Question 1

During a meltdown, nuclear power plants explode like a bomb, releasing huge amounts of radioactive material into the environment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Natural gas is

Accepted Answer

A)  currently the world's third largest commercial fuel. 
B)  the most rapidly growing fossil fuel energy source. 
C)  hazardous to the environment because it is not clean burning. 
D)  currently the world's third largest commercial fuel and the most rapidly growing fossil fuel energy source. 
E)  the most rapidly growing fossil fuel energy source and hazardous to the environment because it is not clean burning. 
A)  currently the world's third largest commercial fuel. 
B)  the most rapidly growing fossil fuel energy source. 
C)  hazardous to the environment because it is not clean burning. 
D)  currently the world's third largest commercial fuel and the most rapidly growing fossil fuel energy source. 
E)  the most rapidly growing fossil fuel energy source and hazardous to the environment because it is not clean burning. D

Question 3

Oil shale and tar sands are examples of ________ oil.

Accepted Answer

A)  Unrecoverable 
B)  Unproven 
C)  Unknown 
D)  Unconventional 
E)  Recoverable 
A)  Unrecoverable 
B)  Unproven 
C)  Unknown 
D)  Unconventional 
E)  Recoverable D

Question 4

Pressurized fluid and chemicals injected into a well are used in a mining process called _____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Placer mining 
B)  High pressure welling 
C)  Hydraulic fracturing 
D)  Heap-leach extraction 
A)  Placer mining 
B)  High pressure welling 
C)  Hydraulic fracturing 
D)  Heap-leach extraction

Question 5

Control rods in a nuclear reactor are used to

Accepted Answer

A)  Absorb neutrons 
B)  Move fuel rods around in the chamber 
C)  Provide neutrons to initiate reactions 
D)  Provide cooling by decreasing the temperature of the water 
E)  Increase the temperature of the water 
A)  Absorb neutrons 
B)  Move fuel rods around in the chamber 
C)  Provide neutrons to initiate reactions 
D)  Provide cooling by decreasing the temperature of the water 
E)  Increase the temperature of the water

Question 6

A caller who wondered why no one was discussing nuclear power berated panelists discussing the problems of global warming on a radio show. How would you react to this caller? Make sure you provide at least three arguments that support your position.

Accepted Answer

I would react to this caller by acknowle

Question 7

Nuclear fission occurs when a high-energy subatomic particle, a neutron, strikes a uranium atom, releases energy, and

Accepted Answer

A)  Breaks in half, causing another atom to break 
B)  Releases an electron in a gamma wave 
C)  Releases protons 
D)  Releases neutrons 
E)  Combines with another neutron to release even more energy 
A)  Breaks in half, causing another atom to break 
B)  Releases an electron in a gamma wave 
C)  Releases protons 
D)  Releases neutrons 
E)  Combines with another neutron to release even more energy

Question 8

The Marcellus and Devonian Shales

Accepted Answer

A)  are a potential vast source of oil in the eastern United States. 
B)  can be drilled without any pollution risk to the environment. 
C)  could result in the drilling of thousands of wells in populated places. 
A)  are a potential vast source of oil in the eastern United States. 
B)  can be drilled without any pollution risk to the environment. 
C)  could result in the drilling of thousands of wells in populated places.

Question 9

Under normal operating conditions, you are likely to get a higher dose of radiation, living next to a nuclear plant than a coal-burning plant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Energy is defined as

Accepted Answer

A)  the capacity to do work. 
B)  calorie consumption per hour. 
C)  any kind of molecule that has the ability to cause objects to move. 
D)  force exerted per unit of time. 
A)  the capacity to do work. 
B)  calorie consumption per hour. 
C)  any kind of molecule that has the ability to cause objects to move. 
D)  force exerted per unit of time.

Question 11

One ____________ of natural gas is that it is ____________ than either coal or oil.

Accepted Answer

A)  Disadvantage; harder to ship and store 
B)  Advantage; easier to build infrastructure for transporting it 
C)  Disadvantage; harder to sell 
D)  Advantage; easier to find 
E)  Disadvantage; less abundant 
A)  Disadvantage; harder to ship and store 
B)  Advantage; easier to build infrastructure for transporting it 
C)  Disadvantage; harder to sell 
D)  Advantage; easier to find 
E)  Disadvantage; less abundant

Question 12

What is the biggest drawback for developing oil shales, tar sands, and coal gasoline?

