Great Disasters Quiz

Quiz

1. Which island has been nearly destroyed by its currently active volcano, wiping out the capital and forcing thousands to evacuate?

2. The last voyage of this luxury liner ended at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. It was described as a floating museum and guaranteed to be unsinkable. Fifty-two passengers drowned, yet even today the ship continues to claim victims—more than ten hapless fortune seekers have lost their lives hunting for sunken treasure aboard the:

3. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was America's deadliest, but not its most severe in terms of magnitude. Which American earthquake registered a magnitude of 9.2—the second highest magnitude ever recorded? Those who lived through it will never forget Good Friday in 1964.

4. In one of the world's worst train crashes, on June 6, 1981, the conductor of a train braked to avoid hitting a cow, causing the train to plunge off the bridge into the river below. At least 268 passengers were killed and 300 went missing. The crash was located:

5. More than 2,200 climbers have successfully summited Mt. Everest. About how many people have died trying to climb it?

  • 70
  • 185
  • 500

6. What state has had the largest share of tornadoes per year?

7. This airplane crash near Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, killed all 257 aboard. They were part of a:

  • Sightseeing excursion
  • Scientific expedition
  • Colonization society

8. Indonesia and Japan have historically had the most active volcanoes. Which country ranks third?

9. Which of the following is least likely to cause a tsunami?

  • Volcanic eruption
  • Earthquake
  • Tornado

10. What has been the worst epidemic in American history?

  • Cholera epidemic (1832)
  • Spanish Influenza epidemic (1918)
  • AIDS epidemic (1981–present)

1. Which island has been nearly destroyed by its currently active volcano, wiping out the capital and forcing thousands to evacuate?
Montserrat, West Indies

2. The last voyage of this luxury liner ended at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. It was described as a floating museum and guaranteed to be unsinkable. Fifty-two passengers drowned, yet even today the ship continues to claim victims—more than ten hapless fortune seekers have lost their lives hunting for sunken treasure aboard the:
Andrea Doria

3. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was America's deadliest, but not its most severe in terms of magnitude. Which American earthquake registered a magnitude of 9.2—the second highest magnitude ever recorded? Those who lived through it will never forget Good Friday in 1964.
Prince William Sound, Alaska

4. In one of the world's worst train crashes, on June 6, 1981, the conductor of a train braked to avoid hitting a cow, causing the train to plunge off the bridge into the river below. At least 268 passengers were killed and 300 went missing. The crash was located:
Near Mansi, India

5. More than 2,200 climbers have successfully summited Mt. Everest. About how many people have died trying to climb it?
185

6. What state has had the largest share of tornadoes per year?
Texas

7. This airplane crash near Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, killed all 257 aboard. They were part of a:
Sightseeing excursion

8. Indonesia and Japan have historically had the most active volcanoes. Which country ranks third?
United States

9. Which of the following is least likely to cause a tsunami?
Tornado

10. What has been the worst epidemic in American history?
Spanish Influenza epidemic (1918)

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