Unit 5: Disaster management - Practice Quiz

CHE110 — Environmental Studies 60 Questions
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1 Which of the following is a natural disaster?

Natural disasters Easy
A. Oil spill
B. Road accident
C. Earthquake
D. Factory fire

2 Which disaster is directly related to excessive water?

Water-related disasters Easy
A. Flood
B. Drought
C. Heat wave
D. Earthquake

3 What is a drought?

Floods and drought Easy
A. A shaking of the ground
B. A sudden ocean wave
C. A long period with little rain
D. A strong rotating wind

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

Air-related disasters Easy
A. Tornado
B. Volcanic eruption
C. Landslide
D. Flood

5 What is a cyclone?

Cyclones and storms Easy
A. A sudden ground crack
B. A dry river bed
C. A rotating storm system
D. A layer of soil

6 Which disaster is caused by movement beneath the Earth's surface?

Earth-related disasters Easy
A. Earthquake
B. Cyclone
C. Heat wave
D. Drought

7 Which action is safest during an earthquake indoors?

Earthquakes Easy
A. Stand near shelves
B. Drop, cover, and hold on
C. Use the elevator
D. Run toward windows

8 What is a landslide?

Landslides Easy
A. Rise of ocean water
B. Release of nuclear energy
C. Downward movement of soil and rocks
D. Spread of a disease

9 An avalanche is the sudden movement of what down a mountain slope?

Avalanches Easy
A. Smoke and ash
B. Sand and salt
C. Water and oil
D. Snow and ice

10 What may come out of a volcano during an eruption?

Volcanic eruptions Easy
A. Plastic waste
B. Fresh snow
C. Pure drinking water
D. Lava and ash

11 Which of the following is a manmade disaster?

Manmade disasters Easy
A. Cyclone
B. Chemical leak
C. Drought
D. Earthquake

12 A nuclear disaster may release harmful what into the environment?

Nuclear disasters Easy
A. Radiation
B. Rainwater
C. Oxygen
D. Sand

13 What should people do after a nearby toxic chemical release?

Chemical disasters Easy
A. Ignore warning messages
B. Move toward the smell
C. Touch the spilled material
D. Follow official safety instructions

14 Which event is an example of a biological disaster?

Biological disasters Easy
A. Disease outbreak
B. Bridge collapse
C. Volcanic eruption
D. River flooding

15 Which is a transport accident?

Transport accidents Easy
A. Earthquake
B. Drought
C. Train collision
D. Disease outbreak

16 What is the main purpose of a national disaster management framework?

National disaster management framework Easy
A. Increase traffic congestion
B. Replace all local services
C. Guide disaster risk reduction and response
D. Control daily weather

17 Which task is commonly performed by governmental agencies during disasters?

Role of governmental agencies in disaster response Easy
A. Selling entertainment tickets
B. Organizing sports events
C. Coordinating rescue services
D. Designing advertisements

18 How can NGOs help during a disaster?

Role of NGOs in disaster response Easy
A. Operate volcanoes
B. Cause landslides
C. Provide relief supplies
D. Issue driving licenses

19 What is an important role of community-based organizations during disasters?

Role of community-based organizations in disaster response Easy
A. Controlling ocean tides
B. Manufacturing aircraft
C. Forecasting every earthquake
D. Mobilizing local volunteers

20 What is an important role of the media during a disaster?

Role of media in disaster response Easy
A. Hiding evacuation notices
B. Sharing verified warnings
C. Spreading unconfirmed rumors
D. Blocking emergency calls

21 A coastal village receives an official warning of a severe natural hazard approaching within 12 hours. Which action best reduces immediate risk?

Natural disasters Medium
A. Travel toward the shoreline
B. Store valuables near windows
C. Wait for visible damage to begin
D. Move to a designated safe shelter

22 After contaminated floodwater enters a community water supply, which measure should be prioritized before the water is used for drinking?