Accepted Answer

A)  Imports of these are extremely cheap 
B)  Cost 
C)  There are no drawbacks 
D)  Availability of these resources 
A)  Imports of these are extremely cheap 
B)  Cost 
C)  There are no drawbacks 
D)  Availability of these resources

Question 13

Radioactive waste dumping in oceans has been

Accepted Answer

A)  Considered by many governments but not carried out 
B)  Common worldwide until last year 
C)  Continued by the Soviet government until very recently 
D)  Banned worldwide since 1957 
E)  Proved to be safe because the wastes are sinking to very deep oceanic trenches 
A)  Considered by many governments but not carried out 
B)  Common worldwide until last year 
C)  Continued by the Soviet government until very recently 
D)  Banned worldwide since 1957 
E)  Proved to be safe because the wastes are sinking to very deep oceanic trenches

Question 14

Most useful oil deposits are usually found

Accepted Answer

A)  In a liquid pool under a layer of impermeable shale 
B)  Saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge 
C)  Locked in the mineral structure of a rock formation 
D)  In pools on the earth's surface, where geologic pressures have forced them to collect 
E)  In small pools directly above the bedrock 
A)  In a liquid pool under a layer of impermeable shale 
B)  Saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge 
C)  Locked in the mineral structure of a rock formation 
D)  In pools on the earth's surface, where geologic pressures have forced them to collect 
E)  In small pools directly above the bedrock

Question 15

A number of European countries have similar or even higher standards of living than the U.S. and consume less energy than Americans do.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Worldwide, coal deposits are

Accepted Answer

A)  Widespread but rarely in economic quantities 
B)  Relatively difficult to find 
C)  Highly unusual formations 
D)  Widespread and extensive 
E)  Decreasing at alarming rates 
A)  Widespread but rarely in economic quantities 
B)  Relatively difficult to find 
C)  Highly unusual formations 
D)  Widespread and extensive 
E)  Decreasing at alarming rates

Question 17

In the process of getting energy to power your television, which of the following stages is the most energy efficient?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mining the coal to run the power plant 
B)  Burning the coal to run the power plant 
C)  Thermal conversion of the energy from coal in the power plant 
D)  Transmission to your house 
E)  Actually powering your television set 
A)  Mining the coal to run the power plant 
B)  Burning the coal to run the power plant 
C)  Thermal conversion of the energy from coal in the power plant 
D)  Transmission to your house 
E)  Actually powering your television set

Question 18

Currently the most common way to extract natural gas is by __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Collecting it from deep ocean thermal vents 
B)  Separating it from crude oil pockets 
C)  Hydraulic fracturing 
D)  Collecting it from abandoned deep mines 
A)  Collecting it from deep ocean thermal vents 
B)  Separating it from crude oil pockets 
C)  Hydraulic fracturing 
D)  Collecting it from abandoned deep mines

Question 19

Nuclear waste storage in the United States is currently handled

Accepted Answer

A)  In temporary storage at individual plants 
B)  In a permanent storage depot managed by the federal government 
C)  By dumping at sea 
D)  By shipping overseas to Surinam and Venezuela 
E)  By dumping at sea and by shipping overseas to Surinam and Venezuela 
A)  In temporary storage at individual plants 
B)  In a permanent storage depot managed by the federal government 
C)  By dumping at sea 
D)  By shipping overseas to Surinam and Venezuela 
E)  By dumping at sea and by shipping overseas to Surinam and Venezuela

Question 20

By far the greatest amount of proven natural gas reserves are found in

Accepted Answer

A)  Alaska. 
B)  Canada. 
C)  the Middle East. 
D)  Africa. 
A)  Alaska. 
B)  Canada. 
C)  the Middle East. 
D)  Africa.

Exam 19: Conventional Energy

During a meltdown, nuclear power plants explode like a bomb, releasing huge amounts of radioactive material into the environment.

Natural gas is

Oil shale and tar sands are examples of ________ oil.

Pressurized fluid and chemicals injected into a well are used in a mining process called _____________.

Control rods in a nuclear reactor are used to

A caller who wondered why no one was discussing nuclear power berated panelists discussing the problems of global warming on a radio show. How would you react to this caller? Make sure you provide at least three arguments that support your position.

Nuclear fission occurs when a high-energy subatomic particle, a neutron, strikes a uranium atom, releases energy, and

The Marcellus and Devonian Shales

Under normal operating conditions, you are likely to get a higher dose of radiation, living next to a nuclear plant than a coal-burning plant.

Energy is defined as

One ____________ of natural gas is that it is ____________ than either coal or oil.

What is the biggest drawback for developing oil shales, tar sands, and coal gasoline?

Radioactive waste dumping in oceans has been

Most useful oil deposits are usually found

A number of European countries have similar or even higher standards of living than the U.S. and consume less energy than Americans do.

Worldwide, coal deposits are

In the process of getting energy to power your television, which of the following stages is the most energy efficient?

Currently the most common way to extract natural gas is by __________.

Nuclear waste storage in the United States is currently handled

By far the greatest amount of proven natural gas reserves are found in

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity: Preserving Species

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Geology and Earth Resources

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Water Pollution

Sustainable Energy

Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

What Then Shall We Do

Filters

One of natural gas is that it is than either coal or oil.