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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > Science

Quiz Volcanoes Practice Test

Boost your volcano know-how with quiz practice

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 6
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art depicting erupting volcano for high school Earth science trivia quiz

What is a volcano?
A mountain formed only by sedimentary rock
A river that flows with lava
A large underground cave
A vent in the Earth's crust where magma reaches the surface
A volcano is essentially a vent in the Earth's crust through which magma, ash, and gases are expelled during eruptions. Its formation is driven by tectonic processes and internal heat from the Earth.
What is lava?
Molten rock that has reached the Earth's surface
A type of volcanic rock formed under pressure
Solidified volcanic ash
Deep underground magma
Lava is molten rock that erupts onto the Earth's surface and flows as a liquid. Once cooled, it solidifies to form new rock.
What is a crater in a volcano?
The flowing stream of lava
The ash cloud produced during an eruption
The bowl-shaped depression at the top of a volcano
The underground reservoir of magma
The crater is the hollow, bowl-shaped top of a volcano, formed by explosive eruptions or collapses. It is a key feature used to identify and study volcanoes.
Which gas released during a volcanic eruption contributes to acid rain?
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen
Carbon monoxide
Helium
Sulfur dioxide reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, a major component of acid rain. This process has significant environmental impacts near volcanic regions.
How are volcanic eruptions typically classified?
By the time of day they occur
By the color of the lava
By their explosivity using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI)
By the size of the volcano's base
The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is a scale that measures the explosiveness of volcanic eruptions based on factors like erupted volume and eruption cloud height. This classification helps in comparing and understanding different eruptions.
What factor most influences whether a volcanic eruption is explosive or effusive?
Volcano altitude
Wind speed
Magma viscosity
Ambient temperature
Magma viscosity determines the ease with which gases can escape from magma. High-viscosity magma traps gases, leading to explosive eruptions, whereas low-viscosity magma tends to flow easily and results in effusive eruptions.
Which type of volcano is characterized by gentle slopes and primarily basaltic lava flows?
Caldera
Cinder cone
Stratovolcano
Shield volcano
Shield volcanoes have broad, gentle slopes due to the low-viscosity basaltic lava that flows readily. This lava covers large areas, creating wide, gently sloping landforms.
What is a pyroclastic flow?
A layer of solidified lava
A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter
A slow, lava flow
A cloud of volcanic gas only
A pyroclastic flow is a deadly and fast-moving current composed of hot gas, ash, and volcanic debris. It travels downhill rapidly and can destroy everything in its path.
How does the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) classify eruptions?
By the height of the volcano
By eruption duration only
By the chemical composition of the magma
By volume of erupted materials and eruption characteristics
The VEI measures the explosiveness of eruptions based on the volume of erupted material and other physical features of the eruption. This index helps categorize eruptions from gentle to highly explosive.
Which type of volcanic rock is typically associated with highly explosive eruptions?
Diorite
Basalt
Pumice
Rhyolite
Rhyolite is a high-silica volcanic rock that results from highly viscous magma. Its increased viscosity traps gases, leading to a pressure buildup that can cause violent, explosive eruptions.
How do volcanic ash clouds affect aviation?
They help aircraft cool down
They improve aircraft lift
They offer no significant hazard
They can damage aircraft engines and reduce visibility
Volcanic ash clouds are hazardous to aircraft because the ash can damage engines, obscure visibility, and scratch aircraft surfaces. This makes flying in ash-laden air extremely dangerous.
Which tectonic setting is most commonly associated with explosive volcanoes?
Transform faults
Continental rift zones
Subduction zones
Mid-ocean ridges
Explosive volcanoes frequently form in subduction zones where an oceanic plate sinks beneath a continental plate, leading to the production of viscous magma. This setting favors the buildup of gases and pressure, which can result in explosive eruptions.
What role does ground deformation play in volcanic eruption prediction?
It indicates magma movement beneath the surface
It measures the amount of volcanic ash
It determines the volcano's age
It is used to calculate wind speed
Ground deformation, such as swelling or subsidence, is a sign that magma is moving beneath the surface. Monitoring these changes helps scientists predict potential volcanic eruptions.
How can volcanic gases contribute to climate change?
Only water vapor affects climate
All volcanic gases cause cooling
Volcanic gases have no effect on climate
Sulfur dioxide can lead to cooling by reflecting sunlight, while carbon dioxide contributes to warming
Sulfur dioxide from eruptions forms sulfate aerosols that reflect sunlight and can temporarily cool the Earth. Conversely, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to warming over longer periods.
What is the main difference between effusive and explosive eruptions?
Effusive eruptions are always accompanied by earthquakes
Effusive eruptions produce steady lava flows, while explosive eruptions generate violent explosions with ash and pyroclastics
Explosive eruptions produce lava flows
They are identical phenomena
Effusive eruptions are characterized by the gentle outpouring of lava, whereas explosive eruptions involve rapid, violent explosions that eject ash and debris. This difference is primarily due to the viscosity and gas content of the magma.
Which process is most directly responsible for the buildup of pressure leading to an explosive volcanic eruption?
Wind erosion of the volcano
Cooling of the magma
Tectonic plate movement alone
Magma degassing within a sealed magma chamber
Trapped gases within a confined magma chamber lead to pressure buildup as the magma ascends. When this pressure exceeds the strength of the overlying rock, an explosive eruption can occur.
Why are caldera-forming eruptions considered among the most catastrophic volcanic events?
They are induced by meteor impacts
They produce only lava flows
They occur exclusively under the sea
They involve the collapse of the magma chamber roof after a massive eruption, releasing enormous volumes of ash and gases
Caldera-forming eruptions cause the collapse of the volcano's summit, leading to the formation of a large depression. The scale of the eruption results in the ejection of vast amounts of ash and gases, with significant environmental repercussions.
How does the silica content of magma influence the style of volcanic eruption?
It has no impact on eruption style
Higher silica content reduces viscosity, causing gentler eruptions
Silica content only affects the color of lava
Higher silica content increases magma viscosity, typically leading to explosive eruptions
Magma with high silica content is more viscous, meaning it flows less easily and can trap gases more readily. This trapped gas can lead to increased pressure and more violent, explosive eruptions.
In volcanic hazard assessment, why is the study of tephra layers important?
They indicate recent earthquake activity
Tephra layers provide a record of past eruptions, helping to infer eruption frequency and magnitude
They measure current lava temperatures
Tephra layers are used solely for mining minerals
Deposits of tephra are layered records that correspond to individual eruptive events. Analyzing these layers helps geologists understand the history and potential future behavior of a volcano.
Which instrument is most commonly used to detect seismic activity associated with magma movement inside a volcano?
Seismometer
Thermometer
Barometer
Anemometer
Seismometers are used to measure and record the vibrations and earthquakes related to volcanic activity. Increased seismic activity can indicate that magma is moving beneath the surface, serving as a warning sign of an impending eruption.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the basic structure and classification of volcanoes.
  2. Analyze eruptive processes and distinguish between different types of eruptions.
  3. Interpret geological evidence to predict volcanic behavior.
  4. Evaluate the environmental and societal impacts of volcanic eruptions.
  5. Apply critical thinking to assess volcanic hazards and risks.