Water-related disasters Medium
A. Store it in open containers
B. Mix it with untreated water
C. Add ice to lower its temperature
D. Boil or properly disinfect the water

23 A farming region experiences repeated droughts followed by intense short-duration rainfall. Which strategy best addresses both problems?

Floods and drought Medium
A. Pave additional agricultural land
B. Increase groundwater pumping continuously
C. Remove vegetation from drainage areas
D. Use rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation

24 During a severe air-pollution episode, which action most directly reduces a person's exposure to harmful particles?

Air-related disasters Medium
A. Use suitable protective masks outdoors
B. Keep windows open throughout the day
C. Burn waste to improve visibility
D. Exercise outdoors at midday

25 A cyclone warning indicates that storm surge may affect low-lying coastal areas. What is the safest preparedness action?

Cyclones and storms Medium
A. Evacuate to higher inland locations
B. Drive along the coastal road
C. Remain on the ground floor
D. Stand outside to monitor winds

26 A town located near steep slopes has experienced heavy rainfall for several days. Which observation most strongly suggests an earth-related disaster may be developing?

Earth-related disasters Medium
A. Streetlights remain fully operational
B. Local temperatures decrease slightly
C. Clouds become thinner at sunset
D. New cracks appear in roads and walls

27 During an earthquake, a student is indoors and away from windows. Which response is most appropriate?

Earthquakes Medium
A. Drop, cover, and hold on
B. Use the elevator to exit quickly
C. Stand beside a tall bookshelf
D. Run immediately to the staircase

28 A road-cut slope shows bulging soil, leaning trees, and blocked drainage channels after heavy rain. What should authorities do first?

Landslides Medium
A. Restrict access and arrange technical assessment
B. Allow traffic to continue normally
C. Clear vegetation from the slope
D. Increase water flow toward the slope

29 A mountain rescue team receives an avalanche warning for a popular trail. Which decision best follows risk-reduction principles?

Avalanches Medium
A. Remove warning signs to avoid panic
B. Send one person to test the snowpack
C. Close the trail until conditions improve
D. Open the trail for experienced hikers

30 During an ash-producing volcanic eruption, which precaution is most suitable for residents who must remain indoors temporarily?

Volcanic eruptions Medium
A. Open windows for ventilation
B. Seal doors and windows
C. Collect ash with bare hands
D. Use fans facing indoors

31 A factory stores flammable materials near a residential area without adequate safety controls. Which approach best prevents a major manmade disaster?

Manmade disasters Medium
A. Remove all emergency warning equipment
B. Increase production during heat waves
C. Improve safety systems and enforce regulations
D. Depend only on worker caution

32 Following a radioactive release, authorities instruct residents to shelter indoors. Which action best supports this instruction?

Nuclear disasters Medium
A. Consume untested local produce
B. Travel outside to observe the plume
C. Open windows to remove radiation
D. Turn off ventilation systems bringing outside air

33 A toxic gas leak occurs downwind of a chemical plant. If evacuation is ordered, which route is generally safest?

Chemical disasters Medium
A. Move directly with the wind
B. Approach the plant for information
C. Stay in the lowest nearby area
D. Move upwind or crosswind

34 A community reports a sudden increase in similar fever cases. Which measure is most important for limiting the spread while the cause is investigated?

Biological disasters Medium
A. Share unverified remedies online
B. Report cases and follow infection-control guidance
C. Use antibiotics without medical advice
D. Stop all disease surveillance

35 After a tanker collision, an unknown liquid is leaking near a highway. What should bystanders do first?

Transport accidents Medium
A. Use a phone near visible vapors
B. Move away and call emergency services
C. Touch the spill to test its temperature
D. Approach to identify the liquid

36 A national disaster management framework emphasizes preparedness before an emergency. Which activity reflects this principle?

