Which of the following is an example of a secondary effect?

• A. Ground shaking
• B. Landslide
• C. Death
• D. Road/bridge destruction

Answer: (B)

Secondary effects are impacts that happen as a consequence of the initial earthquake shaking, not the shaking itself. Ground shaking is a primary effect—the immediate movement of the ground. Landslides fit best as a secondary effect because the seismic shaking can destabilize slopes and trigger slides or rockfalls, occurring as a result of the earthquake rather than being the movement itself. Death is an outcome that can result from the earthquake's effects, but it’s not a process like a landslide. Road or bridge destruction is typically caused by the forces of the ground shaking itself, so it’s also more of a primary effect.