Earthquakes & Volcanoes (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography)

Exam Questions

4 hours52 questions
1
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1 mark

 

Largest Earthquakes

Deadliest Earthquakes

Year

Location

Magnitude (Richter Scale)

Number of deaths

Location

Magnitude (Richter Scale)

Number of deaths

2012

Sumatra

8.6

No data

Philippines

6.7

113

2011

Japan

9.0

20896

Japan

9.0

20896

2010

Chile

8.8

507

Halti

7.0

316000

2009

Samoa Islands

8.1

192

Sumatra

7.5

1117

2008

China

7.9

87587

China

7.9

87587

Study Figure 1, which shows the number of deaths in a range of earthquakes. 

State the deadliest earthquake 

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21 mark

The strongest earthquake in history was at Bio-Bio in Chile, in 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5. The location of Bio-Bio is shown in Fig. 3.1.

q3a-0460_w20_qp_21

What type of plate margin is close to Bio-Bio? Tick one box below.

 

Tick (✓)

Constructive (divergent)

 

Destructive (convergent)

 

Conservative

 

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3
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3 marks

Explain what can be done to reduce the impacts of earthquakes.

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4
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Fig. 5.1 (below) shows Teide, an active volcano in the Canary Islands.

fig-5-1-q5-0460-s20-in-23

Figure 5.1

Give three opportunities that volcanoes like Teide offer to people.

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5
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2 marks

Table 4.1 gives the definitions of some terms used in the study of earthquakes.

Table 4.1

Letter

Definition

A

an ocean wave produced when there is movement of the sea bed caused by the fault movement which causes an earthquake

B

a type of stress where forces pull in opposite directions causing stretching

C

the point in the Earth where an earthquake occurs

D

a scale measuring the total amount of energy released by an earthquake

E

the point on the Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake focus

For each of the following terms give the letter for the correct definition from Table 4.1:

(i)

focus        Letter .........................

[1]

(ii)

epicentre.       Letter .........................

[1]

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6
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3 marks

Fig. 4.1 gives information about a series of earthquakes which occurred in New Zealand in November 2016.

q4-4b-0460-w19-qp-22

Table 4.2 describes the effects of different earthquake intensities (strengths).

Table 4.2

Intensity value

Description of effects

4

Felt by people moving. Cars rock.

5

Sleepers wakened. Some windows broken. Furniture moves.

6

Small bells ring. Trees sway. Loose objects fall.

7

Difficult to stand up. People run outdoors. Walls crack.

8

Partial collapse of buildings. Chimneys fall.

9

Ground cracks. Pipes break.

(i)

Using Fig. 4.1 and Table 4.2, describe the effects of the earthquakes on the buildings in Nelson.

[1]

(ii)

Using Fig. 4.1 and Table 4.2, explain why the earthquakes caused loss of life near Kaikoura but not in Wellington.

[2]

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7
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3 marks

Fig. 4.1 gives information about a series of earthquakes which occurred in New Zealand in November 2016.

q4-4b-0460-w19-qp-22

Fig. 4.1 shows a tsunami which first appeared near Kaikoura.

(i)

How long did it take the tsunami to reach Wellington from Kaikoura?

.....................minutes

[1]

(ii)

What is the distance from Kaikoura to Wellington?

.................... km

[1]

(iii)

Calculate the speed of the tsunami between Kaikoura and Wellington.

.................... km per minute

[1]

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8
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Table 5.1 gives information about the most powerful earthquake in each year between 2003 and 2012.

Table 5.1

Year

Magnitude (Richter Scale)

Number of deaths

Depth of focus (km)

2003

8.3

0

27

2004

9.1

227 898

30

2005

8.6

1313

30

2006

8.3

0

10

2007

8.5

25

34

2008

7.9

87 587

19

2009

8.1

192

18

2010

8.8

547

35

2011

9.0

20 896

29

2012

8.6

0

23

Table 5.2 describes the depth of earthquake foci.

