UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 5: Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanoes (21 MCQs)

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UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 5: Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanoes (21 MCQs) – 21 questions, subject: Geography. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The point within the Earth where the energy of an earthquake is released is called the:

Correct Answer: B [focus]

Explanation:

also called the hypocentre.

2.  

The Richter scale measures the:

Correct Answer: A [magnitude or energy released]

Explanation:

Richter gives one magnitude per earthquake, an absolute number expressing the energy released at the focus.

3.  

The Koyna earthquake of 1967 is often cited as an example of a:

Correct Answer: D [reservoir-induced earthquake]

Explanation:

The 1967 Koyna earthquake is linked to loading and seepage from the large Koyna reservoir (Shivajisagar) in Maharashtra.

4.  

A tsunami is NOT generated by:

Correct Answer: B [the winds of a tropical cyclone]

Explanation:

cyclones cause storm surges.

5.  

Shield volcanoes such as those of Hawaii are made mainly of:

Correct Answer: A [basalt]

Explanation:

very fluid lava.

6.  

According to NCERT, the most explosive of the Earth's volcanoes are:

Correct Answer: C [calderas]

Explanation:

NCERT calls calderas the most explosive volcanoes; they collapse on themselves after eruption, leaving a large depression.

7.  

The Deccan Traps are an example of a:

Correct Answer: A [flood basalt province]

Explanation:

The Deccan Traps were built by highly fluid basalt lava flows spread over a very large area, which defines a flood basalt province.

8.  

India's only active volcano is on:

Correct Answer: C [Barren Island]

Explanation:

Barren Island in the Andaman Sea is India's only active volcano and has erupted repeatedly in recent decades.

9.  

A near-horizontal sheet of intrusive igneous rock is called a:

Correct Answer: D [sill]

Explanation:

A sill is a near-horizontal sheet of magma that cools between rock layers; thin ones are called sheets.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The Mercalli scale measures intensity on a range of 1 to 12.
2. In the deep ocean a tsunami wave has a small height.
3. Tsunami waves travel more slowly in deep water than in shallow water.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Mercalli intensity runs from 1 to 12 and a tsunami is low in the deep ocean, but it travels faster there, so statement 3 fails.

11.  

Assertion (A): Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur along plate boundaries.

Reason (R): Plate margins are zones of stress, faulting and movement of magma.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Earthquakes and volcanoes cluster along plate boundaries because stress, faulting and rising magma are concentrated at plate margins.

12.  

The largest earthquake ever recorded occurred in:

Correct Answer: A [Chile, 1960]

Explanation:

about 9.5.

13.  

India's tsunami early warning centre is located at:

Correct Answer: C [INCOIS, Hyderabad]

Explanation:

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, operational since 2007, functions at INCOIS, Hyderabad, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

14.  

Which of the following is given out as gas during volcanic eruptions?

Correct Answer: D [Water vapour with nitrogen and sulphur compounds]

Explanation:

Volcanic gases are chiefly water vapour, with nitrogen and sulphur compounds and minor chlorine, hydrogen and argon.

15.  

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 is remembered for:

Correct Answer: D [cooling global temperatures slightly for about two years]

Explanation:

sulphate aerosols reflected sunlight.

16.  

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction covers the period:

Correct Answer: B [2015–2030]

Explanation:

The Sendai Framework, adopted in 2015 as Hyogo's successor, sets seven global targets to be achieved by 2030.

17.  

Arrange the following events in chronological order:

1. Bhuj earthquake
2. Krakatoa eruption
3. Hunga Tonga eruption
4. Koyna earthquake

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-1-3]

Explanation:

1883, 1967, 2001, 2022.

18.  

World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed on:

Correct Answer: D [5 November]

Explanation:

The UN General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day in December 2015.

19.  

Soil liquefaction during an earthquake means that:

Correct Answer: A [loose, water-saturated soil loses its strength and behaves like a liquid]

Explanation:

Shaking raises pore-water pressure in loose saturated soil, so it loses strength and flows, making buildings tilt or sink.

20.  

Among Indian States, the largest number of deaths in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami occurred in:

Correct Answer: D [Tamil Nadu]

Explanation:

Tamil Nadu recorded about 8,000 of India's deaths in 2004, the highest among States, with Nagapattinam the worst-hit district.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2024

Consider the following:

1. Pyroclastic debris
2. Ash and dust
3. Nitrogen compounds
4. Sulphur compounds

How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?

Correct Answer: D [All four]

Explanation:

eruptions give out pyroclastic debris, ash and dust, and gases including nitrogen and sulphur compounds.

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