Natural Disasters and Engineering Solutions Quiz

In the past, a hillside once had plants and bushes. All of the bushes have now been crushed by rocks. The trees are leaning or have been crushed by rocks as well. There are no signs of water or heat damage. Based on the evidence, which type of natural disaster caused these changes?

• Landslide

• Flood

• Fire

• Tsunami

The mayor of Myrtle Beach wants to make sure that he is prepared for hurricane season this year. What three things would best decrease the effects of the hurricanes on the city?

• have sand bags and barriers prepared to put along the shore

• add extra sand to the dunes between the shore and the buildings around them

• have extra medical staff available for people who get hurt

• tell everyone to go somewhere else for the week

• have the city clear out all of the storm drains of debris and trash for drainage

Floods occur when a large amount of water overflows onto land. Twenty houses are being built near a flood zone. A flood zone is an area that can be impacted by floods. Which solution will best reduce the threat of flooding?

• build only one-story houses

• create an evacuation route for people to escape

• build underground pipes to drain the water away from the new houses

• Plant a border of trees around the new homes

What are TWO examples of solutions that engineers have created to help decrease the effects of earthquakes on skyscrapers?

• metal rods at the top to absorb and transfer the energy from lightning

• tuned mass dampers to help prevent swaying due to wind shaking

• reinforced foundations to strengthen a building at its base

• metal windows to help make walls stronger

• generators to power lights when they go out

Wildfires can spread quickly and without warning. However, National forestry also uses forest fires to help the ecosystem. What does a forest fire do for the environment?

• helps create room for new homes and animals to live in them

• helps get rid of old animals in the forest so that more young animals can take their place

• helps remove down trees and debris from the ground to keep wild fires from spreading

• removes nutrients and minerals from the soil

The picture shows a building that has special features. These features help keep the building from falling down during an earthquake. Which feature most likely helps the building stay standing during an earthquake?

• many windows to prevent the walls from breaking during the earthquake

• a square shape so that the building will not roll during the earthquake

• many metal bars to stop the building from shaking during an earthquake

• a tall height so that the building will be far above the ground during the earthquake

Tornadoes can leave a trail of wreckage and destruction in their path. What are three examples of damage caused by tornadoes?

• high waters

• down trees

• newly formed rocks

• torn up homes

• thrown cars and trucks

Hurricanes are powerful storms. Like tornadoes, they have high winds that spin in a circular motion and cause massive damage to cities and areas in their path. What is the biggest difference between a tornado and a hurricane?

• hurricanes form over water

• tornadoes form over water

• only hurricanes can cause high winds

• only tornadoes bring excess rain

Which natural disaster comes from a fissure or vent in the Earth's surface either above or below water?

• earthquakes

• tsunami

• landslide

• volcanic eruption

What natural disaster is caused by shifting tectonic plates on the Earth's surface?

• tsunami

• monsoon

• earthquake

• drought