Question 1

Which of the following is a documented negative impact of hydroelectric dams?

Accepted Answer

A)  alteration of river sediment deposition 
B)  increased atmospheric CFCs 
C)  alteration of river salinity 
D)  decreased rainfall 
E)  acid deposition 
A)  alteration of river sediment deposition 
B)  increased atmospheric CFCs 
C)  alteration of river salinity 
D)  decreased rainfall 
E)  acid deposition A

Question 2

Vegetable oil _.

Accepted Answer

A)  is nonrenewable 
B)  is a necessary ingredient in biodiesel 
C)  is a fossil fuel 
D)  can be directly burned as fuel 
E)  must be processed into biodiesel to operate engines 
A)  is nonrenewable 
B)  is a necessary ingredient in biodiesel 
C)  is a fossil fuel 
D)  can be directly burned as fuel 
E)  must be processed into biodiesel to operate engines D

Question 3

Most of the world's ethanol is produced in the U.S. and

Accepted Answer

A)  Mexico 
B)  China 
C)  Brazil 
D)  the Maldives 
E)  Tuvalu 
A)  Mexico 
B)  China 
C)  Brazil 
D)  the Maldives 
E)  Tuvalu C

Question 4

One key advantage of hydropower is that .

Accepted Answer

A)  it is the most economically feasible of all the renewable energy resources 
B)  it produces no negative environmental effects 
C)  it is the oldest of the renewable energy resources 
D)  it does not rely on fossil fuel to generate electricity 
E)  it is widely available throughout the world 
A)  it is the most economically feasible of all the renewable energy resources 
B)  it produces no negative environmental effects 
C)  it is the oldest of the renewable energy resources 
D)  it does not rely on fossil fuel to generate electricity 
E)  it is widely available throughout the world

Question 5

B20 represents .

Accepted Answer

A)  a bacterial strain used to ferment corn to make ethanol 
B)  a diesel fuel blend of 20% biodiesel to 80% petrodiesel 
C)  a synthetic compound that can be mixed with fossil fuel to give more energy 
D)  a new vitamin recently isolated from sugar cane bagasse 
E)  a variety of broccoli used in the production of cellulosic ethanol 
A)  a bacterial strain used to ferment corn to make ethanol 
B)  a diesel fuel blend of 20% biodiesel to 80% petrodiesel 
C)  a synthetic compound that can be mixed with fossil fuel to give more energy 
D)  a new vitamin recently isolated from sugar cane bagasse 
E)  a variety of broccoli used in the production of cellulosic ethanol

Question 6

What percentage of U.S. energy production is from renewable sources?

Accepted Answer

A)  9.8% 
B)  18.4% 
C)  2.4% 
D)  4.9% 
E)  7.4% 
A)  9.8% 
B)  18.4% 
C)  2.4% 
D)  4.9% 
E)  7.4%

Question 7

In the U.S., nuclear power experienced the most growth during which of the following decades?

Accepted Answer

A)  2000s 
B)  1970s 
C)  1960s 
D)  1990s 
E)  1950s 
A)  2000s 
B)  1970s 
C)  1960s 
D)  1990s 
E)  1950s

Question 8

Worldwide, the most widely used source of renewable energy for generating electricity is .

Accepted Answer

A)  solar 
B)  hydroelectric 
C)  nuclear 
D)  wind 
E)  biomass 
A)  solar 
B)  hydroelectric 
C)  nuclear 
D)  wind 
E)  biomass

Question 9

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 _.

Accepted Answer

A)  permits dams of no more than 10 feet in height to be built along a designated waterway 
B)  is an agreement between the United States and Canada to protect rivers that cross the boundary between the two countries 
C)  protects a designated waterway from being dammed 
D)  no longer protects waterways because the act has been repealed to build more hydroelectric dams 
E)  limits dams to no less than 5 miles apart 
A)  permits dams of no more than 10 feet in height to be built along a designated waterway 
B)  is an agreement between the United States and Canada to protect rivers that cross the boundary between the two countries 
C)  protects a designated waterway from being dammed 
D)  no longer protects waterways because the act has been repealed to build more hydroelectric dams 
E)  limits dams to no less than 5 miles apart

Question 10

E -85 .

Accepted Answer

A)  is an ethanol -gasoline mixture 
B)  is an isotope of uranium used to generate electricity 
C)  was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict greenhouse gas emissions 
D)  was an international summit of 85 nations that met to determine vehicle fuel efficiency standards 
E)  was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict CFC use 
A)  is an ethanol -gasoline mixture 
B)  is an isotope of uranium used to generate electricity 
C)  was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict greenhouse gas emissions 
D)  was an international summit of 85 nations that met to determine vehicle fuel efficiency standards 
E)  was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict CFC use

Question 11

Which of the following countries has the highest percentage of electricity generated from nuclear power plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  France 
B)  Canada 
C)  United States 
D)  Sweden 
E)  Russia 
A)  France 
B)  Canada 
C)  United States 
D)  Sweden 
E)  Russia

Question 12

From 2000 to 2015, which of the following shows the greatest rate of increase in use in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

A)  coal 
B)  oil 
C)  nuclear power 
D)  natural gas 
E)  hydropower 
A)  coal 
B)  oil 
C)  nuclear power 
D)  natural gas 
E)  hydropower

Question 13

Biomass energy is derived from .

