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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. After being hosed down, how long does it take for red-hot lava to turn black?

2. How tall does the erupting volcano in Heimaey grow to above sea level?

3. What does Magnus Magnusson tell Thorbjorn Sigurgeirsson to protect first during the eruptions of 1973?

4. When the author walks the streets of Iceland's Heimaey years after the 1973 eruption, what does he see?

5. What does the author observe about historical attempts to control lava?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Heimaey's harbor altered after the eruptions and lava flows of 1973?

2. Describe how workers are able to walk upon lava fields as they try to cool down the lava on Heimaey in 1973.

3. What is the population of Iceland's Heimaey before and after the 1973 eruptions?

4. Describe how Heimaey residents are evacuated following the eruptions that begin unexpectedly in 1973.

5. How do the views of Hawaiian natives towards volcanoes differ from the views of the U.S. Army Air Corps?

6. What is the "City Flow?"

7. Describe work crews' first attempts at cooling off the lava flows of Heimaey in 1973.

8. Is there any warning prior to the eruption in Heimaey that began on January 23, 1973?

9. How do the working crews stop the large chunk of mountain from crashing into Heimaey's town and port?

10. Describe what happens to the north side of the growing volcano on Heimaey.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In detail, explain how carefully studying the geological history of a region before engineering a project could lead to more effective, efficient, and lasting solutions. What other factors do people need to consider to come up with better solutions? What factors get in the way of developing a viable solution? How can engineers, politicians, conservationists, and residents work together to develop the right solutions?

Essay Topic 2

1. Why do people begin to settle in the Atchafalaya-Mississippi region? How do these communities go from being small settlements to large cities that support many important industries?

2. What brings newcomers to the Los Angeles County region where the coastal plains meet the mountains? How do the communities in this region grow and transform over time?

3. Keeping in mind the costs and resources involved, do you feel that protecting the communities in southern Louisiana and in southern California is worthwhile? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, the author discusses people who try to control nature as well as people who respect nature and choose to live with it instead of working against it. Compare and contrast these two groups of people using specific examples from each section.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 945 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample