Question 1

The basic sequence within a lightning flash includes all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Static electricity builds up within the lower thundercloud and induces identical-polarity charges on the ground.
B)  Discharge begins within the cloud and initiates a dimly visible,negatively charged stream of electrons propagating downward.
C)  The conductive stream moves earthward in 50-meter jumps as a stepped leader;as the stepped leader nears the ground,the electric field at the surface increases greatly,shooting streamers of positive sparks upward and connecting with the stepped leader about 50 meters above ground.
D)  The connection initiates the return stroke,sending positive charges up to the cloud with a brilliant flash;more lightning strokes occur as charges flow between the cloud and the earth.
E)  All of the choices are correct.F) D) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 2

Thunderstorms occur where warm,moist air has absorbed enough heat and moisture to be significantly ____________ than the surrounding air.

Accepted Answer

A)  less dense
B)  denser
C)  less energetic
D)  drier
E)  None of these are correct.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

The state in the United States with the most days (often more than 100) of thunderstorms in a typical year is ______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas
B)  Florida
C)  Illinois
D)  Indiana
E)  OhioF) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 4

In the United States,more lightning deaths occur in _______ than any other state.

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas
B)  Florida
C)  Illinois
D)  Indiana
E)  OhioF) B) and C)
G) B) and D)

Question 5

Which of the following types of severe weather results in the highest average annual death toll in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  Heat
B)  Cold
C)  Tornado
D)  Hurricane
E)  LightningF) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 6

A widespread,powerful wind storm with straight-line winds is referred to as a ________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  tornado
B)  hurricane
C)  typhoon
D)  cyclone
E)  derechoF) C) and E)
G) A) and E) E

Question 7

Thunder is caused by ____________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the compression of free neutrons in the lightning bolt
B)  the compression of free photons in the lightning bolt
C)  the compression of free electrons in the lightning bolt
D)  the combustion of flammable atmospheric gases by the lightning bolt
E)  high temperatures of lightning that flash heat the surrounding air,causing it to expand explosivelyF) A) and B)
G) All of the above E

Question 8

The "White Hurricane" of 1993 was an immense winter cyclone that covered the eastern United States,causing $800 million in damage and 238 deaths.The hardest hit area was ______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  New York
B)  Pennsylvania
C)  Florida
D)  Ohio
E)  MaineF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 9

Conditions necessary to turn an ordinary thunderstorm into a tornado-spinning monster include _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a low-altitude,northerly flow of warm,humid,tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico
B)  a cold,dry air mass moving down from Canada or out of the Rocky Mountains at > 50 mph
C)  jet-stream winds racing east at speeds in excess of 150 mph
D)  All of the choices are correct.
E)  a low-altitude,northerly flow of warm,humid,tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico and a cold,dry air mass moving down from Canada or out of the Rocky Mountains at > 50 mph onlyF) C) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 10

The inside of a tornado funnel has ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  high atmospheric pressure
B)  normal atmospheric pressure
C)  low atmospheric pressure
D)  Atmospheric pressure that could be high atmospheric pressure,normal atmospheric pressure,or low atmospheric pressure
E)  totally unknown atmospheric pressure characteristicsF) C) and E)
G) A) and B) C

Question 11

Tornadoes preferentially kill all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  infants
B)  old people
C)  mobile-home residents
D)  occupants of exterior rooms with windows
E)  those unaware of broadcast tornado alertsF) All of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 12

The highest wind speeds of any weather phenomenon occur in ________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  tornadoes
B)  hurricanes
C)  typhoons
D)  cyclones
E)  derechosF) B) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 13

Important requirements for hail to form are _______________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  large thunderstorms with buoyant hot air rising from heated ground
B)  upper-level cold air creating maximum temperature contrasts
C)  strong updrafts to keep hailstones suspended while adding coatings of ice onto ever-growing cores
D)  All of these are correct.
E)  None of these are correct.F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 14

In the United States,the average yearly deaths from tornadoes _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  are greater than any other type of severe weather
B)  are more than five times greater than yearly deaths from lightning
C)  are about the same as yearly deaths from lightning
D)  are more than five times greater than yearly deaths from floods
E)  are about the same as yearly deaths from floodsF) C) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 15

Many of the United States' and world record rainfalls in the 1- to 24-hour range were established during thunderstorms in ______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas
B)  Florida
C)  Illinois
D)  Indiana
E)  OhioF) A) and E)
G) D) and E)

Question 16

The main destructive actions of tornadoes include all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  High-wind speeds blow away buildings and trees.
B)  Winds rushing up the funnel have a lifting force in the updraft.
C)  An explosive situation exists because of the differences in air pressure between the very low pressure inside a tornado funnel and the higher pressures outside it.
D)  A strong high-pressure zone in the center blows buildings apart.
E)  All of the choices are correct.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 17

The Great Plains region of the central United States plays host to about ______ percent of the tornadoes that occur on Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)  70
B)  10
C)  95
D)  50
E)  25F) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 18

Severe weather causes about _______ of the yearly deaths and damages from natural disasters.

Accepted Answer

A)  5%
B)  10%
C)  35%
D)  60%
E)  75%F) None of the above
G) A) and C)

Question 19

Much of the midlatitude severe weather in the Northern Hemisphere occurs via cyclones: air masses rotating _________________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  clockwise about a high-pressure core
B)  counterclockwise about a high-pressure core
C)  clockwise about a low-pressure core
D)  counterclockwise about a low-pressure core
E)  None of these are correct.F) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 20

In the United States,total deaths from lightning per decade have _________________ since the 1940s.

Accepted Answer

A)  been increasing steadily
B)  been decreasing steadily
C)  remained about the same
D)  fluctuated widely
E)  been insignificantF) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Exam 10: Tornadoes, Lightning, Heat, and Cold

The basic sequence within a lightning flash includes all but which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Thunderstorms occur where warm,moist air has absorbed enough heat and moisture to be significantly ____________ than the surrounding air.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The state in the United States with the most days (often more than 100) of thunderstorms in a typical year is ______________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the United States,more lightning deaths occur in _______ than any other state.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following types of severe weather results in the highest average annual death toll in the United States?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A widespread,powerful wind storm with straight-line winds is referred to as a ________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedE

Thunder is caused by ____________________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedE

The "White Hurricane" of 1993 was an immense winter cyclone that covered the eastern United States,causing $800 million in damage and 238 deaths.The hardest hit area was ______________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Conditions necessary to turn an ordinary thunderstorm into a tornado-spinning monster include _______________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The inside of a tornado funnel has ____________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Tornadoes preferentially kill all but which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The highest wind speeds of any weather phenomenon occur in ________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Important requirements for hail to form are _______________________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the United States,the average yearly deaths from tornadoes _________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Many of the United States' and world record rainfalls in the 1- to 24-hour range were established during thunderstorms in ______________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The main destructive actions of tornadoes include all but which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Great Plains region of the central United States plays host to about ______ percent of the tornadoes that occur on Earth.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Severe weather causes about _______ of the yearly deaths and damages from natural disasters.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Much of the midlatitude severe weather in the Northern Hemisphere occurs via cyclones: air masses rotating _________________________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the United States,total deaths from lightning per decade have _________________ since the 1940s.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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