Accepted Answer

A)  water 
B)  the Earth's heat 
C)  the sun 
D)  organisms such as plants 
E)  wind 
A)  water 
B)  the Earth's heat 
C)  the sun 
D)  organisms such as plants 
E)  wind

Question 14

The run -of -river approach to hydropower often involves .

Accepted Answer

A)  the purchase of state -run dams by major corporations 
B)  the most expensive type of dams to build and maintain 
C)  dams that are reliable but unsustainable 
D)  impounding water in reservoirs behind concrete dams 
E)  diversion of a portion of a river's flow through pipes 
A)  the purchase of state -run dams by major corporations 
B)  the most expensive type of dams to build and maintain 
C)  dams that are reliable but unsustainable 
D)  impounding water in reservoirs behind concrete dams 
E)  diversion of a portion of a river's flow through pipes

Question 15

Although hydroelectric dams generate electricity without producing greenhouse gases, they .

Accepted Answer

A)  contribute only about 5% of the electrical power throughout the world 
B)  still produce more greenhouse gases per unit of electricity produced than coal power plants 
C)  can harm aquatic organisms downstream by affecting water temperature 
D)  cannot provide a consistent supply of electricity during times of naturally low river flow 
E)  are short -lived structures that have to be rebuilt about every 20 years 
A)  contribute only about 5% of the electrical power throughout the world 
B)  still produce more greenhouse gases per unit of electricity produced than coal power plants 
C)  can harm aquatic organisms downstream by affecting water temperature 
D)  cannot provide a consistent supply of electricity during times of naturally low river flow 
E)  are short -lived structures that have to be rebuilt about every 20 years

Question 16

EROI is a measure of .

Accepted Answer

A)  the amount of electricity received from an energy source 
B)  the amount of electricity required to extract the energy from a power source such as coal 
C)  the amount of energy invested into a source of energy compared to the amount of energy received from the source 
D)  the quality of energy released in the combustion of a certain kind of fuel 
E)  the energy needed to balance out the amount of energy emitted by an energy source 
A)  the amount of electricity received from an energy source 
B)  the amount of electricity required to extract the energy from a power source such as coal 
C)  the amount of energy invested into a source of energy compared to the amount of energy received from the source 
D)  the quality of energy released in the combustion of a certain kind of fuel 
E)  the energy needed to balance out the amount of energy emitted by an energy source

Question 17

Whether using a food crop as a source of biofuels is environmentally sustainable would depend upon all of the following, EXCEPT _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  the impact on food supplies and prices 
B)  the amount of water and land necessary for the crops 
C)  the corporate profits that would be made 
D)  the amount of fertilizers used and their impact on aquatic ecosystems 
E)  the amount of pesticides used and their impact on biodiversity and groundwater 
A)  the impact on food supplies and prices 
B)  the amount of water and land necessary for the crops 
C)  the corporate profits that would be made 
D)  the amount of fertilizers used and their impact on aquatic ecosystems 
E)  the amount of pesticides used and their impact on biodiversity and groundwater

Question 18

As a fuel, biodiesel .

Accepted Answer

A)  requires moderate engine retrofitting prior to use 
B)  has been met with considerable resistance by American farmers 
C)  has low lubricity 
D)  is a beneficial alternative for buses 
E)  is less efficient than petrodiesel because it has a low energy yield 
A)  requires moderate engine retrofitting prior to use 
B)  has been met with considerable resistance by American farmers 
C)  has low lubricity 
D)  is a beneficial alternative for buses 
E)  is less efficient than petrodiesel because it has a low energy yield

Question 19

A hydroelectric dam contains all of the following EXCEPT .

Accepted Answer

A)  a combustion chamber 
B)  generators 
C)  rotors 
D)  magnets 
E)  turbines 
A)  a combustion chamber 
B)  generators 
C)  rotors 
D)  magnets 
E)  turbines

Question 20

Which of the following countries leads the world in nuclear power capacity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sweden 
B)  France 
C)  Canada 
D)  United States 
E)  Russia 
A)  Sweden 
B)  France 
C)  Canada 
D)  United States 
E)  Russia

Exam 20: Answers to Data Analysis Questions

Which of the following is a documented negative impact of hydroelectric dams?

Vegetable oil _.

Most of the world's ethanol is produced in the U.S. and

One key advantage of hydropower is that .

B20 represents .

What percentage of U.S. energy production is from renewable sources?

In the U.S., nuclear power experienced the most growth during which of the following decades?

Worldwide, the most widely used source of renewable energy for generating electricity is .

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 _.

E -85 .

Which of the following countries has the highest percentage of electricity generated from nuclear power plants?

From 2000 to 2015, which of the following shows the greatest rate of increase in use in the U.S.?

Biomass energy is derived from .

The run -of -river approach to hydropower often involves .

Although hydroelectric dams generate electricity without producing greenhouse gases, they .

EROI is a measure of .

Whether using a food crop as a source of biofuels is environmentally sustainable would depend upon all of the following, EXCEPT _ .

As a fuel, biodiesel .

A hydroelectric dam contains all of the following EXCEPT .

Which of the following countries leads the world in nuclear power capacity?

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Solutions

How to Interpret Graphs

Metric System

Periodic Table of the Elements

Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

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