Question 1

Energy conservation in the United States _.

Accepted Answer

A)  is unlikely to ever occur 
B)  becomes more difficult during times of war 
C)  can be accomplished by changes in tax laws 
D)  can be achieved through personal actions and more efficient technologies 
E)  can be accomplished only through changes in technological efficiencies 
A)  is unlikely to ever occur 
B)  becomes more difficult during times of war 
C)  can be accomplished by changes in tax laws 
D)  can be achieved through personal actions and more efficient technologies 
E)  can be accomplished only through changes in technological efficiencies D

Question 2

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of eminent domain?

Accepted Answer

A)  Settlers in the Oklahoma Territory were allowed to claim land during the land rush. 
B)  Residents of the Chicago area who were in the proposed path of Interstate 355 were forced to sell their homes and move when the interstate was built. 
C)  The conversion of landscapes is an inescapable effect of our reliance on fossil fuels. 
D)  The transportation sector has shifted away from using coal as an energy source and now relies almost entirely on oil. 
E)  The United States government pays subsidies to the fossil fuel industry despite the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuel use. 
A)  Settlers in the Oklahoma Territory were allowed to claim land during the land rush. 
B)  Residents of the Chicago area who were in the proposed path of Interstate 355 were forced to sell their homes and move when the interstate was built. 
C)  The conversion of landscapes is an inescapable effect of our reliance on fossil fuels. 
D)  The transportation sector has shifted away from using coal as an energy source and now relies almost entirely on oil. 
E)  The United States government pays subsidies to the fossil fuel industry despite the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuel use. B

Question 3

Approximately how efficient is electricity generation in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

A)  50% 
B)  33% 
C)  20% 
D)  80% 
E)  67% 
A)  50% 
B)  33% 
C)  20% 
D)  80% 
E)  67% B

Question 4

Which of the following energy sources is considered nonrenewable?

Accepted Answer

A)  fossil fuel energy 
B)  wind energy 
C)  solar energy 
D)  geothermal energy 
E)  tidal energy 
A)  fossil fuel energy 
B)  wind energy 
C)  solar energy 
D)  geothermal energy 
E)  tidal energy

Question 5

Alaskans benefit from the trans -Alaska pipeline because Alaska's state constitution requires approximately 25% of state revenues associated with the oil industry to be placed into a monetary fund called the Permanent Fund, which .

Accepted Answer

A)  pays for education of native Alaskans through scholarships 
B)  pays yearly dividends to all Alaska residents 
C)  is divided equally among the politicians in the state for running their offices 
D)  is used as a main source of funds to reduce environmental damage 
E)  is used for social infrastructure, such as hospitals, roads, and schools 
A)  pays for education of native Alaskans through scholarships 
B)  pays yearly dividends to all Alaska residents 
C)  is divided equally among the politicians in the state for running their offices 
D)  is used as a main source of funds to reduce environmental damage 
E)  is used for social infrastructure, such as hospitals, roads, and schools

Question 6

Which country leads the world in coal production and consumption by extracting and consuming approximately half of the world's annual coal yield?

Accepted Answer

A)  United States 
B)  Canada 
C)  Russia 
D)  India 
E)  China 
A)  United States 
B)  Canada 
C)  Russia 
D)  India 
E)  China

Question 7

In 2007, Congress mandated strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that called for automakers to raise average fleet fuel efficiency to _ mpg by the year .

Accepted Answer

A)  35; 2020 
B)  25; 2025 
C)  48; 2025 
D)  54.5; 2030 
E)  35; 2035 
A)  35; 2020 
B)  25; 2025 
C)  48; 2025 
D)  54.5; 2030 
E)  35; 2035

Question 8

What is the current status of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rejection of Yucca Mountain as a carbon storage site has resulted in coal power plants storing carbon on -site until a permanent storage location can be approved. 
B)  The U.S. government is currently requiring all coal power plants to institute carbon capture and storage technologies by the year 2025. 
C)  Many coal power plants are currently voluntarily retrofitting their systems to capture carbon emissions. 
D)  Technologies are not sufficiently reliable, and it is currently too energetically expensive for coal power plants to capture and store their carbon emissions. 
E)  Carbon is now captured and converted to plastics at most coal power plants in the U.S. 
A)  The rejection of Yucca Mountain as a carbon storage site has resulted in coal power plants storing carbon on -site until a permanent storage location can be approved. 
B)  The U.S. government is currently requiring all coal power plants to institute carbon capture and storage technologies by the year 2025. 
C)  Many coal power plants are currently voluntarily retrofitting their systems to capture carbon emissions. 
D)  Technologies are not sufficiently reliable, and it is currently too energetically expensive for coal power plants to capture and store their carbon emissions. 
E)  Carbon is now captured and converted to plastics at most coal power plants in the U.S.

