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Mother Nature & History Trivia Quiz

Ten instances where Mother Nature had significant impact on human history.

A multiple-choice quiz by wjames. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
wjames

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
364,847

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
768

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Two 13th century typhoons were described as "divine winds" that saved Japan from invasion by which power? Hint

Mongols

Portugal

China

Huns

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Question 2 of 10

2. Following the loss of RMS "Titanic" in 1912, seagoing nations on the North Atlantic contributed ships and money to support which safety organization that still exists? Hint

U.S. Coast Guard

Underwriters' Laboratories

Coast & Geodetic Survey

International Ice Patrol

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Question 3 of 10

3. What two-word phrase is the more popular name for a period of drought in the U.S. known as the "Dirty Thirties"?

Answer: (Okies)

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Question 4 of 10

4. In the Alps of the Austro-Italian front in WWI, which natural disaster killed 40,000-80,000 soldiers? Hint

Hypothermia

Avalanche

Starvation

Volcanic eruption

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which type of storm devastated parts of the U.S. states of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in 1925? Hint

Earthquake

Hail storm

Tornado

Hurricane

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Question 6 of 10

6. February 7 2009 is known as "Black Saturday" in Australia due to which type of natural disaster? Hint

Volcanic eruption

Typhoon

Tornado

Bushfires

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which South Asian city had the most cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in a 2002-3 pandemic? Hint

Hong Kong

Tokyo

Manila

Islamabad

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Tunguska Event of 1908 in Siberia is an example of what type of (thankfully) rare natural disaster? Hint

Solar flare event

Gamma ray burst

Asteroid impact

Nuclear explosion

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Question 9 of 10

9. The Bible is the only cultural/historic document to contain a Great Flood story.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. The deadliest natural disaster in the 20th century, if not all of history (discounting famines and pandemics) occurred in China in 1931. What type of natural disaster was this? Hint

Famine

Earthquake

Floods

Fire

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Two 13th century typhoons were described as "divine winds" that saved Japan from invasion by which power?

Answer: Mongols

Two Mongol fleets under Kublai Khan were dispersed after gaining toeholds in Japan in 1274 and 1281. Without seaborne support, the invading armies had to retreat.

2. Following the loss of RMS "Titanic" in 1912, seagoing nations on the North Atlantic contributed ships and money to support which safety organization that still exists?

Answer: International Ice Patrol

The International Ice Patrol is supported by 13 nations and is run by the U.S. Coast Guard. Starting with dedicated government patrol ships in 1914, the IIP is now mainly done with aircraft and satellites.

3. What two-word phrase is the more popular name for a period of drought in the U.S. known as the "Dirty Thirties"?

Answer: Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl was centered in the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma, but extended to surrounding states and even into the Canadian prairie provinces. Thousands of families, termed "Okies" left the affected area and resettled in other parts of the country.

4. In the Alps of the Austro-Italian front in WWI, which natural disaster killed 40,000-80,000 soldiers?

Answer: Avalanche

Avalanches, perhaps triggered by artillery fire, caused tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. Italy hoped to gain Austrian territory, but the series of battles from 1914-1918 were largely stalemates, due in significant part to the terrain and weather.

5. Which type of storm devastated parts of the U.S. states of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in 1925?

Answer: Tornado

The Tri-State Tornado of 1925 killed 700 people, more than twice as many as the next deadliest tornado. The Tri-State tornado left a continuous trail of destruction for over 219 miles (350 km).

6. February 7 2009 is known as "Black Saturday" in Australia due to which type of natural disaster?

Answer: Bushfires

Over 400 separate bushfires were burning on and around Saturday, February 7 2009 in the Australian state of Victoria. These were the most deadly fires in Australian history, killing 173 people and injuring 414.

7. Which South Asian city had the most cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in a 2002-3 pandemic?

Answer: Hong Kong

Hong Kong suffered almost 1,800 of the more than 8,000 cases of SARS reported worldwide. Worldwide, SARS had a fatality rate of 9.7%, but in Hong Kong it was 17%.

8. The Tunguska Event of 1908 in Siberia is an example of what type of (thankfully) rare natural disaster?

Answer: Asteroid impact

An explosion of an asteroid is the accepted cause of the huge Tunguska explosion, estimated to be equivalent to a 10-15 megaton nuclear weapon. This is considered an impact event even though the asteroid apparently burst in the air rather than hitting the ground.

9. The Bible is the only cultural/historic document to contain a Great Flood story.

Answer: False

Stories from the Mesopotamians, Hindus, Mayans, Greeks and American Natives detail great floods that either started or destroyed and then restarted human civilization.

10. The deadliest natural disaster in the 20th century, if not all of history (discounting famines and pandemics) occurred in China in 1931. What type of natural disaster was this?

Answer: Floods

The 1931 Central China floods are thought to have killed somewhere between 147,000 (Chinese estimates) to 4 million (Western estimates). In July 1931, seven cyclones hit China, when the average is normally two, dropping over 24 inches of rain in the Yangtze River valley in the month.

Source: Author wjames

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