Published February 27, 2010
A tsunami can kill thousands of people and level entire blocks in mere seconds. See how much you know about these walls of water (tsunami safety tips).
(Related: "Tsunami Warning for Hawaii After Huge Chile Earthquake.")
1. What can cause a tsunami?
a. Landslide
b. Underwater earthquake
c. Volcanic eruption
d. All of the above
2. Do all undersea earthquakes trigger a tsunami?
a. Yes
b. No
3. What does the word "tsunami" mean in Japanese?
a. Tidal wave
b. Harbor wave
c. Killer wave
d. Century wave
4. Witnesses have said that an approaching tsunami sounds like what?
a. Firecrackers exploding
b. A freight train
c. Ice cracking
d. Nothing—there is absolute silence
5. What is the most active tsunami area?
a. Pacific Ocean
b. Caribbean Sea
c. Indian Ocean
d. North Atlantic Ocean
6. What is the deadliest tsunami ever recorded?
a. The 1782 South China Sea tsunami
b. The 1868 northern Chile tsunami
c. The 1883 South Java Sea tsunami
d. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
7. How fast can a tsunami travel?
a. Up to 100 miles an hour (160 kilometers an hour)
b. Up to 200 miles an hour (320 kilometers an hour)
c. Up to 500 miles an hour (800 kilometers an hour
d. Up to 1,000 miles an hour (1,600 kilometers an hour)
8. Can you detect a tsunami in the open ocean?
a. Yes
b. No
9. Where was the largest tsunami in history recorded?
a. India
b. Philippines
c. Chile
d. Japan
10. What is frequently a warning sign of an impending tsunami?
a. Winds suddenly change direction
b. The sky suddenly clears
c. Seawater suddenly retreats from the shore
d. All of the above
ANSWERS
1. d
Tsunamis are usually generated by undersea earthquakes at tectonic plate boundaries, but they can also be triggered by underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, or even a giant meteor impact with the ocean.
2. b
An undersea earthquake creates a tsunami only if it is of sufficient force and there