50+ Earthquake Quiz Questions and Answers

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How much do you know about earthquakes? It’s time to test to figure it out!

In this ultimate earthquake quiz, you will find 5 rounds of questions and answers about the science behind earthquakes but also famous natural disasters and their aftermath.

So, are you ready to see how many points you can score in this quiz about Earthquakes? Let’s go!

Round 1: Easy Earthquake Trivia Questions

1. What is the most common scale for measuring earthquakes?
2. In which range of mountain was the earthquake of the 8th of September 2023 in Morocco?
3. Which New Zealand city experienced a severely damaging earthquake in February 2011?
4. What is the term for a smaller earthquake that takes place after a bigger earthquake?
5. Which fault line runs along the California coast?
6. In which US state did the Good Friday earthplace take place in 1964?
7. What is the largest tectonic plate?
8. What is the highest magnitude earthquake on record?
9. What nuclear disaster was caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami?
10. Which earthquake resulted in the near destruction of the city of Port-au-Prince?
11. What is the term for a scientist who studies earthquakes?

Round 1: Easy Earthquake Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What is the most common scale for measuring earthquakes? Richter Scale
2. In which range of mountain was the earthquake of the 8th of September 2023 in Morocco? Atlas Mountains
3. Which New Zealand city experienced a severely damaging earthquake in February 2011? Christchurch
4. What is the term for a smaller earthquake that takes place after a bigger earthquake? Aftershock
5. Which fault line runs along the California coast? San Andreas Fault 
6. In which US state did the Good Friday earthplace take place in 1964? Alaska
7. What is the largest tectonic plate? The Pacific Plate
8. What is the highest magnitude earthquake on record? The Great Chilean Earthquake
9. What nuclear disaster was caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami? The Fukushima Disaster
10. Which earthquake resulted in the near destruction of the city of Port-au-Prince? 2010 Haiti Earthquake 
11. What is the term for a scientist who studies earthquakes? Seismologist 

Round 2: Earthquake Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Roughly 90% of the world’s earthquakes happen around which ocean?
   1. The Atlantic Ocean
   2. The Pacific Ocean
   3. The Indian Ocean
   4. The Antarctic Ocean
2. Which country experiences the most earthquakes?
   1. United States
   2. Chile
   3. Indonesia
   4. Japan
3. Longer fault lines produce…
   1. higher magnitude earthquakes
   2. lower magnitude earthquakes
   3. longer earthquakes
   4. shorter earthquakes
4. What magnitude was the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake?
   1. 7.6
   2. 8.1
   3. 8.6
   4. 9.1
5. Which two countries experienced the fourth-costliest earthquake on record in February 2023?
   1. Turkey and Armenia
   2. Turkey and Syria
   3. Syria and Jordan
   4. Jordan and Israel
6. The Shaanxi Earthquake is the…. Earthquake on record?
   1. deadliest
   2. earliest
   3. longest lasting
   4. highest magnitude
7. What is the only other planet in the solar system which is known to experience earthquakes?
   1. Mercury
   2. Venus
   3. Mars
   4. Pluto 
8. Which of the following should you not do in the event of an earthquake?
   1. Go to an open area
   2. Get under a table
   3. Stand under a door frame 
   4. Stay inside your car
9. What magnitude was the 2010 Haiti earthquake?
   1. 7.0
   2. 7.5
   3. 8.0
   4. 8.5
10. What is the costliest earthquake on record, causing $360 billion in property damage?
    1. 2012 Northern Italian Earthquakes
    2. 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake
    3. 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake
    4. 1994 Northridge Earthquake

Round 2: Earthquake Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

1. Roughly 90% of the world’s earthquakes happen around which ocean? B. The Pacific Ocean
2. Which country experiences the most earthquakes? D. Japan
3. Longer fault lines produce… a. Higher magnitude earthquakes
4. What magnitude was the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake? D. 9.1
5. Which two countries experienced the fourth-costliest earthquake on record in February 2023? B. Turkey and Syria
6. The Shaanxi Earthquake is the…. Earthquake on record? A. deadliest
7. What is the only other planet in the solar system which is known to experience earthquakes? C. Mars
8. Which of the following should you not do in the event of an earthquake? C. Stand under a door frame
9. What magnitude was the 2010 Haiti earthquake? A. 7.0
10. What is the costliest earthquake on record, causing $360 billion in property damage? b. 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake

Round 3: Earthquake Quiz – True or False

1. There is no known fault line capable of producing a magnitude 10 earthquake.
2. In Ancient Japan, it was believed that earthquakes were caused by a giant Koi fish.
3. Increased seismic activity is a common sign of an impending volcanic eruption.
4. There has never been an earthquake in Qatar.
5. The largest tsunami on record, the Lituya Bay Megatsunami, was directly caused by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake.
6. Inca architecture was built specifically to withstand earthquakes.
7. The Haiti Earthquake in 2010 was so strong that it altered the rotation of the Earth.
8. The Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960 caused a tsunami which destroyed coastal towns as far away as Japan.
9. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Japan in 1945 is often cited as a factor in the allies winning WWII.
10. Three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were destroyed by earthquakes.