Table 5.2

Depth of focus (km)

Description

0–50

shallow

50.1–300

medium

300.1–670

deep

Using Tables 5.1 and 5.2, describe the depth of foci of the ten earthquakes shown in Table 5.1.

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9
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3 marks

Table 5.1 gives information about the most powerful earthquake in each year between 2003 and 2012.

Table 5.1

Year

Magnitude (Richter Scale)

Number of deaths

Depth of focus (km)

2003

8.3

0

27

2004

9.1

227 898

30

2005

8.6

1313

30

2006

8.3

0

10

2007

8.5

25

34

2008

7.9

87 587

19

2009

8.1

192

18

2010

8.8

547

35

2011

9.0

20 896

29

2012

8.6

0

23

(i)

Describe the variation in the number of deaths caused by the earthquakes shown in Table 5.1.

[1]

(ii)

Suggest two reasons for this variation

[2]

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103 marks

Study Fig. 4.1, which gives information about a research centre called the Lava Centre in Iceland.

The Lava Centre in Iceland opened in June 2017. It monitors more than 200 volcanoes, 30 of which are active. It closely monitors ‘the big one’, Katla, whose last large eruption was in 1918. When it last erupted it melted glaciers causing extensive flooding, with lava flows extending for 10 kilometres. One local woman has a jar of volcanic ash which was collected from her grandmother’s roof in Reykjavik over 160 kilometres away.

Fig. 4.1

Use information from Fig. 4.1 to answer the following:

(i)

How long ago did Katla have a large eruption?

....................................... years

[1]

(ii)

Using Fig. 4.1 only, identify two hazards caused by the eruption of Katla.

1 ......................................................

2 ......................................................

[2]

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112 marks

Suggest two ways that can be used to predict when a volcanic eruption is likely to occur.

1 .................................................

2 .................................................

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123 marks

Study Fig. 4.2, which gives information about Iceland and its volcanoes.

fig-4-2-paper21-cie-igcse-geography

Fig. 4.2

Using Fig. 4.2, explain why Iceland has volcanic eruptions.

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13 marks

Study Fig 1, which shows the location of earthquakes and their magnitude

q1-2-1-paper-2-medium-cie-igcse-geography-tqs-

Figure 1 – A Map showing the location of earthquakes and their magnitude

Describe the distribution of earthquakes shown in Figure 1

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24 marks

Study Fig 1, which shows the numbers of deaths which result from a range of earthquakes

 

Largest Earthquakes

Deadliest Earthquakes

Year

Location

Magnitude (Richter Scale)

Number of deaths

Location

Magnitude (Richter Scale)

Number of deaths

2012

Sumatra

8.6

No data

Philippines

6.7

113

2011

Japan

9.0

20896

Japan

9.0

20896

2010

Chile

8.8

507

Halti

7.0

316000

2009

Samoa Islands

8.1

192

Sumatra

7.5

1117

2008

China

7.9

87587

China

7.9

87587

Suggest reasons why the largest earthquakes don’t always cause most deaths 

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34 marks

Suggest how the impacts of an earthquake can be reduced 

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44 marks

Suggest how the impacts of a volcano can be reduced

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54 marks

Explain how an earthquake occurs at a conservative plate margin

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64 marks

The strongest earthquake in history was at Bio-Bio in Chile, in 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5. The location of Bio-Bio is shown in Fig. 3.1.

q3a-0460_w20_qp_21

Using evidence from Fig. 3.1, explain the cause of the Bio-Bio earthquake.

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75 marks

Fig. 5.1 (below) shows Teide, an active volcano in the Canary Islands.

fig-5-1-q5-0460-s20-in-23

Describe the features of Teide shown in Fig. 5.1.

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84 marks

Fig. 5.1 shows the location of these powerful earthquakes.

q5c-specimen-2020-paper-2-cie-igcse-geo

Using Fig. 5.1, describe and give reasons for the distribution of powerful earthquakes. Refer to plate tectonics in your answer.

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