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Quiz about Earthquakes of the 20th Century

Earthquakes of the 20th Century Quiz

Can you name the details of all these earth shattering events?

A multiple-choice quiz by t-bone65. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
t-bone65

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
272,991

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
859

Last 3 plays: Guest 75 (2/10), Guest 99 (6/10), Guest 54 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How many 9.0 magnitude earthquakes occured in the 20th century, according to the United States Geological Survey? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. In 1970, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake shook Peru. What caused the most deaths in the town of Yungay? Hint

Sinkhole

Tsunami

Landslide

Collapse from ground shaking

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Question 3 of 10

3. Prince William Sound was hit by a very large earthquake in 1964. On what holiday did it strike? Hint

Christmas

Good Friday

Memorial Day

Boxing Day

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Question 4 of 10

4. The Good Friday Earthquake created a large tsunami that killed 11 people in what continental state? Hint

California

Oregon

Washington

Guam

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1950, seiches were recorded in Britain after an earthquake in Asia.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. What Asian capital was destroyed in 1923, creating a firestorm that killed 144,000 people? Hint

Beijing

Manila

Seoul

Tokyo

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Question 7 of 10

7. This city was bombarded by earthquakes in 1949, 1965, and again in 2001, and is the largest city in its state. What seismically active port is this? Hint

Los Angeles

Seattle

San Francisco

Portland

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Question 8 of 10

8. The largest earthquake ever recorded struck Chile and measured 9.5 on the richter scale. In what year did it occur? Hint

1962

1960

1964

1966

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Question 9 of 10

9. What country suffered a horrendous earthquake on August 17, 1999? Hint

Turkey

China

Russia

Armenia

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which earthquake was the deadliest of the 20th century? Hint

Good Friday Earthquake of 1964

Tangshan Earthquake of 1976

Tokyo Earthquake of 1923

Izmit Earthquake of 1999

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 08 2024 : Guest 75: 2/10
Apr 06 2024 : Guest 99: 6/10
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 54: 6/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 109: 4/10
Feb 21 2024 : Guest 174: 7/10
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 68: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many 9.0 magnitude earthquakes occured in the 20th century, according to the United States Geological Survey?

Answer: 3

These quakes occured in Kamchatka, Chile and Alaska, and occured between 1952 and 1964. Some people say there were more than three, but it is up for interpretation.

2. In 1970, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake shook Peru. What caused the most deaths in the town of Yungay?

Answer: Landslide

The landslide killed 17,000 people in the town of Yungay. Only 400 people survived. They were located in the cemetery and stadium, the hightest points in the valley.

3. Prince William Sound was hit by a very large earthquake in 1964. On what holiday did it strike?

Answer: Good Friday

The Good Friday Earthquake was a magnitude 9.2. It ravaged the city of Anchorage, and sent the Turnagain heights subdivision plummeting into the ocean.

4. The Good Friday Earthquake created a large tsunami that killed 11 people in what continental state?

Answer: California

The Tsunami flooded Crescent City, inundating the harbor. It took over a year to rebuild. Damage totaled over 4 billion dollars, with most damage coming from the resultant tsunami.

5. In 1950, seiches were recorded in Britain after an earthquake in Asia.

Answer: True

The Assam, India earthquake of 1950 sent shockwaves through the earth and caused waves to form on lakes in England. Another time this happened in Alaska in 2002, when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake caused water in lakes to slosh in Louisiana!

6. What Asian capital was destroyed in 1923, creating a firestorm that killed 144,000 people?

Answer: Tokyo

The earthquake happened on September 1st. The resulting fire destoryed one third of Tokyo and most of the neighboring city of Yokohama.

7. This city was bombarded by earthquakes in 1949, 1965, and again in 2001, and is the largest city in its state. What seismically active port is this?

Answer: Seattle

The Seattle area has been rocked by strong earthquakes on average every 60 years. The earthquake in 1949 measured 7.1 on the richter scale!

8. The largest earthquake ever recorded struck Chile and measured 9.5 on the richter scale. In what year did it occur?

Answer: 1960

The earthquake sent out a Pacific wide tsunami that killed almost 2,000 people around the world. The tsunami also caused over $500,000 in damages.

9. What country suffered a horrendous earthquake on August 17, 1999?

Answer: Turkey

The Izmit Earthquake of 1999 is one of the deadliest in Turkish history. The earthquake struck at just past three in the morning, and killed over 17,000 people.

10. Which earthquake was the deadliest of the 20th century?

Answer: Tangshan Earthquake of 1976

The Tangshan earthquake officialy killed 255,000 people, but the death toll is thought to be over 800,000 people. It is not the deadliest in history, as in the 1500s, an earthquake, also in China, killed 830,000 people.

Source: Author t-bone65

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