Living with Natural Hazards - Are we better equipped than the others?: Practice Questions

According to the curriculum, why is it important for geographers to identify relief features such as ridges, spurs, and valleys on a contour map when studying natural hazards?

Which of the following geological events is the primary cause for the majority of large-scale tsunamis?

Despite the recurring threat of natural hazards like tropical storms and coastal flooding, many large populations continue to inhabit vulnerable coastal regions. Which of the following best explains a primary geographical or economic incentive for this persistent settlement pattern?

Which of the following natural hazards is correctly classified as a geological hazard because it originates from internal Earth processes?

In the study of landslides in Hong Kong, a geographer decides to create an annotated cross-section of a potentially unstable slope. If the map has a horizontal scale of \(1:20,000\) and the geographer uses a vertical scale of \(1:4,000\) for the drawing, what is the vertical exaggeration of the cross-section?

In the process of geographical mapping, what does the term vertical exaggeration refer to when geographers construct an annotated cross-section of a hillside?

Describe one reason why some populations continue to live in hostile areas that are frequently affected by recurring natural hazards like floods or volcanic eruptions.

Explain how the reallocation of national development budgets to post-disaster relief in Less Developed Countries (LDCs), compared to the use of pre-funded insurance mechanisms in More Developed Countries (MDCs), impacts the long-term economic resilience of a nation facing recurring natural hazards.

Hong Kong, with its hilly terrain and frequent heavy rainfall, is susceptible to landslides. Understanding the causes and effects of these hazards is crucial for public safety.

a) Identify two natural causes that significantly contribute to landslides in Hong Kong. (2 points)

b) Describe two major negative impacts that landslides can have on the environment and human activities in urbanized areas like Hong Kong. (2 points)

The impact of natural hazards often varies significantly between different regions of the world.

a) State two factors that make populations in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) more vulnerable to the negative impacts of natural hazards compared to More Developed Countries (MDCs). (2 points)

b) Describe the difference between preventive and remedial measures in hazard management, and provide one example of a preventive measure used for landslides. (2 points)

c) Give one reason why people might still choose to live in a hostile area, such as a volcanic zone or a flood-prone plain, despite the high risks. (1 point)