National disaster management framework Medium
A. Wait for damage before assigning roles
B. Conduct hazard mapping and regular drills
C. Replace evacuation plans with informal advice
D. Focus only on post-disaster compensation

37 During a major flood, which governmental function is most essential for coordinating an effective response?

Role of governmental agencies in disaster response Medium
A. Issue consistent warnings and coordinate resources
B. Delay rescue until all damage is documented
C. Restrict information to a single local office
D. Allow each department to work independently

38 An NGO wants to distribute relief supplies after an earthquake. Which action is most likely to improve the usefulness of its support?

Role of NGOs in disaster response Medium
A. Distribute identical items everywhere
B. Coordinate with authorities and assess local needs
C. Operate without sharing beneficiary information
D. Send supplies only to easily accessible neighborhoods

39 A local community-based organization knows which residents are elderly, disabled, or living alone. How can it best use this knowledge during an evacuation?

Role of community-based organizations in disaster response Medium
A. Share verified lists with response teams securely
B. Evacuate only organizational members
C. Publish personal details publicly
D. Wait until evacuation is completed

40 A news organization receives an unverified message claiming that a dam has failed. What should it do before broadcasting the claim?

Role of media in disaster response Medium
A. Verify it through reliable official sources
B. Publish it immediately to increase attention
C. Remove the source from all reports
D. Add dramatic details to encourage evacuation

41 A coastal district faces a low-probability but potentially catastrophic hazard. Which planning principle best justifies investing in mitigation before any event occurs?

Natural disasters Hard
A. Prioritize expected loss and vulnerability reduction
B. Fund response capacity instead of prevention
C. Wait until forecasting becomes completely reliable
D. Base spending only on the most recent event

42 After intense rainfall, a river rises rapidly while a nearby dam remains structurally sound. Which observation most strongly indicates a flash-flood emergency rather than a slow-onset flood?

Water-related disasters Hard
A. Agricultural losses increase over a season
B. Groundwater levels rise gradually
C. Floodwater remains for several weeks
D. Peak discharge follows rainfall within hours

43 A basin alternates between destructive floods and prolonged droughts because wetlands were drained and groundwater extraction increased. Which intervention addresses both hazards most directly?

Floods and drought Hard
A. Expand pumping during every dry season
B. Increase irrigation without changing land use
C. Construct only higher downstream embankments
D. Restore wetlands and regulate groundwater withdrawals

44 During a severe urban smog episode, which measure is most likely to reduce population exposure immediately while source-control policies take effect?

Air-related disasters Hard
A. Issue health advisories and reduce outdoor exposure
B. Rely exclusively on annual emissions inventories
C. Disperse pollutants by opening all windows
D. Increase outdoor physical activity for acclimatization

45 A cyclone is forecast to weaken before landfall, but its wind field is expected to expand substantially. Why may evacuation still be necessary?

Cyclones and storms Hard
A. Evacuation decisions depend only on central pressure
B. Weakening cyclones cannot generate coastal flooding
C. Lower intensity always produces higher storm surge
D. A larger wind field can affect more people and infrastructure

46 A hazard map shows low geological hazard, but dense informal settlements occupy unstable slopes and lack road access. What does this reveal about disaster risk?

Earth-related disasters Hard
A. Informal settlements reduce geological instability
B. Poor access affects recovery but not disaster risk
C. Risk is determined by hazard alone
D. Exposure and vulnerability can amplify moderate hazards

47 An earthquake early-warning system detects a P-wave and issues an alert before damaging S-waves arrive. Which action is most appropriate for recipients with only a few seconds of warning?

Earthquakes Hard
A. Move toward windows to observe ground motion
B. Wait for official confirmation before acting
C. Use elevators to leave the building quickly
D. Drop, cover, and hold on immediately

48 A road cut shows widening cracks after prolonged rain, but no material has moved downslope. How should this condition be interpreted?

Landslides Hard
A. It is evidence of completed slope stabilization
B. It indicates only surface erosion with no warning value
C. It proves that rainfall cannot trigger failure
D. It is a possible precursor requiring monitoring and control

49 A snowpack contains a weak buried layer beneath a cohesive slab. Which condition most increases the likelihood of a slab avalanche?

