Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
1) Locations where volcanoes form far from plate boundaries are called .
Correct Answer
hot spots
2) Today, people are never killed by volcanic eruptions.
True
False
Correct Answer
False
3) Which of the following is NOT studied by geologists to predict volcanic eruptions?
A) ground deformation
B) earthquake swarms
C) change in shape of the volcano
D) animal behavior
Correct Answer
D) animal behavior
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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
4) Which statement accurately describes a pyroclastic flow?
A) Pyroclastic
flows move at speeds of more than 100 km/hr and have temperatures
over 1,000°C.
B) Pyroclastic
flows occur when the snow and ice of the summit are melted and mix
with the ash and mud on the mountain.
C) Pyroclastic flows move very slowly, and are rarely deadly.
D) Pyroclastic flows move very quickly but are relatively cool.
Correct Answer
A) Pyroclastic flows move at speeds of more than 100 km/hr and have temperatures over
1,000°C.
5) How many volcanoes erupt each year, on average.
A) less than 5
B) around 20
C) around 60
D) more than 100
Correct Answer
C) around 60
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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
6) The Hawaiian Islands are examples of volcanoes that are associated with a _______.
A) convergent plate boundary
B) divergent plate boundary
C) transform plate boundary
D) hot spot
Correct Answer
D) hot spot
7) A ____ often forms a mountain when layers of lava and volcanic ash erupt and build up.
A) caldera
B) volcano
C) dike
D) batholith
Correct Answer
B) volcano
8) Ash, lava, and erupt from the crater of a volcano.
Correct Answer
gases
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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
9) If lava from volcanoes moves slowly enough that people can get away from it, why are
volcanoes dangerous?
Correct Answer
Answers may vary.
Explanation
Volcanoes also spew smoke, steam, ash, cinders, and gas. The gas can be deadly. The ash
and cinders can be hot enough to start fires and thick enough to bury houses and fields and
suffocate people.
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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
10) Mount St. Helens is a volcano in the state of Washington. One way scientists monitor
volcanoes is by using a tool, called a seismometer, on the volcano that measures the
strength of earthquakes. In addition, visual observations are frequently made of Mount St.
Helens. The table lists data about Mount St. Helens recorded over several months in
1980.
Explain why this type of data can be used by scientists to predict volcanic eruptions.
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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
Correct Answer
Answers may vary.
Explanation
This information can be used to predict future volcanic eruptions because certain geologic
events often come before eruptions, including an increase in earthquake frequency and
magnitude, landslides, and the presence of ash clouds.
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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
11) Students conducted research on volcanoes to learn about typical signs of potential
volcanic eruptions. Based on their research, they created the data table below. Then they
asked some of their classmates to use this information to predict which volcano listed in
the table is most likely to erupt next.
Their classmates make the following predictions:
Caeley predicts Volcano 1 will erupt next.
Justine predicts Volcano 2 will erupt next.
Renée predicts Volcano 3 will erupt next.
Angela predicts Volcano 4 will erupt next.
Whose prediction is supported by the data?
A) Caeley’s, because Volcano 1 has the most intense seismic activity.
Rationale: Volcano 1 has infrequent earthquakes and no ground swelling; so, it will
probably not erupt first.
B) Justine’s,
because Volcano 2 has more than one piece of evidence of change in
activity.
Rationale: Volcano 2 shows many of the signs that scientists analyze before an
eruption. It is likely that since it has been a long time since the volcano erupted
(300 years ago), pressure has been building up in the crust. The ground swelling,
increasing earthquakes, and vapor being emitted are all signs that the pressure is
starting to be released.
C) Renee’s, because Volcano 3 erupted most recently.
Rationale: Volcano 3 has fewer observations signaling an impending eruption. The
earthquakes are not increasing in frequency and no vapors are detected. It is likely
that since it erupted in recent history (50 years ago), there has not been time to
build up any pressure in the crust.
D) Angela’s, because Volcano 4 shows the fewest signs of normal volcanic activity.
Rationale: The lack of observable changes indicates that the volcano is dormant,
not soon to erupt.
Correct Answer
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Lesson Check: Volcano Risks
B) Justine’s, because Volcano 2 has more than one piece of evidence of change in
activity.
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Constructed-Response Rubric
PE: MS-ESS3-2: Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the
development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
Level of
Evidence of Understanding
Understanding
Student response provides clear evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense
Demonstrating of scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems. Student is able to:
3 Expected
Understanding • draw two diagrams that represent two ways that the interactions of a light
wave with a piece of cardboard are similar to the interactions of a sound wave
with a piece of cardboard and one way that the interactions are different.
Student response provides partial evidence of using the dimensions* to make
2 Progressing sense of scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems. The
toward response lacks some critical information and details or contains some errors.
Understanding Student is able to:
▪ explain how this type of data can be used by scientists to predict volcanic
eruptions.
Beginning to Student response is incomplete or provides minimal evidence of using the
1 Develop dimensions* to make sense of scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions
Understanding to problems.
Student does not respond or student response is inaccurate, irrelevant, or
Not Showing
0 contains insufficient evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense of scientific
Understanding
phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems.
*As outlined in the Performance Expectations (PE) of the NGSS, the three dimensions are the disciplinary core ideas (DCI), science and
engineering practices (SEP), and crosscutting concepts (CCC). Note that due to the complexity of the PEs, individual assessment items
may not address all three dimensions.
Scoring Notes:
Possible answers include:
This information can be used to predict future volcanic eruptions because certain geologic events often come
before eruptions, including an increase in earthquake frequency and magnitude, landslides, and the presence
of ash clouds.
© Measured Progress. Reproduced with permission.
