Lesson Y8-U01-L08

Living with Earthquakes: Japan and Tōhoku, 2011 Quiz: KS3 Geography, Unit 7

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson Y8-U01-L08, Living with Earthquakes: Japan and Tōhoku, 2011: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Geography (National Curriculum), Unit 7: Year 8: Restless Earth: Tectonic Hazards, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is a tsunami?

    • Severe mountain avalanche
    • Underground magma flow
    • High atmospheric wind
    • Large sea wave

  2. What primary warning system in Japan gives seconds of notice before tremors strike?

    • Earthquake Early Warning
    • Seismic Radar Grid
    • Tectonic Alarm System
    • Tremor Siren Network

  3. What is the Pacific Ring of Fire known for?

    • Ice sheet formation
    • Desert sand dunes
    • Calm stable plains
    • Volcano and earthquake zone

  4. Which large ocean lies to the east of Japan?

    • The Pacific Ocean
    • The Atlantic Ocean
    • The Arctic Ocean
    • The Indian Ocean

  5. Which tectonic plate was pushed beneath Japan during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake?

    • The Eurasian Plate
    • The Nazca Plate
    • The Indian Plate
    • The Pacific Plate

  6. What was the magnitude of the Tōhoku earthquake on 11 March 2011?

    • 6.3
    • 8.0
    • 7.8
    • 9.0

  7. What was the approximate death toll of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami?

    • About 8,900
    • About 18,500
    • About 1,850
    • About 185,000

  8. Which nuclear power station was affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan?

    • Fukushima
    • Chernobyl
    • Sellafield
    • Three Mile Island

  9. What type of scale is used to measure earthquake magnitude?

    • Logarithmic scale
    • Linear scale
    • Balanced scale
    • Categorical scale

  10. A tsunami wave reached 40 metres in places. Which type of factor is this?

    • Human
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Economic

  11. A nuclear power station on a coast was damaged in the disaster. Which type of factor is this?

    • Geological
    • Physical
    • Human
    • Climatic

  12. What triggered the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami?

    • Severe tropical hurricane
    • Massive coastal landslide
    • Undersea plate slip
    • Underwater volcanic eruption

  13. What was the main cause of death during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake?

    • Building collapse
    • Volcanic ash
    • Tsunami waves
    • Landslides

  14. What happened to coastal sea walls during the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami?

    • Overtopped by waves
    • Sunk into sand
    • Blown by wind
    • Melted by lava

  15. Which tectonic plate boundary caused the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake?

    • Destructive boundary
    • Conservative boundary
    • Continental rift
    • Constructive boundary

  16. Why can a wealthy country still suffer deaths from a natural hazard?

    • Buildings never break
    • Wealth blocks waves
    • Hazard scale matters
    • Money stops shaking

  17. What factor measures how exposed and prepared a population is to a hazard?

    • Frequency
    • Vulnerability
    • Magnitude
    • Epicentre

  18. How effective were earthquake drills and sea walls in Japan in 2011?

    • Increased shaking
    • Caused total failure
    • Saved many lives
    • Had no effect

  19. What was a major human vulnerability factor during the 2015 Nepal earthquake?

    • Advanced nuclear meltdowns
    • Massive coastal tsunamis
    • High-rise storm surges
    • Weak building structures

  20. Which secondary hazard compounded the disaster at Fukushima in 2011?

    • Severe wildfire
    • Nuclear risk
    • Tropical cyclone
    • Widespread famine

All KS3 Geography quizzes