Avalanches Hard
A. Uniform melting without additional loading
B. Fresh snow or wind loading over the weak layer
C. Reduced slope angle below all failure thresholds
D. Complete removal of the overlying slab

50 A volcano shows increasing seismicity and gas emissions, but no lava is visible. Why can authorities still raise the alert level?

Volcanic eruptions Hard
A. Seismicity proves that an eruption has already ended
B. Subsurface magma movement can precede surface eruption
C. Only visible lava confirms an eruption threat
D. Gas emissions are unrelated to volcanic activity

51 A factory incident results from an unsafe design, inadequate training, and ignored warning signs. Which interpretation best reflects modern disaster analysis?

Manmade disasters Hard
A. The incident was caused solely by operator error
B. Natural hazards must have initiated the incident
C. Multiple organizational and technical failures combined
D. Emergency responders are responsible for prevention failures

52 After a nuclear release, officials advise residents to shelter indoors temporarily rather than evacuate immediately. What is the primary rationale?

Nuclear disasters Hard
A. Radiation becomes harmless inside every building
B. Evacuation is never appropriate after a release
C. Sheltering permanently removes contamination
D. Indoor shelter can reduce short-term external exposure

53 A toxic gas cloud is moving downwind from an industrial facility. Which initial public instruction is generally most appropriate unless authorities specify otherwise?

Chemical disasters Hard
A. Open all windows to equalize indoor pressure
B. Move crosswind or upwind and follow official guidance
C. Approach the release point to identify the chemical
D. Travel directly downwind to exit the area faster

54 During an outbreak, reported cases rise after testing capacity expands, while hospitalization rates remain stable. Which conclusion is most defensible?

Biological disasters Hard
A. Testing has no effect on reported incidence
B. Case counts alone cannot establish increased severity
C. The outbreak has certainly ended
D. Transmission definitely doubled during testing expansion

55 Following a train derailment involving an unknown substance, which response priority best balances rescue and responder safety?

Transport accidents Hard
A. Establish isolation, identify hazards, and stage specialized teams
B. Allow bystanders to conduct passenger extraction
C. Enter immediately without hazard assessment
D. Wash the substance into nearby drainage channels

56 A national framework assigns responsibilities before disasters, integrates mitigation with preparedness, and uses an incident command structure during response. What is its central advantage?

National disaster management framework Hard
A. It transfers all disaster duties to the military
B. It clarifies coordination across phases and institutions
C. It eliminates the need for local decision-making
D. It focuses response only after damage is reported

57 Several agencies arrive after a flood with overlapping authority and incompatible damage data. Which governmental action most improves operational effectiveness?

Role of governmental agencies in disaster response Hard
A. Use unified coordination and a common operating picture
B. Assign all functions to the agency with the largest budget
C. Restrict information sharing until recovery begins
D. Allow each agency to issue independent evacuation orders

58 An NGO wants to distribute relief supplies in a remote community where local markets are functioning but transport is disrupted. Which approach is most context-sensitive?

Role of NGOs in disaster response Hard
A. Use local procurement or cash assistance where feasible
B. Suspend aid until all roads are fully restored
C. Import identical goods regardless of local availability
D. Distribute supplies without consulting affected residents

59 A community-based organization identifies elderly residents living alone before a cyclone. Which capability does this most directly demonstrate?

Role of community-based organizations in disaster response Hard
A. Using local knowledge to identify vulnerable groups
B. Providing technical forecasting without instruments
C. Preventing the cyclone through community action
D. Replacing all governmental emergency functions

60 Unverified social-media posts claim that a dam has failed, causing panic evacuation. What is the most responsible media practice?

Role of media in disaster response Hard
A. Repeat the claim rapidly to maximize audience reach
B. Publish the location of all rescue operations immediately
C. Suppress every unofficial report regardless of accuracy
D. Verify with competent authorities and clearly label uncertainty