Question 1

Globally, almost 80% of all primary energy for today's economies comes from .

Accepted Answer

A)  solar, wind, and ocean tides and waves 
B)  fossil fuels 
C)  hydropower installations 
D)  biofuels 
E)  nuclear power 
A)  solar, wind, and ocean tides and waves 
B)  fossil fuels 
C)  hydropower installations 
D)  biofuels 
E)  nuclear power

Question 2

Between 1995 and 2000, .

Accepted Answer

A)  bioenergy consumption increased rapidly 
B)  oil consumption exceeded nuclear, hydropower, and biomass combined 
C)  coal consumption decreased 
D)  fossil fuel use stabilized 
E)  there was a clear transition from nonrenewable toward renewable energy resources 
A)  bioenergy consumption increased rapidly 
B)  oil consumption exceeded nuclear, hydropower, and biomass combined 
C)  coal consumption decreased 
D)  fossil fuel use stabilized 
E)  there was a clear transition from nonrenewable toward renewable energy resources

Question 3

is/are the source of energy used in the production of electricity by nuclear power plants.

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural gas 
B)  Nuclear fusion 
C)  Breeder reactions 
D)  Nuclear fission 
E)  Nuclear reactions 
A)  Natural gas 
B)  Nuclear fusion 
C)  Breeder reactions 
D)  Nuclear fission 
E)  Nuclear reactions

Question 4

Which of the following currently has the highest energy returned on investment (EROI)?

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclear fission 
B)  nuclear fusion 
C)  petroleum 
D)  corn -based ethanol 
E)  hydropower 
A)  nuclear fission 
B)  nuclear fusion 
C)  petroleum 
D)  corn -based ethanol 
E)  hydropower

Question 5

In a nuclear power plant, the amount of electricity generated is regulated by .

Accepted Answer

A)  changing the water levels that surround the control rods 
B)  the Federal Trade Commission 
C)  moving control rods into or out of spaces between the fuel rods 
D)  moving the nuclear fuel in and out of water 
E)  releasing surplus heat out of cooling towers that are always part of nuclear power plants 
A)  changing the water levels that surround the control rods 
B)  the Federal Trade Commission 
C)  moving control rods into or out of spaces between the fuel rods 
D)  moving the nuclear fuel in and out of water 
E)  releasing surplus heat out of cooling towers that are always part of nuclear power plants

Question 6

A major barrier preventing more widespread use of biodiesel is/are .

Accepted Answer

A)  the lack of support from the public 
B)  the excessive cost 
C)  political and economic inertia and current lack of abundant fueling stations 
D)  the lack of government support 
E)  a readily available supply of domestic petroleum 
A)  the lack of support from the public 
B)  the excessive cost 
C)  political and economic inertia and current lack of abundant fueling stations 
D)  the lack of government support 
E)  a readily available supply of domestic petroleum

Question 7

U.S. hydroelectric dam construction peaked during the .

Accepted Answer

A)  late 1800s 
B)  1980s 
C)  early 21st century 
D)  1960s 
E)  Industrial Revolution 
A)  late 1800s 
B)  1980s 
C)  early 21st century 
D)  1960s 
E)  Industrial Revolution

Question 8

Which of the following would produce a nuclear reaction?

Accepted Answer

A)  bombarding uranium atoms with electrons 
B)  bombarding uranium -238 with protons 
C)  bombarding uranium -238 with neutrons 
D)  bombarding uranium -235 with neutrons 
E)  bombarding uranium -235 with protons 
A)  bombarding uranium atoms with electrons 
B)  bombarding uranium -238 with protons 
C)  bombarding uranium -238 with neutrons 
D)  bombarding uranium -235 with neutrons 
E)  bombarding uranium -235 with protons

Question 9

Nuclear power plants in use today rely on .

Accepted Answer

A)  fission reactions to generate heat to boil water to generate electricity 
B)  fusion reactions to generate heat to boil water to generate electricity 
C)  fusion reactions to directly generate electricity 
D)  fusion reactions to create a flow of electrons to generate electricity 
E)  fission reactions to directly generate electricity 
A)  fission reactions to generate heat to boil water to generate electricity 
B)  fusion reactions to generate heat to boil water to generate electricity 
C)  fusion reactions to directly generate electricity 
D)  fusion reactions to create a flow of electrons to generate electricity 
E)  fission reactions to directly generate electricity

Question 10

A self -amplifying reaction and a nuclear explosion in a nuclear power plant are prevented in large part by .

