MCQs on Seismic Zones in India: Causes and Vulnerability to Earthquakes
- Which seismic zone in India is considered the most vulnerable to earthquakes?
- a) Zone I
- b) Zone II
- c) Zone IV
- d) Zone V
- Answer: d) Zone V
- Which Indian state is highly vulnerable due to its location in Seismic Zone V?
- a) Gujarat
- b) West Bengal
- c) Assam
- d) Rajasthan
- Answer: c) Assam
- What is the primary cause of earthquakes in the Himalayan region?
- a) Volcanic activity
- b) Human activities
- c) Tectonic plate movements
- d) Oceanic currents
- Answer: c) Tectonic plate movements
- Which of the following states falls under Seismic Zone IV?
- a) Maharashtra
- b) Kerala
- c) Punjab
- d) Madhya Pradesh
- Answer: c) Punjab
- The Indian subcontinent is part of which major tectonic plate?
- a) Pacific Plate
- b) African Plate
- c) Indian Plate
- d) North American Plate
- Answer: c) Indian Plate
- What is the scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake?
- a) Richter Scale
- b) Beaufort Scale
- c) Fujita Scale
- d) Saffir-Simpson Scale
- Answer: a) Richter Scale
- Which of the following Indian cities is located in Seismic Zone V?
- a) Delhi
- b) Kolkata
- c) Chennai
- d) Shillong
- Answer: d) Shillong
- Seismic Zone II is characterized by which of the following features?
- a) Very high risk
- b) High risk
- c) Moderate risk
- d) Low risk
- Answer: d) Low risk
- Which seismic zone includes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
- a) Zone II
- b) Zone III
- c) Zone IV
- d) Zone V
- Answer: d) Zone V
- The 2001 Gujarat earthquake that severely affected Bhuj occurred in which seismic zone?
- a) Zone III
- b) Zone IV
- c) Zone V
- d) Zone II
- Answer: c) Zone V
- What is the name of the boundary where the Indian Plate meets the Eurasian Plate?
- a) Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- b) San Andreas Fault
- c) Himalayan Front
- d) East African Rift
- Answer: c) Himalayan Front
- Which city is NOT considered vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location in Seismic Zone II?
- a) Mumbai
- b) Jaipur
- c) Chennai
- d) Lucknow
- Answer: a) Mumbai
- Which factor is NOT a direct cause of earthquakes?
- a) Tectonic plate movements
- b) Volcanic activity
- c) Nuclear explosions
- d) Tsunami formation
- Answer: d) Tsunami formation
- Which region is known as the ‘Seismic Gap’ due to its potential for a future earthquake?
- a) Assam Valley
- b) Kashmir Valley
- c) Kutch Region
- d) North Bihar
- Answer: b) Kashmir Valley
- Seismic Zone IV is associated with which type of earthquake hazard?
- a) Very high damage risk
- b) Low damage risk
- c) Moderate damage risk
- d) Negligible damage risk
- Answer: a) Very high damage risk
- Which Indian city has been classified under Seismic Zone IV due to its high vulnerability?
- a) Bengaluru
- b) Hyderabad
- c) Delhi
- d) Pune
- Answer: c) Delhi
- Which of the following is the least earthquake-prone area in India?
- a) Western Ghats
- b) North-East India
- c) Himalayas
- d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Answer: a) Western Ghats
- Which region in India is known for the occurrence of shallow focus earthquakes?
- a) Deccan Plateau
- b) Indo-Gangetic Plain
- c) Western Himalayas
- d) Coastal Andhra Pradesh
- Answer: c) Western Himalayas
- The frequency and intensity of earthquakes are generally higher in which seismic zone?
- a) Zone II
- b) Zone V
- c) Zone III
- d) Zone IV
- Answer: b) Zone V
- The 2015 earthquake that devastated parts of Nepal and affected India occurred along which fault line?
- a) Koyna Fault
- b) Bhuj Fault
- c) Main Himalayan Thrust
- d) Son-Narmada Fault
- Answer: c) Main Himalayan Thrust
- Which state is part of both Seismic Zones III and IV, making it prone to moderate earthquakes?
- a) Uttar Pradesh
- b) Maharashtra
- c) Tamil Nadu
- d) Kerala
- Answer: a) Uttar Pradesh
- Which of the following is a common secondary effect of an earthquake?
- a) Landslides
- b) Cyclones
- c) Heatwaves
- d) Droughts
- Answer: a) Landslides
- The northeastern region of India falls under which seismic zone?
- a) Zone II
- b) Zone III
- c) Zone IV
- d) Zone V
- Answer: d) Zone V
- Which geological phenomenon is responsible for the majority of earthquakes in peninsular India?
- a) Tectonic Plate Movements
- b) Volcanic Activity
- c) Human-induced Vibrations
- d) Subduction Zones
- Answer: a) Tectonic Plate Movements
- Which type of waves are typically recorded first during an earthquake?
- a) S-waves
- b) Surface waves
- c) P-waves
- d) L-waves
- Answer: c) P-waves
- Which of the following regions is highly prone to liquefaction during an earthquake?
- a) Rocky Highlands
- b) Coastal Plains
- c) Desert Regions
- d) Deccan Plateau
- Answer: b) Coastal Plains
- Which Indian river basin is known for being seismically active due to tectonic activity?
- a) Ganges Basin
- b) Krishna Basin
- c) Narmada Basin
- d) Cauvery Basin
- Answer: c) Narmada Basin
- The major cause of earthquakes in the Himalayan region is due to the collision between which two tectonic plates?
- a) Indian and African Plates
- b) Indian and Pacific Plates
- c) Indian and Eurasian Plates
- d) Indian and Australian Plates
- Answer: c) Indian and Eurasian Plates
- Which city, although not in Zone V, is still highly vulnerable due to its high population density and poor infrastructure?
- a) Chennai
- b) Delhi
- c) Kolkata
- d) Hyderabad
- Answer: b) Delhi
- Which of the following regions is relatively stable with a lower risk of major earthquakes?
- a) Himalayan Belt
- b) Indo-Gangetic Plain
- c) Deccan Plateau
- d) North-East India
- Answer: c) Deccan Plateau
These questions are designed to cover a range of topics related to seismic zones in India, from geological causes to regional vulnerabilities, providing a comprehensive understanding for Civil Services Examination aspirants.
