How Much Do You Know About Earthquakes? Take This GK Quiz To Find Out – News18

Last Updated:February 18, 2025, 16:33 IST

GK Quiz: Test your knowledge of earthquakes, their causes, impacts, and how they are measured with this informative quiz.

General Knowledge, GK: Earthquakes can strike without warning, occurring when tectonic plates shift along fault lines in the Earth’s crust. This movement triggers intense ground shaking, which can lead to various hazards such as soil liquefaction, landslides, cracks, avalanches, fires, tsunamis, and more.

Understanding how earthquakes occur not only deepens our knowledge of the planet’s processes but also helps us stay prepared.

Test your knowledge with this quiz! Explore the causes of earthquakes, how they are measured, and their impact on people and the environment as you answer each question.

GK Quiz On Earthquake

1. What is the name of the scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake?

A) Richter Scale
B) Fujita Scale
C) Beaufort Scale
D) Mercalli Scale

Answer: A) Richter Scale

Explanation: The Richter Scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake based on the energy released.

2. What is the instrument used to detect and record earthquakes?

A) Thermometer
B) Seismograph
C) Barometer
D) Anemometer

Answer: B) Seismograph

Explanation: Seismographs record ground motion during an earthquake, helping scientists better understand these events.

3. What is the point inside the Earth where an earthquake originates?

A) Epicentre
B) Focus
C) Fault line
D) Seismic zone

Answer: B) Focus

Explanation: An earthquake starts at the focus, also known as the hypocentre.

4. Which layer of the Earth is responsible for earthquakes?

A) Crust
B) Mantle
C) Outer Core
D) Inner Core

Answer: A) Crust

Explanation: Most earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust.

5. What type of waves cause the most destruction during an earthquake?

A) Primary Waves (P-Waves)
B) Secondary Waves (S-Waves)
C) Surface Waves
D) Electromagnetic Waves

Answer: C) Surface Waves

Explanation: Surface waves travel along the Earth’s surface and cause the most damage during an earthquake.

6. The strongest earthquake ever recorded had a magnitude of 9.5. In which country did it occur?

A) Japan
B) Indonesia
C) Chile
D) United States

Answer: C) Chile

Explanation: The strongest recorded earthquake was the Valdivia earthquake in Chile in 1960.

7. What is a tsunami?

A) A type of earthquake
B) A giant ocean wave caused by an earthquake
C) A volcanic eruption
D) A storm surge

Answer: B) A giant ocean wave caused by an earthquake

Explanation: Underwater earthquakes can cause tsunamis, which lead to massive waves and coastal devastation.

8. What is the term for a large crack in the Earth’s crust where earthquakes occur?

A) Volcano
B) Rift
C) Fault
D) Canyon

Answer: C) Fault

Explanation: Faults are fractures in the Earth’s crust where rocks move, often resulting in earthquakes.

9. What is the term for an earthquake that occurs before a larger earthquake?

A) Foreshock
B) Aftershock
C) Mainshock
D) Tremor

Answer: A) Foreshock

Explanation: Foreshocks are smaller tremors that sometimes occur before a larger earthquake.

10. What is the primary cause of earthquakes?

A) Human activity
B) Movement of tectonic plates
C) Changes in weather
D) Magnetic field shifts

Answer: B) Movement of tectonic plates

Explanation: Most earthquakes occur due to the movement, collision, or shifting of tectonic plates.

11. Where do earthquakes occur most frequently?

A) Along plate boundaries
B) The uppermost layers
C) The core
D) The climate

Answer: A) Along plate boundaries

Explanation: The strongest earthquakes usually occur along tectonic plate boundaries.

12. Where do most earthquakes occur globally?

A) The Indian Ocean
B) America
C) The Pacific Ocean
D) Africa

Answer: C) The Pacific Ocean

Explanation: The “Ring of Fire” around the Pacific Ocean is the world’s most seismically and volcanically active region, responsible for more than 80 per cent of major earthquakes.