25 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) along with their answers on the topics of glaciers and avalanches:




1. What is a glacier?

   a) A large body of flowing water

   b) A large mass of snow and ice that moves slowly downhill

   c) A high-altitude lake

   d) A type of cloud formation


   Answer: b) A large mass of snow and ice that moves slowly downhill


2. What is the primary cause of glacier formation?

   a) Melting ice

   b) Accumulation of snow exceeding melting

   c) High temperatures

   d) Strong winds


   Answer: b) Accumulation of snow exceeding melting


3. What is an avalanche?

   a) A sudden increase in glacier movement

   b) A rapid flow of snow down a slope

   c) A type of glacial feature

   d) A glacier breaking apart


   Answer: b) A rapid flow of snow down a slope


4. Which of the following is not a type of glacier?

   a) Valley glacier

   b) Ice cap glacier

   c) Cirque glacier

   d) Mountain glacier


   Answer: d) Mountain glacier


5. Where are most glaciers found?

   a) Tropical regions

   b) Desert regions

   c) Polar regions

   d) Low-lying areas


   Answer: c) Polar regions


6. Which glacier is the largest in the world by area?

   a) Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland

   b) Lambert Glacier, Antarctica

   c) Jakobshavn Glacier, Greenland

   d) Columbia Glacier, Alaska


   Answer: b) Lambert Glacier, Antarctica


7. What is calving in terms of glaciers?

   a) The melting of glacier ice

   b) The accumulation of snow on a glacier

   c) The breaking off of icebergs from a glacier

   d) The formation of crevasses


   Answer: c) The breaking off of icebergs from a glacier


8. Which of the following is not a factor contributing to avalanches?

   a) Steep slopes

   b) Heavy snowfall

   c) Human activity

   d) Warm temperatures


   Answer: d) Warm temperatures


9. What is a slab avalanche?

   a) An avalanche triggered by a sudden collapse of a glacier

   b) An avalanche caused by a single point of failure

   c) An avalanche characterized by large blocks of snow sliding together

   d) An avalanche occurring in the springtime


   Answer: c) An avalanche characterized by large blocks of snow sliding together


10. What is the main cause of avalanche fatalities?

    a) Suffocation

    b) Hypothermia

    c) Trauma from impact

    d) Dehydration


    Answer: a) Suffocation


11. Which type of snow is most prone to causing avalanches?

    a) Wet snow

    b) Crystalline snow

    c) Compact snow

    d) Powder snow


    Answer: d) Powder snow


12. What is the angle range for slopes most prone to avalanches?

    a) 0-15 degrees

    b) 15-30 degrees

    c) 30-45 degrees

    d) 45-60 degrees


    Answer: c) 30-45 degrees


13. What is a cornice in relation to avalanches?

    a) A type of avalanche debris

    b) A formation of ice on a glacier

    c) A shelf of snow hanging over a slope

    d) A method of avalanche control


    Answer: c) A shelf of snow hanging over a slope


14. Which weather condition is associated with increased avalanche risk?

    a) Sunny and warm

    b) Cloudy and cold

    c) Windy and dry

    d) Snowing heavily


    Answer: d) Snowing heavily


15. What is a glide avalanche?

    a) An avalanche triggered by a person or animal

    b) An avalanche caused by glacial movement

    c) An avalanche that slides slowly over time

    d) An avalanche occurring during a glacier surge


    Answer: c) An avalanche that slides slowly over time


16. What is the most common trigger of avalanches?

    a) Earthquakes

    b) Human activity

    c) Wind

    d) Rainfall


    Answer: b) Human activity


17. Which of the following is not a recommended precaution for avalanche safety?

    a) Traveling alone

    b) Carrying avalanche safety equipment

    c) Avoiding steep slopes during high-risk periods

    d) Taking an avalanche safety course


    Answer: a) Traveling alone


18. What is a powder cloud in relation to avalanches?

    a) A type of avalanche debris

    b) A cloud formed by snowfall

    c) A cloud of snow particles formed during an avalanche

    d) A method of avalanche prediction


    Answer: c) A cloud of snow particles formed during an avalanche


19. What is a terrain trap in relation to avalanches?

    a) A location where avalanches are less likely to occur

    b) A location where avalanches are more likely to occur

    c) A feature that can amplify the consequences of an avalanche

    d) A type of avalanche formation


    Answer: c) A feature that can amplify the consequences of an avalanche


20. What is a slab in relation to avalanches?

    a) A type of glacier feature

    b) A layer of snow prone to sliding

    c) A method of avalanche mitigation

    d) A measurement of snow density


    Answer: b) A layer of snow prone to sliding


21. Which of the following is not a type of avalanche trigger?

    a) Explosives

    b) Skiers

    c) Animals

    d) Sunshine


    Answer: d) Sunshine


22. What is a glide crack in relation to avalanches?

    a) A crack in the glacier ice

    b) A crack in the snowpack indicating instability

    c) A type of avalanche formation

    d) A method of avalanche control


    Answer: b) A crack in the snowpack indicating instability


23. Which factor is not considered when assessing avalanche risk?

    a) Snowpack stability

    b) Weather conditions

    c) Terrain features

    d) Time of day


    Answer: d) Time of day


24. What is a crown in relation to avalanches?

    a) The top of a mountain peak

    b) The starting point of an avalanche

    c) A feature of glacier formation

    d) A method of avalanche measurement


    Answer: b) The starting point of an avalanche


25. What is a serac in relation to glaciers?

    a) A type of glacier formation

    b) A method of glacier measurement

    c) A crevasse

    d) A block or column of ice on a glacier


    Answer: d) A block or column of ice on a glacier


26. Which type of glacier moves the fastest?

    a) Valley glacier

    b) Ice cap glacier

    c) Piedmont glacier

    d) Tidewater