Q 01/05

In which US state is Mount St. Helens?

A) Washington

B) Oregon

C) California

D) Alaska

Answer · why

A) Washington

It sits in Skamania County, about 52 miles north-east of Portland and 98 miles south of Seattle.

Q 02/05

On which day of the week did the 1980 eruption happen, sparing loggers from the blast zone?

A) Sunday

B) Monday

C) Friday

D) Wednesday

Answer · why

A) Sunday

Had it come a day later, the death toll could have been much higher.

Q 03/05

How many people were killed by the 1980 eruption?

A) 57

B) 88

C) 157

D) 500

Answer · why

A) 57

Because it happened on a weekend, loggers were not at work in the blast zone; the toll could otherwise have been far higher.

Q 04/05

What was the magnitude of the earthquake that triggered the collapse of the mountain's north face?

A) 5.1

B) 5.9

C) 6.8

D) 7.4

Answer · why

A) 5.1

It struck at 8:32 am and set off the largest debris avalanche in recorded history.

Q 05/05

By roughly how much did the eruption reduce the height of the summit?

A) About 1,300 feet

B) About 300 feet

C) About 130 feet

D) About 3,000 feet

Answer · why

A) About 1,300 feet

The peak went from 9,677 to 8,363 feet, leaving a crater open to the north.