Unit 5: Disaster management - Practice Quiz

1 Which of the following is an example of a natural disaster?

2 Which of the following is classified as a water-related disaster?

3 A drought is best described as a prolonged period of:

4 Which condition most commonly causes a flood?

5 Which of the following is an air-related disaster?

6 A cyclone is characterized by:

7 Which of the following is an Earth-related disaster?

8 The instrument used to measure the intensity of an earthquake is called a:

9 The point on the Earth's surface directly above the origin of an earthquake is called the:

10 A landslide refers to the:

11 An avalanche is the sudden downhill movement of:

12 The molten rock that flows out during a volcanic eruption is called:

13 Which of the following is a manmade disaster?

14 A nuclear disaster mainly involves the release of harmful:

15 The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 is an example of a:

16 Which of the following is an example of a biological disaster?

17 Which of the following is considered a transport accident?

18 The apex body for disaster management in India is the:

19 During a disaster, NGOs most commonly help by:

20 One key role of the media during a disaster is to:

21 A region experiences a sudden, uncontrollable release of energy from within the planet, causing widespread ground shaking without any human trigger. This event is best classified as a:

22 A coastal town is hit by a series of huge sea waves generated by an undersea earthquake. Which water-related disaster classification fits this event?

23 A farming district receives less than 25% of its normal rainfall for two consecutive years, leading to crop failure and water scarcity. This condition is an example of:

24 Which of the following is the primary factor distinguishing air-related disasters from other natural disaster types?

25 In a tropical cyclone, the calm central region with clear skies and light winds is called the:

26 A cyclone approaching the coast pushes a large abnormal rise of seawater onto low-lying land, causing coastal flooding. This deadly effect is known as the:

27 An earthquake measures 6.0 on the Richter scale, while another measures 4.0. Approximately how much greater is the amplitude of the seismic waves of the stronger quake?

28 The point on the Earth's surface directly above the location where an earthquake originates is called the:

29 Which combination of factors is MOST likely to trigger a landslide on a hilly slope?

30 Avalanches are most commonly associated with which of the following geographic and climatic conditions?

31 During a volcanic eruption, which hazard involves a fast-moving mixture of hot gas, ash, and volcanic debris capable of destroying everything in its path?

32 Which of the following events would be classified as a manmade (anthropogenic) disaster rather than a natural one?

33 In a nuclear disaster, which immediate protective action is generally recommended for populations near the affected reactor to reduce thyroid radiation exposure?

34 The 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the world's worst chemical disasters, was caused by the leak of which gas?

35 A rapidly spreading infectious disease that affects populations across multiple countries and continents is classified as a:

36 Which measure would most effectively reduce the disaster potential of transporting hazardous chemicals by road?

37 In India, which apex body is chaired by the Prime Minister and is responsible for laying down policies for disaster management?

38 Which specialized Indian force is primarily deployed for on-ground search, rescue, and relief operations during disasters?

39 During the recovery phase of a disaster, what is a typical and vital role played by NGOs?

40 Why are community-based organizations (CBOs) considered crucial as first responders during a disaster?

41 An earthquake measuring on the Richter scale releases how much more energy than one measuring , given that each whole-number increase corresponds to roughly a -fold increase in energy?

42 Under India's Disaster Management Act, 2005, which body is chaired by the Prime Minister and holds the apex position for laying down policies on disaster management?

43 A tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere shows counter-clockwise rotation while its Southern Hemisphere counterpart rotates clockwise. This difference is best explained by which factor?

44 In the Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima Daiichi (2011) accidents, both were rated Level on the INES scale. What primarily distinguished the underlying trigger of each event?

45 A river gauge shows discharge rising sharply within hours after intense rainfall in a small, steep, urbanised catchment. This hydrological response is most characteristic of which flood type?

46 The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy involved the release of methyl isocyanate (MIC). Which combination of factors most directly worsened the catastrophe?

47 A slope's stability is often expressed as a Factor of Safety (FoS) = resisting forces / driving forces. Which change would most directly reduce the FoS and increase landslide likelihood?

48 During a rapidly evolving disaster, media coverage can produce both benefits and harms. Which scenario best illustrates a negative but unintended consequence of media behaviour?

49 The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is a logarithmic scale where each step (above VEI 2) represents roughly a tenfold increase in erupted tephra volume. A VEI 5 eruption ejects approximately how much more tephra than a VEI 3 eruption?

50 In epidemiology, the basic reproduction number determines outbreak potential. To achieve herd immunity for a disease with , the minimum fraction of the population that must be immune is closest to which value?

51 A tsunami warning is issued after a large undersea earthquake. In deep open ocean, tsunami waves may travel at speeds comparable to a jet aircraft yet be barely noticeable to ships. Which principle best explains why they become devastating near shore?

52 Slab avalanches, the most dangerous type, typically release when a cohesive snow layer slides over a weak buried layer. On which slope angle range are they most frequently triggered?

53 Which of the following best captures the fundamental distinction between a natural hazard becoming a "disaster" and remaining merely a hazard?

54 In India's institutional structure, which agency is the specialised, multi-disciplinary force constituted specifically for on-ground search, rescue and relief operations during disasters?

55 A tanker carrying flammable liquefied gas is involved in a road accident and catches fire, raising fears of a BLEVE. What does a BLEVE specifically refer to?

56 The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies hurricanes primarily by sustained wind speed, but the deadliest impacts often come from a different factor. Which factor is responsible for the majority of hurricane-related fatalities historically?

57 Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) is increasingly emphasised in modern frameworks. What is the strongest rationale for its effectiveness in the immediate aftermath of a disaster?

58 Meteorological, hydrological and agricultural droughts are distinct. A region receives normal rainfall over a season, yet crops fail due to poor timing and distribution of that rain. This situation is best classified as which type of drought?

59 A common criticism of poorly coordinated NGO involvement in disaster relief is the "second disaster." What does this term most accurately describe?

60 The Disaster Risk equation is often expressed as . Two regions face an identical hazard and equal vulnerability, but Region A has double the coping capacity of Region B. How does Region A's risk compare with Region B's?