Question 1

The process of Coal Liquefaction may be used to produce:

Accepted Answer

A)  a nonalcohol liquid fuel 
B)  bitumen 
C)  kerogens 
D)  gas hydrates 
E)  anhtracite 
A)  a nonalcohol liquid fuel 
B)  bitumen 
C)  kerogens 
D)  gas hydrates 
E)  anhtracite A

Question 2

Describe the restoration process that is required for the land as a result of surface mining of coal. Explain why this process might be more difficult in some areas because of differences in local climate, the sulfur content of the soil, and the extent of the vegetation and soil removed to mine the coal.

Accepted Answer

After the coal is mined, the overburden (soil, vegetation, and rock covering the coal) must be replaced and the surface must be restored to its original condition. In arid regions, water would be needed to get the vegetation to grow again, and this might increase the likelihood of acid drainage if there was a lot of sulfur in the coal. Regions with lots of rainfall would have to have drainage basins built to take the effluent from mine tailings away from the site.

Question 3

Which fossil fuel is most abundant in North America?

Accepted Answer

A)  oil 
B)  natural gas 
C)  uranium 
D)  coal 
E)  peat 
A)  oil 
B)  natural gas 
C)  uranium 
D)  coal 
E)  peat D

Question 4

In areas experiencing acid precipitation, the pH of the rain may be

Accepted Answer

A)  2.1 
B)  5.6 
C)  7.0 
D)  7.9 
E)  11.9 
A)  2.1 
B)  5.6 
C)  7.0 
D)  7.9 
E)  11.9

Question 5

What does the term "Peak Oil" refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  the time period during which the rate of oil use is highest 
B)  the point in time at which the maximum amount of oil is being pumped from underground 
C)  an environmentally friendly synthetic oil with much lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil 
D)  the time period during which oil refineries operate at their highest capacity 
E)  the time period during which international economies based on petroleum products arose 
A)  the time period during which the rate of oil use is highest 
B)  the point in time at which the maximum amount of oil is being pumped from underground 
C)  an environmentally friendly synthetic oil with much lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil 
D)  the time period during which oil refineries operate at their highest capacity 
E)  the time period during which international economies based on petroleum products arose

Question 6

Which of these fossil fuels was/were formed from the remains of ancient microscopic algae and aquatic organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  oil 
B)  natural gas 
C)  gas hydrates 
D)  methane 
E)  all of these 
A)  oil 
B)  natural gas 
C)  gas hydrates 
D)  methane 
E)  all of these

Question 7

How has the burning of fossil fuels affected the global carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Less carbon is stored underground 
B)  Carbon is stored underground for longer periods of time 
C)  The amount of carbon taken up by plants has decreased 
D)  The total amount of carbon on earth has increased 
E)  The carbon cycle has slowed down 
A)  Less carbon is stored underground 
B)  Carbon is stored underground for longer periods of time 
C)  The amount of carbon taken up by plants has decreased 
D)  The total amount of carbon on earth has increased 
E)  The carbon cycle has slowed down

Question 8

It is hypothesized that undiscovered large oil deposits are located

Accepted Answer

A)  below ocean basin trenches 
B)  under the continental shelves 
C)  in locations where natural gas will not be found 
D)  in the continental United States 
E)  in locations where volcanoes are common 
A)  below ocean basin trenches 
B)  under the continental shelves 
C)  in locations where natural gas will not be found 
D)  in the continental United States 
E)  in locations where volcanoes are common

Question 9

The concern about global warming is directly related to increased levels of what chemical in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  mercury 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  sulfur oxide 
D)  nitrogen oxide 
E)  chlorofluorocarbon 
A)  mercury 
B)  carbon dioxide 
C)  sulfur oxide 
D)  nitrogen oxide 
E)  chlorofluorocarbon

Question 10

Which of these statements about coal is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Some types of coal contain a lot of sulfur. 
B)  Subsurface mining accounts for about 40% of the coal mined in the U.S. 
C)  Coal powered the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution. 
D)  Coal produces far less SO2 than natural gas or oil. 
E)  Coal supplies about 20% of the energy used in the United States. 
A)  Some types of coal contain a lot of sulfur. 
B)  Subsurface mining accounts for about 40% of the coal mined in the U.S. 
C)  Coal powered the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution. 
D)  Coal produces far less SO2 than natural gas or oil. 
E)  Coal supplies about 20% of the energy used in the United States.

Question 11

Explain the fundamental misunderstanding about fossil fuels that is embedded in this quote: "If extinction is happening at a greater rate now, why is our supply of fossil fuels decreasing?" (Rep. Steve Pearce - R, New Mexico - at a hearing on the Endangered Species Act, 6/16/05)

Accepted Answer

Fossil fuels were formed many millions o

Question 12

The legislation that has regulated mining activities in the United States since 1977 is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Wilderness Act 
B)  Clean Water Act 
C)  Endangered Species Act 
D)  Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 
E)  Soil Conservation Service Act 
A)  Wilderness Act 
B)  Clean Water Act 
C)  Endangered Species Act 
D)  Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 
E)  Soil Conservation Service Act

Question 13

What is the current state of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology for use in coal power plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  CCS technology is ready to be implemented on a large scale 
B)  CCS technology is not yet ready for testing in power plants 
C)  CCS technology is being tested on a very small scale 
D)  CCS technology has been tested many times and was found to be inadequate for meeting current capture and storage needs 
E)  The theory of CCS technology is established, but an adequate design of a CCS mechanism has not been developed 
A)  CCS technology is ready to be implemented on a large scale 
B)  CCS technology is not yet ready for testing in power plants 
C)  CCS technology is being tested on a very small scale 
D)  CCS technology has been tested many times and was found to be inadequate for meeting current capture and storage needs 
E)  The theory of CCS technology is established, but an adequate design of a CCS mechanism has not been developed

Question 14

All of the following statements are true about surface mining except

Accepted Answer

A)  It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the United States 
B)  It is also known as strip mining 
C)  It is generally safer for miners than other coal mining processes 
D)  It is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining 
E)  It is the most hazardous type of mining for workers 
A)  It accounts for 60% of the coal mined in the United States 
B)  It is also known as strip mining 
C)  It is generally safer for miners than other coal mining processes 
D)  It is a less expensive mining process than subsurface mining 
E)  It is the most hazardous type of mining for workers

Question 15

Today the world's main energy source is

Accepted Answer

A)  coal 
B)  hydroelectric 
C)  natural gas 
D)  nuclear 
E)  oil 
A)  coal 
B)  hydroelectric 
C)  natural gas 
D)  nuclear 
E)  oil

Question 16

Lignite coal:

Accepted Answer

A)  is the most common grade of coal 
B)  causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal 
C)  is very soft and has a relatively low heat value 
D)  is very hard and burns cleanly 
E)  has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal 
A)  is the most common grade of coal 
B)  causes the least amount of air pollution of any type of coal 
C)  is very soft and has a relatively low heat value 
D)  is very hard and burns cleanly 
E)  has the lowest sulfur content of any type of coal

Question 17

Gas or methane hydrates in the arctic tundra show increasing promise as a limited energy supply for which two of these countries?

Accepted Answer

A)  United States and Iceland 
B)  Greenland and Finland 
C)  Germany and Ireland 
D)  Russia and Canada 
E)  Belgium and Holland 
A)  United States and Iceland 
B)  Greenland and Finland 
C)  Germany and Ireland 
D)  Russia and Canada 
E)  Belgium and Holland

Question 18

Which of the following is a potential environmental impact of using synthetic fuels for energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  production of CO2 
B)  use of large amounts of water 
C)  use of large amounts of land 
D)  production of CO2 and use of large amounts of water 
E)  all of these 
A)  production of CO2 
B)  use of large amounts of water 
C)  use of large amounts of land 
D)  production of CO2 and use of large amounts of water 
E)  all of these

Question 19

Ice-encrusted energy reserves contained deep underground in porous rock are known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  overburden 
B)  bitumen 
C)  kerogens 
D)  gas hydrates 
E)  anhtracite 
A)  overburden 
B)  bitumen 
C)  kerogens 
D)  gas hydrates 
E)  anhtracite

Question 20

Petrochemicals are used in the production of all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  paints 
B)  fertilizers 
C)  medicines 
D)  synthetic fibers 
E)  lightweight concrete 
A)  paints 
B)  fertilizers 
C)  medicines 
D)  synthetic fibers 
E)  lightweight concrete

Exam 11: Fossil Fuels

The process of Coal Liquefaction may be used to produce:

Which fossil fuel is most abundant in North America?

In areas experiencing acid precipitation, the pH of the rain may be

What does the term "Peak Oil" refer to?

Which of these fossil fuels was/were formed from the remains of ancient microscopic algae and aquatic organisms?

How has the burning of fossil fuels affected the global carbon cycle?

It is hypothesized that undiscovered large oil deposits are located

The concern about global warming is directly related to increased levels of what chemical in the atmosphere?

Which of these statements about coal is false?

Explain the fundamental misunderstanding about fossil fuels that is embedded in this quote: "If extinction is happening at a greater rate now, why is our supply of fossil fuels decreasing?" (Rep. Steve Pearce - R, New Mexico - at a hearing on the Endangered Species Act, 6/16/05)

The legislation that has regulated mining activities in the United States since 1977 is the:

What is the current state of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology for use in coal power plants?

All of the following statements are true about surface mining except

Today the world's main energy source is

Lignite coal:

Gas or methane hydrates in the arctic tundra show increasing promise as a limited energy supply for which two of these countries?

Which of the following is a potential environmental impact of using synthetic fuels for energy?

Ice-encrusted energy reserves contained deep underground in porous rock are known as:

Petrochemicals are used in the production of all of the following except:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

Food Resources

Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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