Round 3: Earthquake Quiz Answers – True or False

1. There is no known fault line capable of producing a magnitude 10 earthquake. True
2. In Ancient Japan, it was believed that earthquakes were caused by a giant Koi fish. False
3. Increased seismic activity is a common sign of an impending volcanic eruption. True
4. There has never been an earthquake in Qatar. False
5. The largest tsunami on record, the Lituya Bay Megatsunami, was directly caused by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake. False
6. Inca architecture was built specifically to withstand earthquakes. True
7. The Haiti Earthquake in 2010 was so strong that it altered the rotation of the Earth. False
8. The Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960 caused a tsunami which destroyed coastal towns as far away as Japan. True 
9. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Japan in 1945 is often cited as a factor in the allies winning WWII. False
10. Three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were destroyed by earthquakes. True

Round 4: Medium Earthquake Trivia Questions

1. Which US state has the most earthquakes?
2. What is the term for an earthquake caused by human activity?
3. What is the smallest tectonic plate in the world?
4. As well as accounting for around 90% of all earthquakes, the ‘Ring of Fire’ is home to roughly 75% of the world’s what?
5. What is the term for an earthquake that occurs before a larger seismic event?
6. The epicentre of the 1994 Northridge earthquake was just outside which major US city?
7. What is another name given to the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960?
8. What kind of human activity caused almost 200 earthquakes in the English county of Lancaster between 2018 and 2019?
9. Volcanic earthquakes are usually caused by the movement of what beneath the Earth’s surface?
10. Which European country sits right on the boundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate?

Round 4: Medium Earthquake Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Which US state has the most earthquakes? Alaska
2. What is the term for an earthquake caused by human activity? An induced earthquake
3. What is the smallest tectonic plate in the world? Juan de Fuca Plate
4. As well as accounting for around 90% of all earthquakes, the ‘Ring of Fire’ is home to roughly 75% of the world’s what? Volcanoes 
5. What is the term for an earthquake that occurs before a larger seismic event? Foreshock 
6. The epicentre of the 1994 Northridge earthquake was just outside which major US city? Los Angeles
7. What is another name given to the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960? 1960 Valdivia earthquake 
8. What kind of human activity caused almost 200 earthquakes in the English county of Lancaster between 2018 and 2019? Fracking
9. Volcanic earthquakes are usually caused by the movement of what beneath the Earth’s surface? Magma
10. Which European country sits right on the boundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate? Iceland

Round 5: Hard Earthquake Trivia Questions

1. Who first first proposed the theory of tectonic plates?
2. Though Englishamn John Milne is usually credited with inventing the seismograph, early versions were developed as early as 130 AD by inventors in which country?
3. The two strongest earthquakes on record both happened in which decade?
4. What is the term for an area where a portion of a tectonic plate sinks below another tectonic plate?
5. Which European capital city was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1755?
6. Which type of traditional East-Asian building is specifically shaped to withstand earthquakes?
7. What is the scientific name for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake?
8. Though the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and ensuing fire destroyed most of the city, it did put a stop to the devastating outbreak of which disease?
9. Which California city calls itself the ‘earthquake capital of the world’ and has a bridge spanning two tectonic plates?
10. Which earthquake caused the largest number of geohazards ever recorded?

Round 5: Hard Earthquake Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Who first first proposed the theory of tectonic plates? Alfred Wegener
2. Though Englishamn John Milne is usually credited with inventing the seismograph, early versions were developed as early as 130 AD by inventors in which country? China 
3. The two strongest earthquakes on record both happened in which decade? 1960
4. What is the term for an area where a portion of a tectonic plate sinks below another tectonic plate? A subduction zone
5. Which European capital city was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1755? Lisbon
6. Which type of traditional East-Asian building is specifically shaped to withstand earthquakes? Pagodas 
7. What is the scientific name for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake? Sumatra-Andaman earthquake
8. Though the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and ensuing fire destroyed most of the city, it did put a stop to the devastating outbreak of which disease? Bubonic Plague
9. Which California city calls itself the ‘earthquake capital of the world’ and has a bridge spanning two tectonic plates? Parkfield
10. Which earthquake caused the largest number of geohazards ever recorded? The 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

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