Geography · Environmental Studies

Natural Hazards and Disasters

1,357 Questions

Natural hazards and disasters involve the study of extreme natural events like earthquakes, floods, and cyclones, alongside their management and mitigation strategies. This geography and environmental studies topic is heavily tested in civil services and state public service examinations. Use these questions to prepare for inquiries on disaster response, community recovery, and tremor causes.

Earthquake and tremor causesDisaster management activitiesFlood management mythsCyclone and severe weatherPost-disaster health problemsCommunity disaster response

Natural Hazards and Disasters Questions

Multiple choice

Which one of the following can be termed as an aggregate?

  1. The number of persons fleeing in panic.

  2. The number of persons watching a street accident.

  3. The number of persons basking in the sun on a spring morning.

  4. The number of persons damaging vehicles during strike.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

An aggregate is a collection of people in physical proximity WITHOUT shared purpose or interaction. Sunbathers are physically present together (a crowd) but lack common goals or organization. Other options involve purposeful activities: fleeing (panic mob), watching (accidental crowd), or damaging (organized/mob action) - all have shared purpose.

Multiple choice

The destructive capacity of a wind storm _____________.

  1. increases with the increase in wind speed

  2. decreases with the increase in wind speed

  3. increases with the increase in temperature

  4. decreases with the increase in temperature

  5. increases with the increase in humidity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. The destructive capacity of a wind storm increases with the increase in wind speed.

Multiple choice

Sometimes some natural calamities bring some opportunities for the people of different nations to come together and work for the cause of humanity. Which of the following was one such incidence/calamity which helped people of Pakistan to associate themselves with the people of India and vice versa? (Incident took place in 2005)

  1. Heavy rains and flood in Mumbai

  2. Tsunami in Asian countries

  3. Severe earthquake in parts of J&K

  4. Bomb blast in tube rail in London
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The October 2005 earthquake in Kashmir caused massive devastation in both Indian and Pakistani-administered regions. This led to rare humanitarian cooperation and the opening of the Line of Control for relief efforts.

Multiple choice

Consider the following pairs of places and types of natural hazard faced by them:

  1. Latur : Riverine flooding
  2. Nashri : Landslide
  3. Kandla : Cyclone Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 1 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Latur experienced a massive earthquake rather than riverine flooding. Nashri, known for the Chenani-Nashri tunnel area, frequently faces landslides, and Kandla is a major port in Gujarat frequently affected by cyclones. Therefore, pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Multiple choice

Which of the following does not cause a tsunami?

  1. Earthquake

  2. Volcanic eruption

  3. High winds

  4. Low winds
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Tsunamis are caused by large-scale displacement of water, typically from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. Winds, even high ones, do not cause tsunamis.

Multiple choice

Which was the cause of destruction of Harappa Culture?

  1. Earthquakes

  2. Floods and Invasion

  3. Destruction by Kings

  4. War
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While the exact cause of the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappa) is debated, the most widely accepted theories involve environmental changes like flooding, climate change, and potential migration or invasion.