Question 9

Solar radiation makes several other energy sources possible, including .

Accepted Answer

A)  tidal energy 
B)  wind energy 
C)  nuclear energy 
D)  hydrothermal energy 
E)  geothermal energy 
A)  tidal energy 
B)  wind energy 
C)  nuclear energy 
D)  hydrothermal energy 
E)  geothermal energy

Question 10

In the United States, the energy source used predominantly for the production of electricity is .

Accepted Answer

A)  renewable energy 
B)  nuclear power 
C)  water power 
D)  coal 
E)  natural gas 
A)  renewable energy 
B)  nuclear power 
C)  water power 
D)  coal 
E)  natural gas

Question 11

The major long -term global problem with using coal to generate electricity is the .

Accepted Answer

A)  environmental damage in the area around the mine 
B)  water pollution 
C)  particulate pollution 
D)  sulfur dioxides released 
E)  effect of the released carbon dioxide on global climate 
A)  environmental damage in the area around the mine 
B)  water pollution 
C)  particulate pollution 
D)  sulfur dioxides released 
E)  effect of the released carbon dioxide on global climate

Question 12

Which of the following would be put at risk by the Keystone XL pipeline?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Ogallala Aquifer 
B)  the American bison 
C)  Yellowstone National Park 
D)  the Nebraska Sandhills 
E)  Lake Michigan 
A)  the Ogallala Aquifer 
B)  the American bison 
C)  Yellowstone National Park 
D)  the Nebraska Sandhills 
E)  Lake Michigan

Question 13

The U.S. imports more oil from

Accepted Answer

A)  Saudi Arabia 
B)  Venezuela 
C)  OPEC nations 
D)  Iraq 
E)  Canada 
A)  Saudi Arabia 
B)  Venezuela 
C)  OPEC nations 
D)  Iraq 
E)  Canada

Question 14

In the U.S., per capita energy use than from any other nation.
, and energy intensity .

Accepted Answer

A)  increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; decreased from 1950 to the 1970s but has since increased 
B)  increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; has been declining since 1970 
C)  was stable from 1950 to 1970 but has since increased sharply; has been increasing since 1950 
D)  has been increasing since 1950; has also been increasing since 1950 
E)  has been increasing since 1950; has been declining since 1950 
A)  increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; decreased from 1950 to the 1970s but has since increased 
B)  increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; has been declining since 1970 
C)  was stable from 1950 to 1970 but has since increased sharply; has been increasing since 1950 
D)  has been increasing since 1950; has also been increasing since 1950 
E)  has been increasing since 1950; has been declining since 1950

Question 15

One of the problems with finding new fossil fuel deposits in developing countries is that .

Accepted Answer

A)  multinational companies often move in to harvest the new deposit, and very little money or resource remains in the country 
B)  their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without meeting expensive environmental regulations 
C)  it is very expensive to transport the deposit elsewhere 
D)  their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without imposing huge taxes to fund new social benefits for the country 
E)  those countries tend to keep the resource for themselves, not sharing with other countries 
A)  multinational companies often move in to harvest the new deposit, and very little money or resource remains in the country 
B)  their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without meeting expensive environmental regulations 
C)  it is very expensive to transport the deposit elsewhere 
D)  their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without imposing huge taxes to fund new social benefits for the country 
E)  those countries tend to keep the resource for themselves, not sharing with other countries

Question 16

The high demand for electricity in South Africa has resulted in years of scheduled blackouts. Which of the following pricing scenarios is most likely to INCREASE the demand for electricity and make the blackouts worse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Charging each household a rate based solely on the amount of electricity used. 
B)  Flat -fee pricing, where every household pays the same regardless of how much electricity is used. 
C)  Charging each household a rate based on the amount of electricity used and what time of day it is used. 
D)  Charging each household a different rate based on annual income and amount of electricity used. 
E)  Allotting a small amount of free electricity to each household to provide just enough electricity for the needs of the poorest households, with a premium price charged per kilowatt -hour used beyond the amount provided for free. 
A)  Charging each household a rate based solely on the amount of electricity used. 
B)  Flat -fee pricing, where every household pays the same regardless of how much electricity is used. 
C)  Charging each household a rate based on the amount of electricity used and what time of day it is used. 
D)  Charging each household a different rate based on annual income and amount of electricity used. 
E)  Allotting a small amount of free electricity to each household to provide just enough electricity for the needs of the poorest households, with a premium price charged per kilowatt -hour used beyond the amount provided for free.

Question 17

What was the primary cause of the decline in oil prices in 2016 to only 1/4 of the prices in 2008?

