Question 1

What is the environmental impact of the fuel cycle of nuclear plants compared to the fuel cycle for coal that is used to produce electricity?

Accepted Answer

A)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes more deaths than the coal fuel cycle. 
B)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes more air pollution than the coal fuel cycle. 
C)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes more water pollution than the coal fuel cycle. 
D)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes less land disruption than the coal fuel cycle. 
A)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes more deaths than the coal fuel cycle. 
B)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes more air pollution than the coal fuel cycle. 
C)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes more water pollution than the coal fuel cycle. 
D)  The nuclear plant fuel cycle causes less land disruption than the coal fuel cycle. D

Question 2

What percentage of globally extracted oil is consumed by the United States each year?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 2% 
B)  about 4% 
C)  about 14% 
D)  about 20% 
A)  about 2% 
B)  about 4% 
C)  about 14% 
D)  about 20% D

Question 3

____________________ is a sedimentary rock composed of very fine particles.

Accepted Answer

Shale

Question 4

Which statement best describes the safety of nuclear plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nuclear waste from plants are stored safely underground using a method called deep disposal. 
B)  Nuclear plants cannot withstand attacks by terrorists because they have insufficient security. 
C)  All nuclear waste from plants can easily be converted into less-harmful isotopes. 
D)  All nuclear plants can withstand a direct hit from a large jet traveling at high speed. 
A)  Nuclear waste from plants are stored safely underground using a method called deep disposal. 
B)  Nuclear plants cannot withstand attacks by terrorists because they have insufficient security. 
C)  All nuclear waste from plants can easily be converted into less-harmful isotopes. 
D)  All nuclear plants can withstand a direct hit from a large jet traveling at high speed.

Question 5

Relative to the populations of other nations,the population of the United States uses a far greater proportion of the world's commercial energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which statement best describes breeder reactors?

Accepted Answer

A)  The use of a breeder reactor would not extend the supplies of uranium in the world. 
B)  If a breeder reactor's safety system failed, the reactor would be fine. 
C)  Many experimental breeder reactors are safe. 
D)  A breeder reactor would generate more fuel than it would consume. 
A)  The use of a breeder reactor would not extend the supplies of uranium in the world. 
B)  If a breeder reactor's safety system failed, the reactor would be fine. 
C)  Many experimental breeder reactors are safe. 
D)  A breeder reactor would generate more fuel than it would consume.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT contained in oil sand?

Accepted Answer

A)  water 
B)  sand 
C)  coal 
D)  bitumen 
A)  water 
B)  sand 
C)  coal 
D)  bitumen

Question 8

Nuclear power is not used extensively in the United States because of the threat it poses to homeland security.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which type of coolant is used in a breeder reactor?

Accepted Answer

A)  plutonium 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  sodium 
D)  water 
A)  plutonium 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  sodium 
D)  water

Question 10

Nuclear fission is not a feasible energy source because of the difficulty of making nuclear plants secure and the difficulty of storing radioactive waste safely.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which pair of countries has the largest combined reserves of natural gas?

Accepted Answer

A)  Russia and Iran 
B)  Nigeria and Algeria 
C)  Canada and the United States 
D)  India and Pakistan 
A)  Russia and Iran 
B)  Nigeria and Algeria 
C)  Canada and the United States 
D)  India and Pakistan

Question 12

Which of the following is/are liquefied petroleum gas?

Accepted Answer

A)  methane 
B)  butane and propane 
C)  ammonia 
D)  nitrogen oxide 
A)  methane 
B)  butane and propane 
C)  ammonia 
D)  nitrogen oxide

Question 13

Why are synthetic fuels not a viable option right now?

Accepted Answer

energy yields are low to moder

Question 14

What has the highest net energy ratio for space heating?

Accepted Answer

A)  passive solar 
B)  oil 
C)  active solar 
D)  electric resistance heating 
A)  passive solar 
B)  oil 
C)  active solar 
D)  electric resistance heating

Question 15

Because it is a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel,and it produces about half as much carbon dioxide as burning an equivalent amount of coal,there is increasing interest in _____________ ____________ as an energy source.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because it is a relatively clean-burning fossil...

