightning, tornadoes, and storm surge) 
C) only disasters related to seismic events (earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis) 
D) disasters which occur on coastlines or at sea 
E) all natural disasters

Question 10

All natural disasters have detectable precursor events. ​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A town on the ocean has beautiful beaches that generate considerable tourist income. The effect of ocean currents and storms has reduced the width of the beach near the town center, and the government is considering several mitigation ideas. Which action would be the LEAST appropriate response? ​

Accepted Answer

A) Build picnic structures and parking at other beaches up and down the shore. 
B) Give tax breaks to companies that develop tourist activities that do not depend on the beach. 
C) Make a small increase in the hotel tax and use the money to dredge sand from offshore and build the central beach back up. 
D) Build a large rock jetty that blocks the currents around the central beach. 
E) Erect a pavilion beside the central beach to host music festivals and public events. 
A) Build picnic structures and parking at other beaches up and down the shore. 
B) Give tax breaks to companies that develop tourist activities that do not depend on the beach. 
C) Make a small increase in the hotel tax and use the money to dredge sand from offshore and build the central beach back up. 
D) Build a large rock jetty that blocks the currents around the central beach. 
E) Erect a pavilion beside the central beach to host music festivals and public events.

Question 12

When individuals or governments try to control natural hazards, the most likely result is to ____. ​

Accepted Answer

A) trigger a disaster 
B) reduce the effect of the hazard 
C) cause the hazard to move to a different location 
D) have no effect 
E) correctly control the effect 
A) trigger a disaster 
B) reduce the effect of the hazard 
C) cause the hazard to move to a different location 
D) have no effect 
E) correctly control the effect

Question 13

Insurance companies evaluate the _______________ of an event by assessing its recurrence interval and expected costs. ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Insurance companies evaluate the _______________ of an...

Question 14

A fractal is a pattern that ____. ​

Accepted Answer

A) is simple on a large scale but complicated on a small scale 
B) looks similar on both small and large scales 
C) is complicated on a large scale but simple on a small scale 
D) is repeated continuously on a large scale 
E) is repeated continuously on a small scale 
A) is simple on a large scale but complicated on a small scale 
B) looks similar on both small and large scales 
C) is complicated on a large scale but simple on a small scale 
D) is repeated continuously on a large scale 
E) is repeated continuously on a small scale

Question 15

You have been hired by a major national firm with offices in all American metropolitan areas. To encourage diversity, the firm believes that new employees should spend their first year in an office in a region in which they have never lived. ​ Which city would you choose and why? What natural hazards will you need to be mindful of? How will you make an intelligent choice of how and where to live based on the positive qualities of the area and the possibility that you may encounter a natural disaster?

Accepted Answer

Here is a sample response: 
 I've always

Question 16

A natural process characterized by a(n) _______________ effect will change in a way that causes a rapid increase in the rate of subsequent change. ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of A natural process characterized by a(n) _______________...

Question 17

Land-use rules to avoid disaster costs are often easy to implement. ​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

A(n) _______________ is a natural event that leads to significant loss of life and extensive property damage. ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) _______________ is a natural event that...

Question 19

Efforts to control natural hazards are usually successful. ​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Poor families are more likely to be victims of natural disasters if they live in developing, but not developed, countries. ​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Scientific forecasts of catastrophic earthquakes can ____.

Which statement reflects the most significant reason people in the US decide to live in hazardous areas?

An event that occurs at predictable intervals is described as a(n) _______________ event.

The _______________ of an event is inversely proportional to the frequency of the event.

The cost of natural disasters is ____.

Climate change is expected to increase the magnitude and frequency of natural disasters.

People choose to live in hazardous areas for a variety of reasons. Which is the LEAST likely reason why a person in a developing country would decide to live in a hazardous area?

Climate change is expected to cause an increase in the impact of ____.

All natural disasters have detectable precursor events.

A town on the ocean has beautiful beaches that generate considerable tourist income. The effect of ocean currents and storms has reduced the width of the beach near the town center, and the government is considering several mitigation ideas. Which action would be the LEAST appropriate response?

When individuals or governments try to control natural hazards, the most likely result is to ____.

Insurance companies evaluate the _______________ of an event by assessing its recurrence interval and expected costs.

A fractal is a pattern that ____.

