Deadly Disasters Quiz | Specialized History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Some disasters could have been avoided while others started by an act of nature. During the summer of 1988, fires raged out of control in the oldest national park in the U.S. It began when lightening struck a tree. It quickly spread to other areas of the park and eventually became out of control. Which national park was it?

Answer: Yellowstone

In just one August day, known as "Black Saturday," fires consumed more than 150,000 acres of forest. Even fire-lines and roads could not stop the conflagration. Firefighters fought the multiple fires by air and on land. One area of focus was the park's historic Old Faithful lodge. Preservation of that structure resulted in a focused team effort. Faulty media coverage and general misinformation did not help matters, especially for the thousands of firefighters risking their lives on a daily basis. I visited Yellowstone about ten years ago and there were still areas of the park with charred trees. What began as an act of nature ended with an act of nature. September's wet weather finally accomplished what man couldn't: put an end to the fires.

2. The largest recorded earthquake of the 20th century occurred in 1960. Known as "1960 Valdivia Earthquake," in which South American country did the earthquake occur? (The capital city is Santiago)

Answer: Chile

The earthquake's magnitude of 9.5 was recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Since it occurred off the coast of Chile in the Pacific Ocean, the greatest damage came from the tsunamis created by the underwater earthquake. The tsunamis had far reaching effects. People living as far away as the Philippines and Hawaii were killed by the waves.

The cost of the cleanup was estimated to be between $400 and $800 million, $3 to $6 billion in today's economy.

3. In 1972 a natural disaster occurred in Iran that killed thousands and wiped out whole villages. What kind of disaster was it?

Answer: blizzard

Many people don't realize that it snows in parts of the Middle East. The 1972 blizzard began at the end of January and lasted a week before another storm started up in February, affecting western Iran and Azerbaijan. Survivors of the blizzard went for a week without food, water, heat or medical help. Entire villages, some with populations of 100, were buried in the snow and could not be rescued in time.

4. Diseases have been responsible for many deaths over the centuries. Some date back to ancient times. One disease in particular, which produces pus-filled lesions on the skin, dates back to 430 B.C. Spread by contact with bodily fluids or skin-to-skin contact, name this deadly disease.

Answer: Smallpox

Caused by the variola virus, smallpox epidemics have reached many parts of the world. As people travel they can carry diseases with them, as in the Ebola outbreak of 2014. English physician Edward Jenner came up with a smallpox vaccine in the late 18th century that put an end to the disease.

5. During the summer of 1976 an earthquake registering 7.8 magnitude struck this densely populated Asian country, killing 240,000 people and injuring thousands. The city of Tangshan was completely destroyed. In which Asian country did this deadly earthquake occur?

Answer: China

Tangshan is located 150 km east of Beijing, China's capital city. Due to the many faults in that region, northern China is no stranger to earthquakes. This region has experienced high seismic activity for hundreds of years. Tangshan has since been rebuilt and scientists are continuing to monitor the seismic activity of the region.

6. In November 1975 a freighter carrying iron ore pellets mysteriously sank in the Great Lakes area of the U.S. There have been many theories as to why the ship suddenly sank. In 1976 Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot wrote a ballad in honor of that ship. What was the ship called?

Answer: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

The crew of 29 died when the freighter sank. Whatever happened did so quickly. The last communication by Captain McSorley were the words "We are holding our own." The ship was traveling from Superior, Wisconsin to River Rouge, Michigan when it sank.

7. On April 20, 2010, off the coast of Louisiana, an oil well blew up followed by an oil rig explosion. Five million barrels of oil were dumped into the surrounding ocean, affecting wildlife,the environment, and the economy. Which company shouldered most of the blame for the fiasco?

Answer: British Petroleum

Although three companies, BP, also known as Deepwater Horizon, Halliburton, and Transocean, were responsible for the disaster, most of the blame was directed at BP. An attempt to save time combined with a lack of thorough inspections by all three companies resulted in this disaster. The effects of the oil spill are still being felt four years later.

8. In April 2014 an avalanche struck one of the base camps of Mount Everest, killing sixteen Sherpa guides. In which country did it occur?

Answer: Nepal

Sherpas are well adapted to Nepal's high elevations. For many, acting as guides up the steep mountain is their only livelihood. Unfortunately it is a dangerous business. In this case a large block of ice broke off above an icefall, followed by avalanches, trapping the Sherpa guides.

9. Nature's fury is demonstrated in many ways. In 2008 a cyclone destroyed an entire region of an Asian country. Storms surges and floods further weakened the area. Where in Asia did the cyclone hit?

Answer: Myanmar

Cyclone Nargis caused more devastation than the country had previously experienced. A recorded 138,000 people died while 55,000 were reported missing. To add insult to injury, all that flooding provided a breeding ground for the mosquitos that carry malaria. Fortunately for Myanmar, many countries of the world came to its aid.

10. The complete annihilation of the city of Pompeii occurred in AD 79. The nearby city of Herculaneum was also completely destroyed. Which devastating volcano destroyed these cities?

Answer: Mount Vesuvius

The eruption of Vesuvius was foreshadowed by earthquakes. The eruption occurred over a span of two days. Pliny the Younger, 17 at the time of the eruption, was an eyewitness to the event and recorded the events that have given historians a pretty good idea of what happened to Pompeii and its environs that fateful day.

Source: Author nmerr

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Deadly Disasters Trivia Quiz

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