1. The author meets Barclay Kamb, a researcher living near the San Gabriel Mountains who studies:
(a) How animals and plants adapt to seasonal changes.
(b) Why people live in high-risk areas.
(c) The mountains' rate of erosion.
(d) The effects of debris basins on the environment.

2. What do people do with some of the rocks and boulders that roll down the San Gabriel Mountains?
(a) Build shrines around them.
(b) Use them for landscaping and construction.
(c) Sell them to other states.
(d) Draw murals on them.

3. During the 1973 volcanic eruptions, many farmers and fishermen leave Heimaey:
(a) For a day only.
(b) For the first time.
(c) Never to return.
(d) Against their will.

4. When the author visits Vestmannaeyjar, what does he notice?
(a) No polar bears are left.
(b) Few survived the flu epidemic.
(c) Steam still rises from the ground.
(d) Most residents have moved out.

5. The author learns that populations increased greatly in Southern California upon the arrival of what?
(a) Cargo ships.
(b) Railroads.
(c) Research facilities.
(d) Missionaries.

Short Answer Questions

1. At one point, Rabalais drives the author first to the Mississippi River and then to the Atchafalaya River, showing him that the Mississippi is 18 feet above sea level while the Atchafalaya is how many feet above sea level?

2. How far apart are the San Gabriel Mountain debris basins from each other?

3. On General Sand's floating conference boat, Oliver Houck is the only board member who is active in what?

4. The first debris basin in Southern California starts out as what?

5. Even though Hawaii's Hilo is often threatened by lava flows, Hilo has thus far been protected because:

(see the answer key)

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