Geography · Environmental Studies
Natural Hazards and Disasters
1,386 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
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drought
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monsoon
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flood
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deforestation
A
Correct answer
Explanation
A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water for agriculture and human use.
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It was old
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It was hit by an earthquake
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It was hit by a flood
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It was destroyed by the British when they reached India
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Archaeological evidence suggests that the decline of Mohenjo Daro was likely due to environmental factors, specifically repeated flooding of the Indus River. While other theories exist, flooding is the most widely accepted cause for the abandonment of the city.
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causing people to move
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killing small animals
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helping crops grow/flood
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making people run and hide
C
Correct answer
Explanation
In ancient India, the seasonal rains brought by monsoons were essential for agriculture, as they provided the water needed for crops to grow and replenished the river systems.
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tornado
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flood
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thuderstorm
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hurricane
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Hurricanes are massive, rotating storm systems that cover large areas and release immense amounts of energy, making them the most powerful type of storm.
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2003 during flood
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2004 during cyclone
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2005 during heavy rainfall
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2004 during tsunami
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Indira Point was submerged under seawater in December 2004 due to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. The tsunami was triggered by a massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
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movement
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place
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pattern
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interaction
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Farming, irrigation, pollution, and adapting to natural disasters are all examples of how humans interact with, modify, and depend on their natural surroundings, which represents 'human-environment interaction'.
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dehydrate
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sun bathe
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starve
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take a vacation
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Ancient Egyptian agriculture depended entirely on the annual flooding of the Nile to deposit nutrient-rich silt and provide water for crops. If the floods failed to arrive, crops would fail, leading to widespread famine and starvation.
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gentle, predictable
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gentle, unpredictable
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fierce, predictable
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fierce, unpredictable
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Unlike the destructive and unpredictable floods of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia, the Nile's annual flooding was relatively gentle and highly predictable. This reliable cycle allowed Egyptian civilization to flourish with stable agricultural planning.
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Tornado
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Earthquake
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Tsunami
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Sandstorm
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Sandstorms are common meteorological phenomena in arid and semi-arid regions. They are caused by strong winds blowing loose sand and dirt across the dry landscape.
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Fire
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Earthquake
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Tidal Wave
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Storm
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, built on the island of Pharos in Egypt, was severely damaged by a series of major earthquakes between 956 and 1323 AD. By the late 14th century, the seismic activity had reduced the structure to ruins, and its remaining stones were later used to build a medieval citadel.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The subject of the sentence is compound ("The strength and the direction"), which is plural. Therefore, the plural verb "are" is required instead of the singular "is".
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The effect of a small wave.
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They are effects of bad weather.
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The effect of calm weather.
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They deposit materials on beaches.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
River flooding deposited nutrient-rich silt onto the surrounding plains, which made the soil highly fertile and ideal for agriculture. This abundance of fertile land allowed early Indian civilizations to thrive.
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tornadoes
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landslides
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flooding
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Himalayas are formed by the ongoing collision of tectonic plates, making the region highly active seismically. This constant movement triggers earthquakes, which frequently destabilize the steep slopes and cause devastating landslides.
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River stopped flowing
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Buildings fell down
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Invasion
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Trade dried up
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Environmental changes, specifically the drying up or shifting of the Saraswati/Indus river systems, are widely cited as a major factor in the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization.