Question 1

Discuss the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear fusion.

Accepted Answer

Nuclear fusion occurs when extremely high pressure and temperature cause the atomic nuclei of ultralight elements to fuse together to form heavier atoms, a process that releases enormous amounts of energy. The advantages of nuclear fusion are that there is no toxic or radioactive waste and it has an enormous potential; it uses hydrogen as fuel, and the hydrogen in one cubic kilometer of seawater would exceed the total energy stored in the world's oil reserves. The drawback is that the technology to operate the process economically does not yet exist; currently it takes more energy to achieve fusion than the fusion produces.

Question 2

The primary difference between resources and reserves is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  resources still remain in the ground, while reserves have been mined and are in storage. 
B)  resources exist but recovery is not currently profitable; reserves can be extracted for profit. 
C)  resources refer to all available useful materials, while reserves refer only to available fossil fuels. 
D)  resources are materials currently available to the public, while reserves remain in the ground for future use. 
A)  resources still remain in the ground, while reserves have been mined and are in storage. 
B)  resources exist but recovery is not currently profitable; reserves can be extracted for profit. 
C)  resources refer to all available useful materials, while reserves refer only to available fossil fuels. 
D)  resources are materials currently available to the public, while reserves remain in the ground for future use. B

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT one of the differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nuclear fission uses uranium atoms, while nuclear fusion uses hydrogen atoms. 
B)  Most modern reactors use nuclear fission rather than nuclear fusion. 
C)  In nuclear fusion, atom nuclei are split, while in nuclear fission, atom nuclei are joined. 
D)  Nuclear fusion has a greater potential than nuclear fission. 
A)  Nuclear fission uses uranium atoms, while nuclear fusion uses hydrogen atoms. 
B)  Most modern reactors use nuclear fission rather than nuclear fusion. 
C)  In nuclear fusion, atom nuclei are split, while in nuclear fission, atom nuclei are joined. 
D)  Nuclear fusion has a greater potential than nuclear fission. C

Question 4

Geologists believe that the world's remaining recoverable supply of crude oil will last approximately:

Accepted Answer

A)  10 to 20 years. 
B)  25 to 50 years. 
C)  50 to 100 years. 
D)  100 to 200 years. 
A)  10 to 20 years. 
B)  25 to 50 years. 
C)  50 to 100 years. 
D)  100 to 200 years.

Question 5

Removal of methane hydrate could cause all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  a new ice age. 
B)  undersea landslides. 
C)  a runaway greenhouse effect. 
D)  tsunamis. 
A)  a new ice age. 
B)  undersea landslides. 
C)  a runaway greenhouse effect. 
D)  tsunamis.

Question 6

All of the following statements concerning wind power are true EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  wind power is most cost- effective when used to meet small- scale energy needs. 
B)  wind is such a common occurrence that most states in North America could supplement other sources of energy with wind farms. 
C)  densely populated areas have difficulty finding sufficient land on which to construct wind farms. 
D)  presently, California's government harvests up to 8% of the state's electricity from windfarms. 
A)  wind power is most cost- effective when used to meet small- scale energy needs. 
B)  wind is such a common occurrence that most states in North America could supplement other sources of energy with wind farms. 
C)  densely populated areas have difficulty finding sufficient land on which to construct wind farms. 
D)  presently, California's government harvests up to 8% of the state's electricity from windfarms.

Question 7

The main drawback of geothermal energy is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  heat- resistant pipe materials through which magma can be circulated are extremely expensive. 
B)  utilization of this energy is limited to currently or recently active plate margins and hot spots. 
C)  it may be used for heating, but is not a reliable source for production of electricity. 
D)  geothermal heat sources are buried beneath nearly impenetrable rock. 
A)  heat- resistant pipe materials through which magma can be circulated are extremely expensive. 
B)  utilization of this energy is limited to currently or recently active plate margins and hot spots. 
C)  it may be used for heating, but is not a reliable source for production of electricity. 
D)  geothermal heat sources are buried beneath nearly impenetrable rock.

Question 8

The reason Canada can exploit oil sand profitably while most other countries cannot is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Canadian technology for extracting petroleum products from oil sand is the best in the world. 
B)  Canadian oil sand deposits are very near the surface of the Earth, making mining less expensive. 
C)  Canadian oil sand contains bitumen rather than kerogen. 
D)  the price of labor in Canada is well below that of other countries. 
A)  Canadian technology for extracting petroleum products from oil sand is the best in the world. 
B)  Canadian oil sand deposits are very near the surface of the Earth, making mining less expensive. 
C)  Canadian oil sand contains bitumen rather than kerogen. 
D)  the price of labor in Canada is well below that of other countries.

Question 9

All of the following generate acidic groundwater from mining tailings EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  infiltration of rain through mine tailings. 
B)  contact of groundwater with ore in a mining pit. 
C)  infiltration of acid rain into a mine. 
D)  surface- water runoff from waste piles. 
A)  infiltration of rain through mine tailings. 
B)  contact of groundwater with ore in a mining pit. 
C)  infiltration of acid rain into a mine. 
D)  surface- water runoff from waste piles.

Question 10

At current rates of consumption, the U.S. oil supply, supplemented by imports, will last how long?

Accepted Answer

A)  3 years. 
B)  30 years. 
C)  300 years. 
D)  3000 years. 
A)  3 years. 
B)  30 years. 
C)  300 years. 
D)  3000 years.

Question 11

Placer deposits of metals are formed by:

Accepted Answer

A)  sedimentary processes. 
B)  hydrothermal processes. 
C)  metamorphic processes. 
D)  igneous processes. 
A)  sedimentary processes. 
B)  hydrothermal processes. 
C)  metamorphic processes. 
D)  igneous processes.

Question 12

Petroleum originates from the accumulation and decomposition of:

Accepted Answer

A)  swamp vegetation. 
B)  marine microorganisms. 
C)  marine shellfish. 
D)  animals such as dinosaurs. 
A)  swamp vegetation. 
B)  marine microorganisms. 
C)  marine shellfish. 
D)  animals such as dinosaurs.

Question 13

Primary and secondary recovery methods generally obtain only about how much of the oil that is actually in the ground?

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 1/3. 
B)  1/3 to 1/2. 
C)  99%. 
D)  2/3. 
A)  less than 1/3. 
B)  1/3 to 1/2. 
C)  99%. 
D)  2/3.

Question 14

Why does the United States not exploit its vast deposits of oil shale?

Accepted Answer

The United States has an estimated 2 to

Question 15

Oil shale contains kerogen rather than oil because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it was never buried deeply enough to raise its temperature to that required to produce oil. 
B)  shale is not permeable enough to allow the kerogen to move freely through the rock. 
C)  there has not been sufficient time for further breakdown of the large kerogen molecules. 
D)  the organisms required to produce oil were never deposited within the shale. 
A)  it was never buried deeply enough to raise its temperature to that required to produce oil. 
B)  shale is not permeable enough to allow the kerogen to move freely through the rock. 
C)  there has not been sufficient time for further breakdown of the large kerogen molecules. 
D)  the organisms required to produce oil were never deposited within the shale.

Question 16

During the Persian Gulf War of 1991, which of the following became unavailable as a resource?

Accepted Answer

A)  Appalachian coal. 
B)  Canadian oil sand. 
C)  Western states oil shale. 
D)  Some Middle East oil. 
A)  Appalachian coal. 
B)  Canadian oil sand. 
C)  Western states oil shale. 
D)  Some Middle East oil.

Question 17

Hydroelectric power produces all of the following detrimental effects EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  water run through turbines becomes excessively hot. 
B)  reservoir waters flood natural habitats. 
C)  reservoir traps sediment that would replenish beaches. 
D)  river waters below the dam erode excessively. 
A)  water run through turbines becomes excessively hot. 
B)  reservoir waters flood natural habitats. 
C)  reservoir traps sediment that would replenish beaches. 
D)  river waters below the dam erode excessively.

Question 18

Which of the following resources do we derive most of our energy from?

Accepted Answer

A)  Solar energy. 
B)  Water power. 
C)  Fossil fuels. 
D)  Wind power. 
A)  Solar energy. 
B)  Water power. 
C)  Fossil fuels. 
D)  Wind power.

Question 19

The correct sequence of formation from decaying swamp plants to the highest grade of coal is:

Accepted Answer

A)  plants, peat, bituminous, anthracite, lignite. 
B)  plants, lignite, bituminous, peat, anthracite. 
C)  plants, peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite. 
D)  plants, lignite, peat, anthracite, bituminous. 
A)  plants, peat, bituminous, anthracite, lignite. 
B)  plants, lignite, bituminous, peat, anthracite. 
C)  plants, peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite. 
D)  plants, lignite, peat, anthracite, bituminous.

Question 20

Peat and various grades of coal are categorized primarily by:

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing hardness. 
B)  increasing carbon and water content. 
C)  decreasing molecular size, as carbon molecules break down. 
D)  color scales, from light brown through jet black. 
A)  increasing hardness. 
B)  increasing carbon and water content. 
C)  decreasing molecular size, as carbon molecules break down. 
D)  color scales, from light brown through jet black.

Discuss the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear fusion.

The primary difference between resources and reserves is that:

Which of the following is NOT one of the differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?

Geologists believe that the world's remaining recoverable supply of crude oil will last approximately:

Removal of methane hydrate could cause all of the following EXCEPT:

All of the following statements concerning wind power are true EXCEPT:

The main drawback of geothermal energy is that:

The reason Canada can exploit oil sand profitably while most other countries cannot is that:

All of the following generate acidic groundwater from mining tailings EXCEPT:

At current rates of consumption, the U.S. oil supply, supplemented by imports, will last how long?

Placer deposits of metals are formed by:

Petroleum originates from the accumulation and decomposition of:

Primary and secondary recovery methods generally obtain only about how much of the oil that is actually in the ground?

Why does the United States not exploit its vast deposits of oil shale?

Oil shale contains kerogen rather than oil because:

During the Persian Gulf War of 1991, which of the following became unavailable as a resource?

Hydroelectric power produces all of the following detrimental effects EXCEPT:

Which of the following resources do we derive most of our energy from?

The correct sequence of formation from decaying swamp plants to the highest grade of coal is:

Peat and various grades of coal are categorized primarily by:

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Filters

Exam 20: Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Discuss the advantages and drawbacks of nuclear fusion.

The primary difference between resources and reserves is that:

Which of the following is NOT one of the differences between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?

Geologists believe that the world's remaining recoverable supply of crude oil will last approximately:

Removal of methane hydrate could cause all of the following EXCEPT:

All of the following statements concerning wind power are true EXCEPT:

The main drawback of geothermal energy is that:

The reason Canada can exploit oil sand profitably while most other countries cannot is that:

All of the following generate acidic groundwater from mining tailings EXCEPT:

At current rates of consumption, the U.S. oil supply, supplemented by imports, will last how long?

Placer deposits of metals are formed by:

Petroleum originates from the accumulation and decomposition of:

Primary and secondary recovery methods generally obtain only about how much of the oil that is actually in the ground?

Why does the United States not exploit its vast deposits of oil shale?

Oil shale contains kerogen rather than oil because:

During the Persian Gulf War of 1991, which of the following became unavailable as a resource?

Hydroelectric power produces all of the following detrimental effects EXCEPT:

Which of the following resources do we derive most of our energy from?

The correct sequence of formation from decaying swamp plants to the highest grade of coal is:

Peat and various grades of coal are categorized primarily by:

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Telling Time Geologically

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Filters