Name: ____________________________

Date: ___________________

Severe Weather Test

1. What do tornadoes and hurricanes have in common?
a. They both form over the ocean
b. They both involve strong winds
c. They are both types of tropical storms
d. They both include funnel-shaped clouds

2. What's the biggest danger posed by thunderstorms?

a. Being blown around by high winds
b. Being soaked by heavy rain
c. Being deafened by loud thunder
d. Being struck by lightning

3. What's the major difference between hurricanes and winter storms?

a. Hurricanes have high winds; winter storms don't
b. Blizzards can damage power lines; hurricanes can't
c. Winter storms are associated with extreme cold; hurricanes are tropical storms
d. Humans can die in blizzards, but not in hurricanes

4. What can you infer about tsunamis from their Japanese name?
a. They occur only in Japan
b. They do a lot of damage to harbors
c. They occur during monsoon season
d. No one understands where they come from

5. Which natural disaster has hit in this location?

a. A tornado
b. A tsunami
c. A hurricane
d. A drought

Name: ____________________________

Date: ___________________

6. Hurricanes, thunderstorms, and blizzards are all meteorological disasters. What does
"meteorological" mean?
a. Ocean-based
b. Caused by meteors
c. Related to the weather
d. Unpredictable

7. What is the most common cause of tsunamis?

a. Underwater earthquakes
b. Monsoon rains
c. Storm surges
d. Tropical cyclones

8. Which of the following would cause the greatest reduction of wildfires?

a. A decrease in lightning storms
b. An increase in rainfall
c. A decrease in average wind speed
d. Preventing people from visiting wildfire-prone areas

9. If a natural disaster resulted in your area being evacuated, what would you have to do?
a. Move to another area
b. Stay inside your house
c. Drink only bottled water
d. Go into a cellar or other underground area

10. Which of the following items is a key part of a ready kit?

a.

b.

c.

d.

Name: ____________________________

Date: ___________________

Answer Key
1. b. They both involve strong winds
2. d. Being struck by lightning
3. c. Winter storms are associated with extreme cold; hurricanes are tropical storms
4. b. They do a lot of damage to harbors
5. d. A drought
6. c. Related to the weather
7. a. Underwater earthquakes
8. d. Preventing people from visiting wildfire-prone areas
9. a. Move to another area
10. d. picture of batteries and flashlight