Question 16

What percentage of the world's population in developing countries use biomass energy to heat their homes and cook their food?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 66% 
B)  about 50% 
C)  about 33% 
D)  about 25% 
A)  about 66% 
B)  about 50% 
C)  about 33% 
D)  about 25%

Question 17

_____________ _________________ can happen very quickly,as in an atomic bomb,or it can occur in a more controlled manner that allows the energy to be captured for useful purposes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____________ _________________ can happen very quickly,as in...

Question 18

What is the net energy ratio of oil expected to do?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is currently high, and is expected to decline in the future. 
B)  It is currently high, and is expected to stay high in the future. 
C)  It is currently low, and is expected to increase in the future. 
D)  It is currently low, and is expected to stay low in the future. 
A)  It is currently high, and is expected to decline in the future. 
B)  It is currently high, and is expected to stay high in the future. 
C)  It is currently low, and is expected to increase in the future. 
D)  It is currently low, and is expected to stay low in the future.

Question 19

Which of the following is a strategic disadvantage of oil?

Accepted Answer

A)  It destroys nature through oil spills. 
B)  It will be commercially depleted within 90 years. 
C)  It produces more carbon dioxide than any other fuel. 
D)  It can contaminate groundwater supplies. 
A)  It destroys nature through oil spills. 
B)  It will be commercially depleted within 90 years. 
C)  It produces more carbon dioxide than any other fuel. 
D)  It can contaminate groundwater supplies.

Question 20

How do sulphur dioxide,particulates,and arsenic relate to coal-fired plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are waste products produced in the combustion of coal. 
B)  They are solid wastes that must be disposed of properly. 
C)  They are additives that make coal burn cleanly. 
D)  They are removed almost entirely when pollution controls are used. 
A)  They are waste products produced in the combustion of coal. 
B)  They are solid wastes that must be disposed of properly. 
C)  They are additives that make coal burn cleanly. 
D)  They are removed almost entirely when pollution controls are used.

Exam 17: Nonrenewable Energy Resources

What is the environmental impact of the fuel cycle of nuclear plants compared to the fuel cycle for coal that is used to produce electricity?

What percentage of globally extracted oil is consumed by the United States each year?

____________________ is a sedimentary rock composed of very fine particles.

Which statement best describes the safety of nuclear plants?

Relative to the populations of other nations,the population of the United States uses a far greater proportion of the world's commercial energy.

Which statement best describes breeder reactors?

Which of the following is NOT contained in oil sand?

Nuclear power is not used extensively in the United States because of the threat it poses to homeland security.

Which type of coolant is used in a breeder reactor?

Nuclear fission is not a feasible energy source because of the difficulty of making nuclear plants secure and the difficulty of storing radioactive waste safely.

Which pair of countries has the largest combined reserves of natural gas?

Which of the following is/are liquefied petroleum gas?

Why are synthetic fuels not a viable option right now?

What has the highest net energy ratio for space heating?

Because it is a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel,and it produces about half as much carbon dioxide as burning an equivalent amount of coal,there is increasing interest in _____________ ____________ as an energy source.

What percentage of the world's population in developing countries use biomass energy to heat their homes and cook their food?

_____________ _________________ can happen very quickly,as in an atomic bomb,or it can occur in a more controlled manner that allows the energy to be captured for useful purposes.

What is the net energy ratio of oil expected to do?

Which of the following is a strategic disadvantage of oil?

How do sulphur dioxide,particulates,and arsenic relate to coal-fired plants?

Environmental Problems: an Introduction and Overview

Environmental History: Learning From the Past

Science, systems, matter, and Energy

Ecosystems: What Are They, and How Do They Work

Evolution and Biodiversity

Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Aquatic Biodiversity

Community Ecology

Population Ecology

Applying Population Ecology: the Human Population

Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: Managing and Protecting Ecosystems

Sustaining Biodiversity: the Species Approach

Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity

Food and Soil Resources

Water Resources

Geology and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Risk,toxicology,and Human Health

Air Pollution

Climate Change and Ozone Loss

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Sustainable Cities

Economics, environment, and Sustainability

Politics, environment, and Sustainability

Environmental World-views, ethics, and Sustainability

Filters

Because it is a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel,and it produces about half as much carbon dioxide as burning an equivalent amount of coal,there is increasing interest in _ as an energy source.

_ _____ can happen very quickly,as in an atomic bomb,or it can occur in a more controlled manner that allows the energy to be captured for useful purposes.