Accepted Answer

A)  the production of plutonium -239 
B)  fuel rods that absorb tremendous amounts of heat 
C)  the regular addition of uranium -239 to the fuel 
D)  control rods that absorb neutrons 
E)  "sponges" that absorb liquefied uranium that leaks out of the reactor core 
A)  the production of plutonium -239 
B)  fuel rods that absorb tremendous amounts of heat 
C)  the regular addition of uranium -239 to the fuel 
D)  control rods that absorb neutrons 
E)  "sponges" that absorb liquefied uranium that leaks out of the reactor core

Question 11

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be a .

Accepted Answer

A)  prototype nuclear fission reactor 
B)  project aiming to extract more energy from spent uranium 
C)  prototype nuclear fusion reactor 
D)  prototype reactor to decrease global temperatures by extracting nuclear gases from the atmosphere 
E)  prototype reactor fueled by rutherfordium rather than uranium 
A)  prototype nuclear fission reactor 
B)  project aiming to extract more energy from spent uranium 
C)  prototype nuclear fusion reactor 
D)  prototype reactor to decrease global temperatures by extracting nuclear gases from the atmosphere 
E)  prototype reactor fueled by rutherfordium rather than uranium

Question 12

Effects attributed to Chernobyl .

Accepted Answer

A)  include increased incidence of thyroid cancers 
B)  include increased incidence of emphysema 
C)  were contained within 40 km of the plant 
D)  include serious respiratory illnesses but no fatalities 
E)  have not been extensively documented 
A)  include increased incidence of thyroid cancers 
B)  include increased incidence of emphysema 
C)  were contained within 40 km of the plant 
D)  include serious respiratory illnesses but no fatalities 
E)  have not been extensively documented

Question 13

Sweden had to rescind its pledge to replace completely nuclear power with renewable energy because _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  the Copenhagen Conference of 2010 rescinded the Kyoto agreements 
B)  the pollution from wind and hydroelectric generators had contaminated groundwater 
C)  they found a way to rapidly detoxify nuclear wastes 
D)  renewable energy was taking longer to develop than expected 
E)  there was a strong public demand to return to fossil fuels 
A)  the Copenhagen Conference of 2010 rescinded the Kyoto agreements 
B)  the pollution from wind and hydroelectric generators had contaminated groundwater 
C)  they found a way to rapidly detoxify nuclear wastes 
D)  renewable energy was taking longer to develop than expected 
E)  there was a strong public demand to return to fossil fuels

Question 14

The amount of energy generated by a hydroelectric dam depends largely on .

Accepted Answer

A)  latitude 
B)  the volume of water released and the height of the fall 
C)  the phase and position of the moon 
D)  the temperature of water in the boiler and turbine 
E)  the temperature of reservoir water 
A)  latitude 
B)  the volume of water released and the height of the fall 
C)  the phase and position of the moon 
D)  the temperature of water in the boiler and turbine 
E)  the temperature of reservoir water

Globally, almost 80% of all primary energy for today's economies comes from .

Between 1995 and 2000, .

is/are the source of energy used in the production of electricity by nuclear power plants.

Which of the following currently has the highest energy returned on investment (EROI)?

In a nuclear power plant, the amount of electricity generated is regulated by .

A major barrier preventing more widespread use of biodiesel is/are .

U.S. hydroelectric dam construction peaked during the .

Which of the following would produce a nuclear reaction?

Nuclear power plants in use today rely on .

A self -amplifying reaction and a nuclear explosion in a nuclear power plant are prevented in large part by .

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be a .

Effects attributed to Chernobyl .

Sweden had to rescind its pledge to replace completely nuclear power with renewable energy because _ .

The amount of energy generated by a hydroelectric dam depends largely on .

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

Filters

Exam 20: Answers to Data Analysis Questions

Globally, almost 80% of all primary energy for today's economies comes from .

Between 1995 and 2000, .

is/are the source of energy used in the production of electricity by nuclear power plants.

Which of the following currently has the highest energy returned on investment (EROI)?

In a nuclear power plant, the amount of electricity generated is regulated by .

A major barrier preventing more widespread use of biodiesel is/are .

U.S. hydroelectric dam construction peaked during the .

Which of the following would produce a nuclear reaction?

Nuclear power plants in use today rely on .

A self -amplifying reaction and a nuclear explosion in a nuclear power plant are prevented in large part by .

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be a .

Effects attributed to Chernobyl .

Sweden had to rescind its pledge to replace completely nuclear power with renewable energy because _ .

The amount of energy generated by a hydroelectric dam depends largely on .

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

Filters