A natural process characterized by a(n) _______________ effect will change in a way that causes a rapid increase in the rate of subsequent change.

Land-use rules to avoid disaster costs are often easy to implement.

A(n) _______________ is a natural event that leads to significant loss of life and extensive property damage.

Efforts to control natural hazards are usually successful.

Poor families are more likely to be victims of natural disasters if they live in developing, but not developed, countries.

Plate Tectonics and Physical Hazards

Earthquakes and Their Causes

Earthquake Predictions Forecasts and Mitigation

Tsunami

Volcanoes Tectonic Environments and Eruptions

Volcanoes Hazards and Mitigation

Landslides and Other Downslope Movements

Sinkholes Land Subsidence and Swelling Soils

Weather Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Climate Change Processes and History

Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation

Streams and Flood Processes

Floods and Human Interactions

Waves Beaches and Coastal Erosion

Hurricanes and nor Easters

Wildfires

Asteroid and Comet Impacts

Filters

Exam 1: Natural Hazards and Disasters

Scientific forecasts of catastrophic earthquakes can ____. ​

Which statement reflects the most significant reason people in the US decide to live in hazardous areas? ​

An event that occurs at predictable intervals is described as a(n) _______________ event. ​

The _______________ of an event is inversely proportional to the frequency of the event. ​

The cost of natural disasters is ____. ​

Climate change is expected to increase the magnitude and frequency of natural disasters. ​

People choose to live in hazardous areas for a variety of reasons. Which is the LEAST likely reason why a person in a developing country would decide to live in a hazardous area?

Climate change is expected to cause an increase in the impact of ____. ​

All natural disasters have detectable precursor events. ​

A town on the ocean has beautiful beaches that generate considerable tourist income. The effect of ocean currents and storms has reduced the width of the beach near the town center, and the government is considering several mitigation ideas. Which action would be the LEAST appropriate response? ​

When individuals or governments try to control natural hazards, the most likely result is to ____. ​

Insurance companies evaluate the _______________ of an event by assessing its recurrence interval and expected costs. ​

A fractal is a pattern that ____. ​

A natural process characterized by a(n) _______________ effect will change in a way that causes a rapid increase in the rate of subsequent change. ​

Land-use rules to avoid disaster costs are often easy to implement. ​

A(n) _______________ is a natural event that leads to significant loss of life and extensive property damage. ​

Efforts to control natural hazards are usually successful. ​

Poor families are more likely to be victims of natural disasters if they live in developing, but not developed, countries. ​

Plate Tectonics and Physical Hazards

Earthquakes and Their Causes

Earthquake Predictions Forecasts and Mitigation

Tsunami

Volcanoes Tectonic Environments and Eruptions

Volcanoes Hazards and Mitigation

Landslides and Other Downslope Movements

Sinkholes Land Subsidence and Swelling Soils

Weather Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Climate Change Processes and History

Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation

Streams and Flood Processes

Floods and Human Interactions

Waves Beaches and Coastal Erosion

Hurricanes and nor Easters

Wildfires

Asteroid and Comet Impacts

Filters

Scientific forecasts of catastrophic earthquakes can ____.

Which statement reflects the most significant reason people in the US decide to live in hazardous areas?

An event that occurs at predictable intervals is described as a(n) _______________ event.

The _______________ of an event is inversely proportional to the frequency of the event.

The cost of natural disasters is ____.

Climate change is expected to increase the magnitude and frequency of natural disasters.

Climate change is expected to cause an increase in the impact of ____.

All natural disasters have detectable precursor events.

A town on the ocean has beautiful beaches that generate considerable tourist income. The effect of ocean currents and storms has reduced the width of the beach near the town center, and the government is considering several mitigation ideas. Which action would be the LEAST appropriate response?

When individuals or governments try to control natural hazards, the most likely result is to ____.

Insurance companies evaluate the _______________ of an event by assessing its recurrence interval and expected costs.

A fractal is a pattern that ____.

A natural process characterized by a(n) _______________ effect will change in a way that causes a rapid increase in the rate of subsequent change.

Land-use rules to avoid disaster costs are often easy to implement.

A(n) _______________ is a natural event that leads to significant loss of life and extensive property damage.

Efforts to control natural hazards are usually successful.

Poor families are more likely to be victims of natural disasters if they live in developing, but not developed, countries.