5. which statement best describes the richter scale? a. it's named after a scientist who studied tornadoes. b. it's a test given to all geologists. c. it's a numerical rating system that measures the largest seismic waves during an earthquake. d. it's a numerical system that measures the smallest seismic waves during an earthquake.

The correct option is this: IT IS A NUMERICAL RATING SYSTEM THAT MEASURES THE LARGEST SEISMIC WAVES DURING AN EARTHQUAKE.
The scale was developed by two scientists named Charles Richter and Beno Gutenberg in 1935. Richter scale is used to measure earthquake magnitude; this is done by measuring the logarithm of the height of the largest wave using seismograph, which has been calibrated to a suitable scale.

The answer is c) people evacuated but almost all returned