20+ Earthquake MCQs – General Science – for Upcoming Exams in 2026
According to NASA.gov, an earthquake is defined as _____.
Correct Answer: An intense shaking of Earth’s surface
An earthquake means a sudden and intense shaking of the Earth’s surface caused by the rapid release of energy within the Earth.
There are ____ commonly identified major causes of earthquakes.
Correct Answer: Five
Major causes of earthquakes are the main natural or human-related factors responsible for producing seismic vibrations, and five such causes are identified.
The first major cause of earthquakes is _____.
Correct Answer: Elastic Rebound Theory
Elastic Rebound Theory explains earthquakes as the sudden release of stored energy in rocks when stress exceeds their strength.
Elastic Rebound Theory was proposed by ___________.
Correct Answer: Henry Fielding Reid
Elastic Rebound Theory was proposed by Henry Fielding Reid to explain earthquakes caused by stress accumulation and sudden release along faults.
The second major cause of earthquakes is:
Correct Answer: Plate Tectonics Theory
Plate Tectonics Theory explains earthquakes through the movement and collision of large plates of the Earth’s crust.
A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rocks on Earth’s surface is called _____.
Correct Answer: Fault
A fault is a break or crack in the Earth’s crust along which rocks move, commonly producing earthquakes.
The third major cause of earthquakes is ______.
Correct Answer: Volcanic Activity
Volcanic activity involves the movement of magma and gases beneath the Earth’s surface, which can trigger earthquakes.
Iso-Static balance is the -____.
Correct Answer: Balance between Earth’s crust and mantle
Iso-static balance refers to the state of equilibrium between the Earth’s crust and the mantle beneath it.
The fourth major cause of earthquakes is ______.
Correct Answer: Iso-Static Balance
Iso-static balance involves crustal adjustment due to erosion or deposition, and its disturbance may cause earthquakes.
Other causes of earthquakes include ________.
Correct Answer: Dams, land sliding, and atomic bomb explosions
Other causes of earthquakes include additional natural or human-induced factors such as dam construction, landslides, and atomic explosions.
The location where an earthquake begins is called the ______.
Correct Answer: Epicenter
Epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above where an earthquake starts.
The point inside the Earth where an earthquake originates is called the ______.
Correct Answer: Hypocenter
Hypocenter (focus) is the actual point beneath the Earth’s surface where an earthquake originates.
Which seismic waves are the fastest and arrive first at a seismic station?
Correct Answer: P waves
P waves are the fastest seismic waves and are the first to reach a seismic station.
Which seismic waves travel only through solids and arrive after P waves?
Correct Answer: S waves
S waves travel only through solid materials and arrive after P waves.
Rayleigh waves are _____.
Correct Answer: Surface waves
Rayleigh waves are surface seismic waves that move in a rolling motion.
Side-to-side horizontal movement occurs in _________.
Correct Answer: Love waves
Love waves move the ground horizontally from side to side.
The scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake is the _____.
Correct Answer: Richter Scale
The Richter Scale measures the magnitude or energy released by an earthquake.
The energy from an earthquake travels through the Earth in vibrations called _____.
Correct Answer: Seismic waves
Seismic waves carry earthquake energy through the Earth.
Earthquake is recorded by an instrument called _____.
Correct Answer: Seismographs
A seismograph records vibrations produced by earthquakes.
The recording made by a seismograph is called a _____.
Correct Answer: Seismogram
A seismogram is the graphical record of ground motion during an earthquake.
The size of an earthquake is called its ______.
Correct Answer: Magnitude
Magnitude is the measurement of the total energy released at the source of an earthquake.
The worst earthquake in Pakistan’s history occurred in _____.
Correct Answer: 2005
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was the most devastating earthquake in Pakistan’s history.
The worst earthquake in world history occurred in _____.
Correct Answer: Chile (1960)
The 1960 Chile earthquake was the strongest ever recorded, with a magnitude of 9.5.