Volcanoes Quiz: Exam Review Cheat Sheet

  1. Master the 3 eruption types - Magmatic eruptions bubble up as dissolved gases exsolve from rising magma, phreatic eruptions blast superheated steam without new lava, and phreatomagmatic eruptions spark when magma meets water in a sudden steam‑driven showdown. Grasping these differences will help you predict how wild an eruption can get. Volcanic eruption
  2. Get to know the VEI scale - The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) rates eruptions from 0 (gentle puffs) to 8 (world‑shattering blasts). Each step up multiplies the eruption's power by ten, turning a mellow lava flow into an apocalyptic plume. Volcanic Explosivity Index
  3. Decode volcanic gases - Volcanoes exhale mostly water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and sulfur compounds like SO₂ and H₂S, and these gases dictate how explosive an eruption can be. They also shape the surrounding environment, from acid rain to climate impacts. Volcanic gas
  4. Link plates to eruptions - Divergent boundaries let magma rise as plates pull apart, while convergent boundaries shove one plate under another to forge volcanic arcs. Mapping these zones is like tracing the Earth's restless seams. Volcano
  5. Spot the 4 volcano shapes - Shield volcanoes spread broad lava flows, composite (stratovolcano) peaks stack ash and lava, cinder cones pile up fiery fragments, and lava domes ooze thick, pasty magma. Each shape tells a story about past eruptions. Volcano
  6. Viscosity vs. eruption style - Low‑viscosity magma flows easily for gentle, effusive eruptions, while high‑viscosity magma plugs up the vent until it blows sky‑high with pyroclastic fury. Think of it as the difference between honey and toothpaste under pressure. Volcanic eruption
  7. Beware pyroclastic flows - These blistering avalanches of hot gas, ash, and rock can roar down a volcano's flanks at hundreds of km/h, obliterating almost everything in their path. Learning their triggers is key to staying safe. Pyroclastic flow
  8. Explore caldera formation - After a mega‑eruption empties a magma chamber, the ground above can collapse into a huge, sunken crater called a caldera. Famous examples like Yellowstone remind us of nature's scale. Caldera
  9. Track environmental impacts - Volcanic ash and gases can smother air quality, disrupt aviation, and even trigger temporary global cooling by blocking sunlight. Studying past events helps forecast future climate surprises. Volcanic gas
  10. Plan for volcanic hazards - Know evacuation routes, heed monitoring alerts, and watch for warning signs like earthquakes and gas emissions. A little prep can keep you safe when the Earth decides to roar. Volcanic hazard
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