Accepted Answer

A)  the soil supply glut caused by fracking 
B)  a prolonged peace in the Middle East 
C)  energy conservation and the use of renewable technologies 
D)  a typographical error in a Black Friday sale ad 
E)  the war against ISIS 
A)  the soil supply glut caused by fracking 
B)  a prolonged peace in the Middle East 
C)  energy conservation and the use of renewable technologies 
D)  a typographical error in a Black Friday sale ad 
E)  the war against ISIS

Question 18

In the year 2000, the worst air pollution levels in the region were in downtown Johannesburg and Soweto. The probable explanation is that in downtown Johannesburg
)
, while in Soweto

Accepted Answer

A)  gasoline -powered electrical generators were the cause; trash incinerators were a problem 
B)  automobile traffic was the cause; automobile traffic was also the cause 
C)  trash incinerators were a problem; gasoline -powered electrical generators were the cause 
D)  automobile traffic was the cause; the burning of fuels in each home for heating, lighting, and cooking was the major contributor to indoor and outdoor air pollution 
E)  coal -fired electrical plants were the cause; automobile traffic in overcrowded areas was the problem 
A)  gasoline -powered electrical generators were the cause; trash incinerators were a problem 
B)  automobile traffic was the cause; automobile traffic was also the cause 
C)  trash incinerators were a problem; gasoline -powered electrical generators were the cause 
D)  automobile traffic was the cause; the burning of fuels in each home for heating, lighting, and cooking was the major contributor to indoor and outdoor air pollution 
E)  coal -fired electrical plants were the cause; automobile traffic in overcrowded areas was the problem

Question 19

The oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster .

Accepted Answer

A)  is the largest accidental oil spill in world history 
B)  eclipsed all non -point oil spills by 500% 
C)  resulted in a permanent ban on all offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters 
D)  was quickly cleaned up, preventing loss of wildlife and damage to fisheries along the Gulf Coast 
E)  is considered a minor incident compared to other oil spills 
A)  is the largest accidental oil spill in world history 
B)  eclipsed all non -point oil spills by 500% 
C)  resulted in a permanent ban on all offshore drilling in U.S. coastal waters 
D)  was quickly cleaned up, preventing loss of wildlife and damage to fisheries along the Gulf Coast 
E)  is considered a minor incident compared to other oil spills

Question 20

The various classes of coal have been exposed to high heat and pressure for different periods of time. Which of the following lists in order the classes of coal from lowest to highest energy content?

Accepted Answer

A)  anthracite, bituminous, sub -bituminous, lignite 
B)  lignite, sub -bituminous, bituminous, anthracite 
C)  lignite, bituminous, sub -bituminous, anthracite 
D)  sub -bituminous, bituminous, lignite, anthracite 
E)  lignite, anthracite, sub -bituminous, bituminous 
A)  anthracite, bituminous, sub -bituminous, lignite 
B)  lignite, sub -bituminous, bituminous, anthracite 
C)  lignite, bituminous, sub -bituminous, anthracite 
D)  sub -bituminous, bituminous, lignite, anthracite 
E)  lignite, anthracite, sub -bituminous, bituminous

Exam 19: Sustainable Solutions

Energy conservation in the United States _.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of eminent domain?

Approximately how efficient is electricity generation in the U.S.?

Which of the following energy sources is considered nonrenewable?

Alaskans benefit from the trans -Alaska pipeline because Alaska's state constitution requires approximately 25% of state revenues associated with the oil industry to be placed into a monetary fund called the Permanent Fund, which .

Which country leads the world in coal production and consumption by extracting and consuming approximately half of the world's annual coal yield?

In 2007, Congress mandated strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that called for automakers to raise average fleet fuel efficiency to _ mpg by the year .

What is the current status of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the U.S.?

Solar radiation makes several other energy sources possible, including .

In the United States, the energy source used predominantly for the production of electricity is .

The major long -term global problem with using coal to generate electricity is the .

Which of the following would be put at risk by the Keystone XL pipeline?

The U.S. imports more oil from

In the U.S., per capita energy use than from any other nation. , and energy intensity .

One of the problems with finding new fossil fuel deposits in developing countries is that .

The high demand for electricity in South Africa has resulted in years of scheduled blackouts. Which of the following pricing scenarios is most likely to INCREASE the demand for electricity and make the blackouts worse?

What was the primary cause of the decline in oil prices in 2016 to only 1/4 of the prices in 2008?

In the year 2000, the worst air pollution levels in the region were in downtown Johannesburg and Soweto. The probable explanation is that in downtown Johannesburg ) , while in Soweto

The oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster .

The various classes of coal have been exposed to high heat and pressure for different periods of time. Which of the following lists in order the classes of coal from lowest to highest energy content?

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

Answers to Data Analysis Questions

How to Interpret Graphs

Metric System

Periodic Table of the Elements

Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

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